Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Norway (Ratification: 2000)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Articles 3(a) and 7(1) and 7(2)(b) of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Sale and trafficking of children, penalties and effective and time-bound measures. Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. The Committee notes from the Report of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings in Norway, 2022 (GRETA Report) that: (1) Norway remains primarily a country of destination for trafficking in human beings; (2) no official statistics have been available on the number of presumed victims of human trafficking since 2016; (3) no formal National Referral Mechanism has yet to be established; and (4) sexual exploitation remains the predominant form of trafficking detected, while cases of labour exploitation are increasing; (paras 11 and 12). The Committee notes that the GRETA Report recommends taking further steps to improve the identification and assistance of child victims (Appendix 1-List of GRETA’s conclusions and proposals for action, page 56).

The Committee further notes, from the Report Submitted by Norway on measures taken to comply with the Committee of the Parties Recommendation CP/REC (2022)05 on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings of 2024 (Third evaluation round of GRETA), that Norway has recently decided to create a national strategy against trafficking (page 11) and that in 2023, the National guidance unit for trafficking in children has been engaged in competence-building activities (page 12) and that authorities have procedures in place to address the disappearance of unaccompanied minors from reception centres (page 13). The Committee further notes that, according to the KOM Annual Report 2024, 19 cases of human trafficking were reported in 2024, of which six related to exploitation for prostitution or other sexual purposes; among the 16 registered victims, three were minors. It also notes that in the same year, three cases for human trafficking ended with convictions, including two for the exploitation of minors for sexual purposes (page 14).

The Committee also notes the concluding observations of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which expressed concern at the lack of comprehensive data on trafficking in women and girls, the fragmented system of victim identification and referral, and the low rates of prosecution and conviction rates in trafficking cases (CEDAW/C/NOR/CO/10, 2 March 2023, para. 32(a), (b), and (d)). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on: (i) the measures taken to ensure that thorough investigations and prosecutions are carried out in practice against perpetrators that use children under the age of 18 years for labour or sexual exploitation; (ii) the measures adopted and the results achieved under the national strategy against trafficking to provide direct and adequate assistance to child victims of trafficking, and to ensure their rehabilitation and social integration; (iii) updated information on the number of investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penalties imposed for offences involving the trafficking of children; and (iv) updated information on the number of child victims identified, removed, rehabilitated and socially integrated.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Article 5 of the Convention and Part V of the report form. Monitoring mechanisms and application of the Convention in practice. 1. Trafficking. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s information that with regard to the investigation proceedings related to the case of trafficking of four children between the ages of 15 and 17 years for labour exploitation, two Lithuanian citizens were convicted by the Gulating Court of Appeal on 19 June 2012 and sentenced to imprisonment for four to five years. Likewise, in another case involving exploitation of children within a travelling group of Roma, six Romanians were convicted for trafficking offences and sentenced to imprisonment for three years and six months.

2. Prostitution. The Committee had previously noted the Government’s information that at the initiative of the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion, the Norwegian Social Research (NOVA) developed a professional guide on working with young people who sell or exchange sex. Noting the comments made by the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) that this professional guide was published only in Norwegian, while most of the children engaged in such activities were not Norwegians, the Committee had requested the Government to take the necessary measures to publish the professional guide in languages most spoken by children who are engaged in such activities, so as to serve the purpose for which they have been developed.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the professional guide developed by NOVA on how to help and support young people who sell or exchange sex is aimed at people who work in the social services and that all employees in these services understand Norwegian. The Government further states that in case of any language difficulties whereby the employees of the social services cannot properly communicate with young people who sell sex, the public authorities are obligated to use an interpreter.

Article 6. Programmes of action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. National Plan of Action against Human Trafficking. The Committee previously noted the Government’s indication that a new action plan against human trafficking entitled “United Against Human Trafficking 2011–14” had been launched, consisting of several measures to prevent trafficking in children as well as to develop care services for child victims of trafficking. The Committee notes the Government’s information that one of the major measures taken in this new action plan is the introduction of a new provision in the Child Welfare Act that will permit children at risk of being exploited in human trafficking to be placed temporarily in a child welfare institution. According to the Government’s report, in 2011 there were 69 victims of trafficking under the age of 18 years who received assistance, out of which 25 children received housing care by the central child welfare authority.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The Committee previously noted from the Government’s report, the comments made by the LO that there were instances in which unaccompanied asylum-seeking children were not provided with adequate attention and that the Government did not provide information on the number of children who disappeared from the reception centres in 2010. It noted the Government’s indication that it has been envisaged to implement measures to prevent and investigate the disappearance of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children from care centres and the asylum reception centres within the action plan “United Against Human Trafficking”. Furthermore, a working group was established in 2008 to study cases of children who had disappeared from reception centres for asylum seekers.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that care centres and asylum reception centres have clear guidelines on how to handle and follow-up cases of children disappearing from these centres. It also notes from the Government’s report that the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion has issued a circular describing the responsibilities of the municipalities in cases where children disappear from care centres and asylum reception centres. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that in 2010, two children disappeared from care centres.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Article 5 of the Convention and Part V of the report form. Monitoring mechanisms and application of the Convention in practice. Trafficking. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that since 2003, a total of 50 cases of trafficking in human beings have been reported, including five cases where the victims were minors. The Government’s report further indicates that in 2010, a total of 79 child victims of trafficking were reported by various authorities as receiving assistance. The Committee also notes the Government’s information that the specialized police unit against trafficking in human beings is currently investigating two major cases of trafficking. The first case involve four children between the ages of 15 and 17 years who were recruited from Lithuania for labour purposes in which two men will stand trial, while the second case involves exploitation of children within a travelling group of Roma in which six Romanians are undergoing trial. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the number of persons prosecuted, convicted and sentenced with regard to the cases involving the trafficking of children.

