Trafficking in Persons Report 2008 - Norway

NORWAY (Tier 1)

Norway is a destination country for women and children trafficked from Nigeria, Russia, Albania, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Brazil, and East Asian nations for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. Victims are sometimes trafficked through transit countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Italy, and the Balkan countries en route to Norway. Children in Norwegian refugee centers are vulnerable to human trafficking.

The Government of Norway fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. Norwegian courts increased the duration of time given to convicted traffickers and continue to ensure all convicted traffickers served time in prison during the reporting period. Norway continued to provide generous funding to international anti-trafficking projects in addition to local NGOs providing protection.

Recommendations for Norway: Continue to vigorously investigate, prosecute, convict, and sentence both sex and labor trafficking offenders; continue to ensure the majority of traffickers serve time in prison; continue efforts to reduce the domestic demand for commercial sexual exploitation in Norway; and employ proactive victim identification procedures and procedures to ensure victims are not improperly penalized for unlawful activity as a direct result of being trafficked.

Prosecution

The Norwegian government sustained its adequate anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts during the reporting period. Norway prohibits all forms of trafficking in persons through its Crimes Against Personal Freedom Law of 2004, which prescribes a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment – a penalty that is sufficiently stringent and commensurate with punishments for other grave offenses, such as rape. In 2007, police conducted at least 19 investigations, compared to 29 in 2006. Authorities prosecuted six persons for trafficking, compared to two prosecutions in 2006. Six people were convicted of trafficking during the reporting period, compared to five convictions in 2006. Courts increased the length of sentences served by convicted traffickers in 2007; all six traffickers were sentenced to 18 to 30 months' imprisonment. In 2006, four traffickers were sentenced to four to six months' imprisonment and one trafficker was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment.

Protection

The government sustained strong efforts to provide assistance and protection to victims of trafficking during the year. The government identified 190 victims in 2007. Victims are permitted to stay in Norway during a six-month reflection period in order to receive assistance; 30 victims benefited from the reflection period during the reporting period. The government provided $2 million to anti-trafficking NGOs in addition to spending separate municipal funds on housing, medical care, and other forms of victim assistance. Thirty-seven victims received assistance in 2007. After their reflection periods, victims can apply for one-year residency permits. Generally, the government encourages victims to participate in trafficking investigations and prosecutions. Trafficking victims were not penalized during the reporting period for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of their being trafficked. All police officers and border patrol agents receive formal training on victim identification.

Prevention

Norway continued its trafficking prevention efforts, both domestically and abroad. In 2007, Norway allocated $18 million to international anti-trafficking projects. The government also funded a website aimed at raising awareness and initiated a high school education campaign on human trafficking. The government provides specialized training for employees in refugee asylum centers on identifying victims of human trafficking. The government briefs all Norwegian troops on human trafficking prior to deployment overseas on international peacekeeping missions. Norway monitors immigration patterns for evidence of trafficking. Norway does not sponsor any awareness activities aimed at reducing the demand for commercial sex acts in Norway's legalized sex trade, although legislation recently enacted will criminalize the purchase of commercial sex starting in 2009. Norway contributes to several international organizations and NGOs to conduct domestic and international campaigns against child sex tourism. A Norwegian court also convicted one Norwegian man for child sex tourism offenses committed in Thailand, and sentenced him during the reporting period to seven years' imprisonment.