Prostitution. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s information that at the initiative of the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion, the Norwegian Social Research (NOVA) developed a professional guide on working with young people who sell or exchange sex. Based on this professional guide, the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs organized various competence-building courses for relevant services in the country’s five child welfare regions on the subject of young people who sell and exchange sex. The courses were attended by employees of municipal and state child welfare services, members of the police, employees of reception centres for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers, refugees and members of non governmental organizations. The Committee notes, however, from the Government’s report, the comments made by the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) that the professional guide on working with young people who sell or exchange sex was published only in Norwegian, while most of the children engaged in such activities are not Norwegians. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to publish the professional guide developed by NOVA on working with young people who sell or exchange sex, in languages most spoken by children who are engaged in such activities, so as to serve the purpose for which they have been developed.

Article 6. Programmes of action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. National Plan of Action against Human Trafficking. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that a new action plan against human trafficking entitled “United Against Human Trafficking 2011–14” has been launched which consists of several measures to prevent trafficking in children as well as to develop care services for child victims of trafficking. The Committee also notes the Government’s information that child victims of trafficking will be offered special care within the child welfare system. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken under the action plan United Against Human Trafficking of 2011–14, on eliminating the trafficking of children. It also requests the Government to provide information on the number of child victims of trafficking who have been provided care services and assistance within this action plan.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clauses (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The Committee notes from the Government’s report, the comments made by the LO that there are instances in which unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are not provided with adequate attention and that the Government does not provide information on the number of children who disappeared from the reception centres in 2010. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that in December 2010, the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion sent out a circular to all the municipalities, care centres, asylum reception centres and the County Governors stating that all children in Norway, including asylum-seeking children, are entitled to the protection laid down under the Child Welfare Act. The Government report also states that the Child Welfare Services, upon receiving a report from an asylum-seeking child, shall follow up the report in the same way as any other child welfare case. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that it has been envisaged to implement measures to prevent and investigate the disappearance of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children from care centres and the asylum reception centres within the action plan “United Against Human Trafficking”. Furthermore, a working group was established in 2008 to study cases of children who disappeared from reception centres for asylum seekers. According to the Government’s report, this working group has proposed several measures to prevent and investigate cases of disappearance concerning unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. These measures are being implemented by the authorities. The Committee finally notes that, the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), in its concluding observations of 3 March 2010 (CRC/C/NOR/CO/4, paragraph 50) noted with interest that the new Immigration Act, along with its new immigration regulations, specifies that the best interests of the child are to be a primary consideration and lowers the threshold for granting residence permits to children. The CRC also welcomed the fact that by virtue of the new Chapter 5A of the Child Welfare Act, the responsibility for unaccompanied children has been transferred to the child welfare services. The Committee requests the Government to continue taking measures to ensure the protection of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, who are at increased risk of becoming victims of trafficking. It also requests the Government to provide information on the number of cases investigated by the authorities, including the child welfare services concerning the disappearance of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children from the care centres and asylum reception centres.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Article 5 of the Convention and Part V of the report form. Monitoring mechanisms and application of the Convention in practice. 1. Trafficking. The Committee previously noted the Government’s indication that, although a national police intelligence project was launched to improve knowledge on the extent of human trafficking, there were no well-founded estimates of the number of child victims of trafficking in Norway.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) of 11 May 2009 that the Ministry of Justice, in cooperation with the National Police Directorate, was developing identification tools for police and employees in the child welfare services to help them better identify, report and assist victims of human trafficking (CRC/C/NOR/4, paragraph 576). The Committee also notes the information in the 2009 report on the trafficking in persons in Norway, available on the website of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (www.unhcr.org) (Trafficking Report) that police significantly increased the number of trafficking investigations from 19 in 2007 to 45 in 2008 – including 41 sex trafficking and four labour trafficking investigations. This report indicates that six people were convicted of trafficking in 2007, and six people convicted in 2008. The Committee observes that these data are not disaggregated to indicate the number of persons investigated for the trafficking of children, nor the number of child victims of trafficking uncovered through these investigations. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide information on the number and nature of infringements, investigations, prosecutions and convictions related to the trafficking of persons under the age of 18 in Norway, as well as information on the number of child victims detected in the course of these investigations.

2. Prostitution. The Committee previously noted that a survey on child and youth in prostitution was carried out in 2003 in the city of Trondheim. It requested the Government to provide the results from this survey.

The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report that 3.5 per cent of respondents in the questionnaire study implemented in Trondheim indicated that they had sold or exchanged sexual services, and that the incidence rate was higher among boys than among girls. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that a questionnaire-based study was carried out in six member countries of the Council of Baltic Sea States (including Norway) concerning the sale of sex and sexual offences (NOVA Survey). The NOVA Survey was based on a questionnaire distributed to approximately 4,900 students in their last year of upper secondary school in Norway’s nine largest cities, with a response rate of 82 per cent. The Committee notes that the results of the NOVA Survey indicate that 3–4 per cent of boys and almost 1 per cent of girls surveyed responded that they have sold or exchanged sexual services one or more times. The Committee expresses concern at the results of the two surveys, indicating that a significant number of youths in secondary school, particularly boys, have been victims of commercial sexual exploitation, and requests the Government to take immediate measures to prevent and eliminate this worst form of child labour. It requests the Government to provide information on the concrete measures taken in this respect, and the results achieved.

Article 6. Programmes of action. Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking. The Committee previously noted that the Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking for the period of 2006–09 proposed seven measures pertaining specifically to the protection of children from trafficking and requested information on the results achieved.

The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report to the CRC of 11 May 2009 that, between 2000 and 2010, approximately NOK30 million (approximately US$4,962,040) was allocated to measures where trafficking of children is a part of the target (CRC/C/NOR/4, paragraph 592). In this regard, the Government indicates that, under the Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking, support has gone mainly to UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and NGOs, in addition to collaborating partners in countries of origin for human trafficking. The objectives of these measures included: limiting recruiting; assisting the victims; organizing follow-ups; prosecuting human traffickers; and increasing knowledge and cooperation within a strong international framework (CRC/C/NOR/4, paragraph 637). The Committee further notes the Government’s indication in its reply to the list of issues raised by the CRC of 6 January 2010 that, within the framework of the Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking, it has strengthened the legal rights of victims of trafficking, through a new Immigration Act, which provides that being a victim of trafficking is to be considered a possible humanitarian ground for the granting of a residence permit (CRC/C/NOR/Q/4/Add.1, paragraph 6). The Committee takes due note of this information, and encourages the Government to continue to take measures to prevent and eliminate child trafficking.

Article 7(2). Effective and time-bound measures. Clauses (a) and (b). Prevent the engagement of children in, and provide direct assistance for, the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour. Commercial sexual exploitation. The Committee previously noted that, according to the follow-up report on the commercial sexual exploitation of children published in 1999, the Government took measures aimed at preventing child sexual abuse and prostitution, and providing rehabilitation services for child victims. It requested information on the impact of these measures. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the follow-up plan on commercial sexual exploitation expired in 2001. It also notes the Government’s indication in its report submitted to the CRC of 11 May 2009 that between 2006 and 2009 it implemented a campaign to influence attitudes to reduce commercial sexual exploitation by targeting groups of buyers/potential buyers of sex, in addition to the general public (CRC/C/NOR, paragraph 543). Noting that the results of the NOVA Survey indicate that a number of youths in upper secondary school are engaged in the selling or exchange of sexual services, the Committee requests the Government to continue to take the necessary measures to prevent this worst form of child labour, and to provide for the removal, rehabilitation and social re-integration of children engaged in this practice.

Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. The Committee previously noted that there are state reception centres for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, which must report to the child welfare service if they suspect human trafficking in minors. It also noted that the Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking included measures to improve the knowledge in reception centres on trafficking issues, to better inform unaccompanied asylum-seeking children about their right to protection if they are victims of human trafficking, and to prevent and investigate cases of disappearances of minors from reception centres. The Committee requested information on the impact of these measures.

The Committee notes the information in the Government’s reply to the list of issues raised by the CRC of 6 January 2010 that Norway has experienced a massive influx in applications from unaccompanied children in the last three years (from 403 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in 2007 to 1,647 such children by 30 September 2009).The Government indicates in its reply that the large number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children has resulted in pressure on the Norwegian reception system and poses a challenge to municipalities that do not have sufficient capacity for the settlement of these minors (CRC/C/NOR/Q/4/Add.1, page 8). The Committee also notes the Government’s indication in its report to the CRC of 11 May 2009 that in 2007 child welfare services assumed the responsibility for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers under the age of 15 from when they arrive in the country until settlement or return. This report also indicates that the Eidsvoll Care Centre for Children was opened in 2007, with space to accommodate up to 30 unaccompanied minors under 15 years of age (CRC/C/NOR, paragraph 20).

The Committee notes the statement in the Trafficking Report that children in Norwegian refugee centres are vulnerable to human trafficking. The Government’s reply to the CRC’s list of issues indicates that teams have been established in reception centres for accommodating unaccompanied asylum-seeking children during the registration period that will seek to identify possible trafficking victims at an early stage in order to prevent disappearances (CRC/C/NOR/Q/4/Add.1, page 21). However, the Committee notes that the CRC, in its concluding observations of 29 January 2010, expressed concern that unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are not being adequately followed up by child welfare services (CRC/C/NOR/CO/4, paragraph 50). The Committee further notes with concern the rising number of these children disappearing from reception centres; the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who disappeared was 19 in 2007, 24 in 2008 and 41 in 2009 (CRC/C/NOR/Q/4/Add.1, page 20). The Committee therefore requests the Government to redouble its efforts to ensure the protection of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, who are at increased risk of becoming victims of trafficking.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. Trafficking. The Committee previously noted that Norway participated in several international anti-trafficking efforts, through the Baltic Sea Task Force on organized crime, the Task Force against Trafficking of Human Beings in the Barents Euro–Arctic region and the Nordic Baltic Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings. The Committee also noted that, through an action plan under the auspices of the Council of Baltic Sea States, Norway participated in a programme to provide training to personnel and organizations working with children at risk for trafficking.

The Committee notes the information in the Government report to the CRC of 11 May 2009 that the Government ratified the Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings in 2008 (CRC/C/NOR/4, paragraph 540). It also notes the Government’s continued participation in the Working Group for Cooperation on Children at Risk within the Council of the Baltic Sea cooperation, in its activities to provide training to personnel in both countries of origin and destination (CRC/C/NOR/4, paragraph 633). The Committee further notes that the Trafficking Report indicates that Norwegian law enforcement personnel collaborated on trafficking investigations with counterparts from numerous countries including the Czech Republic, Albania, Italy, Nigeria, Spain, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Brazil and all of the Nordic-Baltic countries. Noting the statement in the Trafficking Report that children are trafficked from Nigeria, Bulgaria, Brazil, Estonia, Ghana, Eritrea, Cameroon, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo to Norway for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and from Thailand, United Kingdom, India, Sri Lanka, Romania and Bulgaria to Norway for the purposes of domestic servitude and forced labour in the construction industry, the Committee requests the Government to pursue its international cooperative anti-trafficking efforts, to eliminate this worst form of child labour.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Article 5 of the Convention. Monitoring mechanisms. Police and the National Unit for the Fight against Organized and Other Serious Crimes. In its previous comments, the Committee had noted that the National Unit for the Fight against Organized and Other Serious Crimes is in charge of gathering intelligence data on trafficking of human beings, including trafficking of children, and on child pornography. It had also noted that in 2004 a national police intelligence project was launched to improve the knowledge of the extent and methods of trafficking in women and children. The Committee notes the Government’s information that the National Unit for the Fight against Organized and Other Serious Crimes is currently investigating a case involving a Norwegian citizen suspected of offering children for prostitution in an Asian country. The Committee also notes the Government’s information that police intelligence projects have effectively been conducted in the field of trafficking in women and children but that, at present, it is impossible to make well-founded estimates of how many children have been or are victims of human trafficking in Norway. The Committee asks the Government to keep it informed of any progress made with regard to the activities and investigations led by the police and the National Unit for the Fight against Organized and Other Serious Crimes concerning the trafficking of children and child prostitution. It also asks the Government to supply any relevant information pertaining to the trafficking of children which was discovered through the police intelligence projects which have been conducted until now.

Article 6. Programmes of action. Plan of Action to Stop Human Trafficking. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s information that, in December 2006, the Government launched a new Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking for the period of 2006–09, in which particular attention is paid to the trafficking of children, as outlined in its sixth chapter “Child victims of human trafficking will be ensured appropriate follow-up”. The Plan of Action aims to pave the way for coordinated and coherent efforts to stop human trafficking and ensure that victims are helped and protected. With regard to the protection of children from trafficking, the Plan of Action proposes seven measures, including joining the experience of local and regional agencies relating to assistance for child victims of human trafficking, providing regional training courses on child victims of human trafficking and developing tools for identifying those child victims. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the results of the Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking 2006–09 and on any relevant impact on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, notably the trafficking of children and child prostitution.

Article 7, paragraph 2. Effective and time-bound measures. Clauses (a) and (b). Prevent the engagement of children and provide direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour. Child prostitution. The Committee had previously noted that, according to the follow-up report on the commercial sexual exploitation of children published in 1999, the Government has taken concrete measures mainly aimed at preventing child sexual abuse and prostitution, and providing rehabilitation services for child victims. The Committee once again asks the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures adopted according to the follow-up report of 1999 on commercial sexual exploitation of children, with regard to the prevention of children under 18 years from being engaged in prostitution and the rehabilitation and social integration of child victims of prostitution.

Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. Unaccompanied minors and children seeking asylum. The Committee notes that the Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking identifies unaccompanied minors, as well as those seeking asylum, as especially vulnerable to exploitation. It notes that there are state reception centres for unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in Norway, which must report to the child welfare service if they suspect human trafficking in minors. The Committee notes the UNIO’s statement that although the situation for minors in those reception centres is improving, it is still very difficult for young persons between 15 and 18 years of age. In this respect, the Committee notes that a measure to improve information on the right to protection of unaccompanied minors was taken under the Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking. This measure aims to improve the knowledge of reception centre employees in this regard and to improve their competencies so that they can provide better information to minors seeking asylum about their special rights and rights to protection if they are victims of human trafficking. Furthermore, the Plan of Action includes a measure to prevent and investigate cases of disappearance of minors from reception centres. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the impact of the abovementioned Plan of Action and its measures on protecting unaccompanied minors and children seeking asylum from the worst forms of child labour.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. The Committee had previously noted that Norway is participating actively in the important efforts to combat human trafficking under the auspices of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe and in the Baltic Sea Task Force on organized crime under the Baltic Sea States, as well as being a member of the Task Force against Trafficking of Human Beings in the Barents Euro-Arctic region and of the Nordic Baltic Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings.

The Committee notes the UNIO’s comments on the need to strengthen Norway’s international efforts to combat child labour. The Committee notes that, through an action plan under the auspices of the Council of Baltic Sea States, Norway has made a commitment to safeguard children and young people who cross national borders, including those who are victims of human trafficking. To that effect, a training programme has been initiated in nine countries to improve the competence of personnel and organizations working with children and young persons who have been or are in danger of being exposed to human trafficking for sexual purposes or other criminal activities which, in the long term, may help to prevent the recruitment of minors by human traffickers. The Committee also notes that, under the Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking, the Government plans to take an initiative for a Nordic conference on the situation of minors who are victims of human trafficking. It notes that the Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking includes a measure to intensify efforts for orphans and for vulnerable children in developing countries in order to protect them from being recruited to forced labour, military service or prostitution as part of the follow-up to Norway’s Development Strategy for Children and Young People in the South: Three Billion Reasons. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the concrete measures taken pursuant to the international and regional initiatives and plans of action and their impact on combating child trafficking for labour or sexual exploitation.

Part V of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee had previously noted that, according to Norway’s first report of 2004 regarding the implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, a survey on child and youth prostitutes had been carried out in 2003 in Trondheim, one of the largest cities in Norway. It had noted that this survey was due to be continued in 2004. The Committee once again asks the Government to communicate the results of the survey regarding child prostitution.

The Committee notes the Government’s new information that in the first human trafficking case brought before the Supreme Court of Norway in 2006, one of the victims was a 16-year-old girl from Albania who had been offered for prostitution. The police have also investigated other cases where children would have been victims of human trafficking. This applies to children who have come to Norway as unaccompanied minors and applied for asylum. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information and statistical data on the nature, extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour, the number of children covered by measures giving effect to the Convention, the number and nature of infringements reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penalties applied.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

The Committee notes the Government’s report as well as the comments provided by the Confederation of Professionals (UNIO), sent with the Government’s report. It requests the Government to provide information on the following points.

Article 5. Monitoring mechanisms. Police and the National Unit for the Fight against Organized and Other Serious Crimes. In its previous comments, the Committee had noted that the National Unit for the Fight against Organized and Other Serious Crimes is in charge of gathering intelligence data on trafficking of human beings, including trafficking of children, and on child pornography. It had also noted that in 2004 a national police intelligence project was launched to improve the knowledge of the extent and methods of trafficking in women and children. The Committee notes the Government’s information that the National Unit for the Fight against Organized and Other Serious Crimes is currently investigating a case involving a Norwegian citizen suspected of offering children for prostitution in an Asian country. The Committee also notes the Government’s information that police intelligence projects have effectively been conducted in the field of trafficking in women and children but that, at present, it is impossible to make well-founded estimates of how many children have been or are victims of human trafficking in Norway. The Committee asks the Government to keep it informed of any progress made with regard to the activities and investigations led by the police and the National Unit for the Fight against Organized and Other Serious Crimes concerning the trafficking of children and child prostitution. It also asks the Government to supply any relevant information pertaining to the trafficking of children which was discovered through the police intelligence projects which have been conducted until now.

Article 6. Programmes of action. Plan of Action to Stop Human Trafficking. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s information that, in December 2006, the Government launched a new Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking for the period of 2006–09, in which particular attention is paid to the trafficking of children, as outlined in its sixth chapter “Child victims of human trafficking will be ensured appropriate follow-up”. The Plan of Action aims to pave the way for coordinated and coherent efforts to stop human trafficking and ensure that victims are helped and protected. With regard to the protection of children from trafficking, the Plan of Action proposes seven measures, including joining the experience of local and regional agencies relating to assistance for child victims of human trafficking, providing regional training courses on child victims of human trafficking and developing tools for identifying those child victims. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the results of the Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking 2006–09 and on any relevant impact on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, notably the trafficking of children and child prostitution.

Article 7, paragraph 2. Effective and time-bound measures. Clauses (a) and (b). Prevent the engagement of children and provide direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour. Child prostitution. The Committee had previously noted that, according to the follow-up report on the commercial sexual exploitation of children published in 1999, the Government has taken concrete measures mainly aimed at preventing child sexual abuse and prostitution, and providing rehabilitation services for child victims. The Committee once again asks the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures adopted according to the follow-up report of 1999 on commercial sexual exploitation of children, with regard to the prevention of children under 18 years from being engaged in prostitution and the rehabilitation and social integration of child victims of prostitution.

Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. Unaccompanied minors and children seeking asylum. The Committee notes that the Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking identifies unaccompanied minors, as well as those seeking asylum, as especially vulnerable to exploitation. It notes that there are state reception centres for unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in Norway, which must report to the child welfare service if they suspect human trafficking in minors. The Committee notes the UNIO’s statement that although the situation for minors in those reception centres is improving, it is still very difficult for young persons between 15 and 18 years of age. In this respect, the Committee notes that a measure to improve information on the right to protection of unaccompanied minors was taken under the Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking. This measure aims to improve the knowledge of reception centre employees in this regard and to improve their competencies so that they can provide better information to minors seeking asylum about their special rights and rights to protection if they are victims of human trafficking. Furthermore, the Plan of Action includes a measure to prevent and investigate cases of disappearance of minors from reception centres. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the impact of the abovementioned Plan of Action and its measures on protecting unaccompanied minors and children seeking asylum from the worst forms of child labour.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. The Committee had previously noted that Norway is participating actively in the important efforts to combat human trafficking under the auspices of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe and in the Baltic Sea Task Force on organized crime under the Baltic Sea States, as well as being a member of the Task Force against Trafficking of Human Beings in the Barents Euro-Arctic region and of the Nordic Baltic Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings.

The Committee notes the UNIO’s comments on the need to strengthen Norway’s international efforts to combat child labour. The Committee notes that, through an action plan under the auspices of the Council of Baltic Sea States, Norway has made a commitment to safeguard children and young people who cross national borders, including those who are victims of human trafficking. To that effect, a training programme has been initiated in nine countries to improve the competence of personnel and organizations working with children and young persons who have been or are in danger of being exposed to human trafficking for sexual purposes or other criminal activities which, in the long term, may help to prevent the recruitment of minors by human traffickers. The Committee also notes that, under the Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking, the Government plans to take an initiative for a Nordic conference on the situation of minors who are victims of human trafficking. It notes that the Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking includes a measure to intensify efforts for orphans and for vulnerable children in developing countries in order to protect them from being recruited to forced labour, military service or prostitution as part of the follow-up to Norway’s Development Strategy for Children and Young People in the South: Three Billion Reasons. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the concrete measures taken pursuant to the international and regional initiatives and plans of action and their impact on combating child trafficking for labour or sexual exploitation.

Part V of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee had previously noted that, according to Norway’s first report of 2004 regarding the implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, a survey on child and youth prostitutes had been carried out in 2003 in Trondheim, one of the largest cities in Norway. It had noted that this survey was due to be continued in 2004. The Committee once again asks the Government to communicate the results of the survey regarding child prostitution.

The Committee notes the Government’s new information that in the first human trafficking case brought before the Supreme Court of Norway in 2006, one of the victims was a 16-year-old girl from Albania who had been offered for prostitution. The police have also investigated other cases where children would have been victims of human trafficking. This applies to children who have come to Norway as unaccompanied minors and applied for asylum. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information and statistical data on the nature, extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour, the number of children covered by measures giving effect to the Convention, the number and nature of infringements reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penalties applied.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Article 3 of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Clause (a). All forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery. Sale and trafficking of children. The Committee had previously noted that the Storting passed on 17 June 2003, Bill No. 62 specifically prohibiting human trafficking. The Committee notes with interest the Government’s indication in its report that the new section 224 of the Penal Code prohibiting human trafficking has been adopted. Section 224 provides that any person who by force, threats, misuse of another person’s vulnerability, or other underhand conduct, exploits another person for the purpose of: (a) prostitution; (b) forced labour; (c) war service in a foreign country; and (d) removal of any of the said person’s organs; or who induces another person to be used for such purposes, shall be guilty of human trafficking and liable to imprisonment. Furthermore, any person who makes arrangements for such exploitation, or in any other way is accessory to such exploitation, or provides payment in order to obtain consent to such exploitation, shall be liable to the same penalty. Any person who commits the acts referred to in section 224 against a person who is under 18 years of age shall be liable to a penalty independently of any use of force or threats. Gross human trafficking is punishable by imprisonment. In deciding whether the offence is gross, particular importance shall be attached to whether the person exposed to the act was under 18 years of age, or to whether violence or coercion was used or whether the act led to considerable gain. The Committee notes the Government’s information that it has recently appointed a committee to evaluate the victim’s legal status and rights under the Norwegian criminal law. The findings of this committee will have a bearing on future legislation to protect trafficking victims, in terms of their procedural rights. The Committee takes note of this information.

Clause (b). Use, procuring or offering of a child for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest the Government’s information that, by Act No. 29 of 20 May 2005, an amendment was made to section 204(1)(d) of the Penal Code concerning child pornography. It notes that child pornography is now lifted out of the existing section 204 and included under a new provision, section 204(a). The Committee notes that, according to the new section 204(a), any person who: (a) produces, acquires, imports, possesses, delivers to another person or for payment or systematically acquaints himself with presentations of sexual abuse of children or sexualized presentation of children; (b) deals with presentations of sexual abuse of children or sexualized presentations of children in any other way mentioned in section 204(1); or (c) induces any person under 18 years to be photographed as a step in a commercial presentation of moving or non-moving pictures of a sexual nature, or produces such presentations depicting any person under 18 years of age, shall be guilty of a criminal offence. Section 204(a) defines "children" as persons who are or appear to be under the age of 18 years. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, the new section is more far-reaching in comparison with the previous section 224(1)(d), as it includes acquisition of, and systematic acquaintance with, child pornography. Moreover, the new provision is not limited to child pornography, presented in films and videograms, but it covers all forms of presentations. The Committee takes due note of this information.

Clause (c). Use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that using and procuring children under the age of 18 for the production and trafficking of drugs is not prohibited through a specific provision outside section 162 of the Penal Code. However, the Government underlines that in deciding whether the drug offence is aggravated, according to section 162, special importance shall be attached to … (c) "the nature of the offence". According to the Government, the involvement of children under 18 years is a circumstance that may easily fall within the "nature of the offence" and turn the drug offence into an aggravated offence. The Committee takes due note of this information.

Article 4, paragraph 1. Determination of hazardous work. The Committee had previously noted that sections 12 and 13 of Regulation No. 551 of 1990 on work performed by children and young persons contain a comprehensive list of types of hazardous work to be prohibited for children under 18 years of age. It notes the Government’s statement that sections 12 and 13 of Regulation No. 551 were changed in 2001 into sections 8 and 9, respectively, without any substantial changes. The Committee notes the Government’s information that the list of types of hazardous work contained in section 9 is not exhaustive and the general provision contained in section 8 will decide whether a type of work is allowed, even though it is not mentioned in section 9. The Committee takes note of this information.

Article 5. Monitoring mechanisms. 1. Labour inspectorate. In its previous comments, the Committee had noted that the Labour Inspection Authority supervises the compliance of enterprises with the provisions of the Working Environmental Act and Regulation No. 551. It notes the Government’s information that the Labour Inspection Authority’s activity mainly targets enterprises with the poorest working conditions, where there is little willingness to correct problems. This task is carried on by: (a) internal control audits, which review the enterprises’ internal control system and reveal whether regulations and procedures are being followed; (b) verifications and inspections checking whether internal control systems function well and companies meet legal requirements; (c) investigation of all serious and life-threatening accidents.

2. Police and the National Unit for the Fight against Organized and Other Serious Crimes. The Committee notes the Government’s information that the newly established National Unit for the Fight against Organized and Other Serious Crimes is in charge of gathering intelligence data on trafficking of human beings, including trafficking in children, and on child pornography. It notes the Government’s information that this Unit is a continuation of the Law Enforcement Unit provided in the former Norwegian Criminal Investigation Service and consists of competent and well-educated police officers and law enforcement specialists with a remit to handle child pornography cases. This Unit cooperates with the police throughout the country and internationally, and particularly: (a) assists the local police in investigating child pornography cases; (b) detects sexual abusers who use the Internet channels with the purpose of sexual exploitation of children; and (c) provides for a pornography hotline where people can leave their messages in cases of suspicion of child pornography on the Internet. The Committee also notes the Government’s information that in 2004 a national police intelligence project was launched to improve the knowledge of the extents and methods of trafficking in women and children.

The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the work of the National Unit for the Fight against Organized and Other Serious Crimes with regard to trafficking of children and child prostitution. It also requests the Government to provide further information on the national police intelligence project of 2004 concerning trafficking in women and children.

Article 6. Programmes of action to eliminate as a priority the worst forms of child labour. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s information that on 24 June 2005 it launched a new Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Women and Children containing measures to protect and assist the victims, to prevent human trafficking, and to prosecute the organizers. According to the Government, this plan will be implemented over a three-year period (2005-08) and is the successor to the first action plan (2003-05). It notes that, according to the Government, the 2005-08 plan launches 22 new measures, which are based on the experiences identified in the work against human trafficking to date. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing information on the results of the Plan of Action to Combating Trafficking in Women and Children 2005-08 and on any relevant impact on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour.

Article 7, paragraph 1. Penalties. The Committee had previously noted that sections 162, and 222-231 of the Penal Code establish sufficiently effective and dissuasive penalties of imprisonment and fines for breach of the provisions prohibiting: drug trafficking; slavery and any practice related to slavery; the sale and trafficking of children for the purposes of sexual and labour exploitation; the incitement of a child under 18 years for the purpose of prostitution; and child pornography. It also notes that the new sections 204(a) and 224 of the Penal Code establish sufficiently effective and dissuasive penalties for child pornography and human trafficking, respectively. Furthermore, the Committee had noted that the Working Environmental Act contains penal provisions for employers who violate the Act and commit offences which involve a serious hazard to life or health.

The Committee had previously noted that section 203 of the Penal Code penalizes anyone who has sexual intercourse with a child under 18 for remuneration. This provision states that a mistake concerning the victim’s age does not exclude criminal liability, unless the offender acted in "reasonable good faith". The Committee had asked the Government to specify the meaning of "reasonable good faith" pursuant to section 203 of the Penal Code. The Committee notes the Government’s information that "reasonable good faith" indicates that the accused must not have acted negligently with regards to the victim’s age. According to the Government, the preparatory works of the Penal Code indicate that it is normally not enough that the offender rests his assessment merely on the victim’s own statement about the victim’s age, unless this explanation is supported by other facts. The Committee notes the Government’s information that there has been one case from the municipal court in Oslo (TOSLO-2003-16444) regarding the meaning of the term "reasonable good faith" in section 203. In this case, the court found that the offender has acted in "reasonable good faith", based on the victim’s own statement of her age, her make-up, and the fact that she had been out late at night. The Committee takes note of this information.

Article 7, paragraph 2. Effective and time-bound measures. Clauses (a) and (b). Prevent the engagement of children and provide direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour. Child prostitution. The Committee had previously noted that, according to the follow-up report on commercial sexual exploitation of children published in 1999, the Government has taken a number of measures mainly aimed at preventing children sexual abuse and prostitution, and providing for rehabilitation services for child victims. The Committee once again asks the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures adopted according to the follow-up report on commercial sexual exploitation of children of 1999, with regard to the prevention of children under 18 years from being engaged in prostitution and the rehabilitation and social integration of child victims of prostitution.

Child victims of trafficking. The Committee notes the Government’s information that the following measures have been implemented under the Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Women and Children launched in June 2005: (a) improved access to sheltering (the Government, public service providers, and NGOs, are in charge of identifying shelters and other suitable accommodation for victims of trafficking, in order to provide for their rehabilitation); (b) improved access to information (creation of a 24-hour information phone-line and a web site with information about rights of victims of trafficking); (c) improved access to social and health services (a social service centre ensures that victims receive financial, medical and psychological support); (d) a 45-day reflection period, granting a temporary renewable resident permit and a work permit to victims who decide to cooperate with the police; (e) special victim protection measures for victim witnesses; (f) funding for outreach teams in the prostitution community in Norway, providing for information, health services and legal counselling; (g) funding of several shelters and rehabilitation centres of governments, international organizations and NGOs in countries of origin. The Committee also notes the Government’s information that four research programmes have been implemented to produce a "state of knowledge" on the situation of trafficking in women and children in Norway, with the collaboration of NGOs. The Committee takes due note of this information.

Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. Children at risk in the Baltic Sea region. The Committee notes that, according to Norway’s first report of October 2004 regarding the implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Norway is continuing to cooperate on work with children at risk under the auspices of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. According to the same source, the members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States and Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, will soon have finished drawing up a plan of action for unaccompanied and trafficked minors. The target group of this plan will include minors who are sexually exploited or in forced labour. Furthermore, Norway has also taken the initiative for a survey (to be completed by September 2004) in the Baltic region of young people’s attitudes to sexuality, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, and purchase of sexual services.

The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the Plan of Action for Unaccompanied and Trafficked Minors on protecting children at risk in the Baltic region from the worst forms of child labour. It also asks the Government to provide information on the survey of young people in the Baltic region.

Separated children seeking asylum. The Committee had previously noted that, according to the Plan of Action for Combating Trafficking in Women and Children, a number of measures have been taken in order to address the situation of separated children seeking asylum, such as the issuing of guidelines for various agencies when a separated child disappears from a reception centre. The Committee once again asks the Government to provide further information on the measures taken in order to address the situation of separated children seeking asylum.

Article 8. International cooperation and assistance. 1. International cooperation. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes that, according to Norway’s first report regarding the implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Norway is providing support to the UNICEF programme on protection of children, including on the issues of trafficking and sexual exploitation. In addition, as part of the National Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Women and Children, the Government has funded a number of projects directed at children in the Balkans, Romania, Bangladesh, Nepal, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. The Committee notes that, according to the same source, Norway initiated a co-operation with Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and Ireland on the safety, awareness, facts and tools (SAFT) project. This project is intended to disseminate knowledge about safe use of the Internet to children and young people, parents, teachers and others, especially targeted on combating the sexual abuse of children and sexual exploitation of minors. The SAFT web site also includes a hotline and an electronic form which the public can use to send tips directly to the National Criminal Investigation Service (KRIPOS) on matters such as pictures of child abuse. KRIPOS is involved in international cooperation on intelligence and on the investigations on matters covered by the Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that Norway signed on 16 May 2005 the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings.

2. Regional cooperation. The Committee had already noted that a number of measures were proposed under the Nordic Baltic Campaign against Trafficking in Women and Children to raise awareness and combat trafficking. It had also noted that Norway is participating actively in the important efforts to combat human trafficking on the auspices of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe. The Committee notes that Norway participates in the Baltic Sea Task Force on organized crime under the Baltic Sea States. Moreover, Norway is a member of the Task Force against Trafficking of Human Beings in the Barents Euro Artic region and of the Nordic Baltic Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings.

The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the concrete measures taken pursuant to the abovementioned international and regional initiatives and plans of action and on their impact on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour.

Part V of the report form. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s information that to date there is no case law connected to the new provision on child pornography (section 204(a)). However, there is a considerable amount of case law concerning the earlier section 204(1)(d). These cases involve production, importation, possession and dissemination of child pornography in different forms, possession of pictures and videotapes of a sexual nature depicting children. The Committee also notes the Government’s information that at present one case involving trafficking in children for sexual exploitation is under investigation. Five cases are in court proceedings. There are no court cases regarding human trafficking (section 224). The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the majority of the trafficking in human beings cases detected in Norway regards women trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation. The police have not detected any cases of child labour in Norway.

The Committee notes that, according to the Norway’s first report of 2004 regarding the implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, a survey on child and youth prostitutes has been carried out in 2003 in Trondheim, one of the largest cities in Norway. One of the reported conclusions is that young people do not necessarily think that exchanging sex for payment is prostitution. It also notes that this survey was due to be continued in 2004. The Committee asks the Government to communicate the results of the survey regarding child prostitution.

The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information, including extracts from inspection reports, studies and inquiries and statistical data on the nature extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour, the number of children covered by the measures giving effect to the Convention, the number and nature of infringements reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penalties applied.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s first and second reports. It requests the Government to provide information on the following points.

Article 3 of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Clause (a). 1. All forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as debt bondage, serfdom and forced or compulsory labour. The Committee notes that section 225 of the Penal Code punishes: (a) any person who causes or is accessory to causing another person to be enslaved; (b) any person who engages in or is accessory to slave-trading or the transporting of slaves or persons destined for slave-trading; (c) any person who enters into an association with another person for the purpose of carrying out or aiding or abetting any act referred to in this section. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the rules under Chapter 21 of the Penal Code concerning deprivation of liberty (sections 223-225) are of general applicability and also protect, besides slavery and trafficking in children, the personal liberty of persons under 18 years of age against bondage, serfdom and compulsory labour.

2. Sale and trafficking of children. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the Storting passed on 17 June 2003 Bill No. 62 regarding a penal provision specifically prohibiting human trafficking. According to the Bill, human trafficking is based on the definition contained in article 5 of the Protocol on trafficking in persons supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. It also notes the Government’s information that this text deals with human trafficking for prostitution or other sexual purposes, forced labour, war service in foreign countries or for the removal of human body parts. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the text also expressly states that where a person under the age of 18 years is exploited for the above purposes, the perpetrator shall be liable to punishment regardless of what means are used to bring the victim into the situation. Trafficking in persons below 18 years is an element that qualifies as "serious" trafficking. The Committee notes that, according to the booklet entitled: "Norway’s Plan of Action for Combating Trafficking in Women and Children", the provisions of the Penal Code concerning offences against the person (sections 228, 229, and 231), coercion (section 222), deprivation of liberty (section 223), and threats (section 227) may be applicable to actors involved at all stages of trafficking. Section 224 of the Penal Code sets out penalties for any person who by force, threats, or underhand conduct unlawfully brings anyone into his own or another person’s power with the intention of reducing him to a state of helplessness, enlisting him in foreign military service, or taking him into captivity or other state of dependence in a foreign country, or transporting him to a foreign country for indecent purposes. The booklet also states that section 47 of the Immigration Act concerning penalties for people smuggling, and the provisions of the Organ Transplant Act concerning the commercial use of organs may, according to the circumstances, be applicable in cases involving human trafficking. The Committee asks the Government to supply a copy of Bill No. 62 of 17 June 2003.

Clause (b). 1. Use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that Chapter 19 of the Penal Code concerning sexual offences was amended by Act No. 76 of 11 August 2000, No. 76, in order to secure compliance with this Convention. The Committee notes that prostitution is not illegal in Norway, but that, subsequent to the amendment of 2000, section 203 of the Penal Code prohibits the purchase of sexual services from persons under the age of 18. It also notes the Government’s statement that section 203 comprises a large variety of sexual acts, from sexual intercourse to touching genitals. It observes that section 202 of the Penal Code defines the term "prostitution" as sexual intercourse or sexual acts performed by a person who is compensated for his/her services and states that it is an offence for anyone to mislead or encourage another person into engaging in prostitution or exploiting the profits of prostitution, regardless of the age of the victim.

2. Use, procuring or offering of a child for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances. The Committee notes the Government’s information that section 204(1) of the Penal Code punishes anyone who misleads a person under the age of 18 to participate in the production of pictures or films with a sexual content. It also notes that the same provision punishes anyone who: publishes, offers for sale or in any other way attempts to disseminate pornography; gives a public lecture or arranges a public performance or exhibition of a pornographic nature. It notes that section 204 also prohibits the production, importation or possession of child pornography, as well as downloading child pornography into a personal computer or paying for access to web sites containing this material. "Pornography" is defined as sexual descriptions which are offensive or in any other way likely to have a humanly degrading or corrupting effect, including sexual descriptions showing children, dead bodies, animals, violence or duress. "Child pornography" is described as sexual descriptions showing children, persons who must be considered children or persons who are presented as being children. Any person who is not sexually mature shall be considered a child. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the practical application of the abovementioned provisions.

Clause (c). Use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities. The Committee notes that the Penal Code provides for the prevention of drug trafficking in general. Section 162 states that any person who unlawfully manufactures, imports, exports, acquires, stores, sends or conveys any substance that by statutory provision is deemed to be a drug shall be guilty of a drug felony. The Committee asks the Government to indicate in what way the use, procuring or offering of a child under the age of 18 for the production and trafficking of drugs is specifically prohibited under the relevant legislation.

Clause (d). Hazardous work. The Committee notes that section 34, subsection (2), of the Working Environment Act of 1997 prohibits children under the age of 18 from being assigned to work that may be detrimental to their "safety, health or development". It notes that sections 12 and 13 of Regulation No. 551 on Work Performed by Children and Young Persons contain rules concerning the types of work that persons under the age of 18 may not perform.

Article 4, paragraph 1. Determination of hazardous work. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, section 12 of the Regulation states that persons under the age of 18 may not perform work which: (a) exceeds their physical or mental capacity; (b) involves exposure to toxic or carcinogenic factors, factors which cause hereditary genetic damage, factors which cause foetal damage or which otherwise cause chronic damage to people; (c) involves exposure to dangerous radiation; (d) entails a risk of accident which it is reasonable to assume that persons under the age of 18 cannot recognize or avoid owing to lack of awareness of safety or to lack of experience, training, or drills; (e) involves health risks due to extreme cold or heat, noise or vibrations. According to section 13 of the Regulation, persons under the age of 18 may not perform: (a) work which entails exposure to ionizing radiation; (b) work in a hyperbaric atmosphere (e.g. pressure chambers or diving); (c) work that entails exposure to biological factors, in particular risk groups; (d) work that entails exposure to chemicals that meet the requirements for classification as highly toxic; toxic; corrosive; or explosive; (e) work which entails exposure to carcinogenic chemicals; (f) work that entails exposure to lead and lead compounds; (g) work that entails exposure to asbestos and material containing asbestos; (h) work that entails exposure to chemicals classified as irritants and containing one or more particular risk phrases; (i) work involving the production and handling of fireworks, as well as objects and machinery which contain explosives; (j) work with wild or poisonous animals; (k) work involving industrial slaughtering of animals; (l) work that entails handling equipment for the production, storage, or application of compressed, liquid, or dissolved gasses; (m) work in tanks, basins, reservoirs or with analysis sample bottles containing certain types of chemical factors; (n) work which entails a risk of collapse of a structure or landslide; (o) work which entails risk of contact with high voltage electricity; (p) piecework whose tempo is determined by machines; (q) work which entails a hazard to health owing to extreme cold or heat or to noise or vibration; (r) work with certain types of cranes and lifting and stacking trucks; (s) work with earth movers; (t) work with nail pistols; (u) work with liquid jet equipment with a working pressure equal to or exceeding 250 bar.The Committee notes that according to the Government, the Working Environment Act and Regulation No. 551 also contain provisions regarding night work. The Working Environment Act requires that young people between 15 and 18 years, who are not attending compulsory education, shall have a work-free period either between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. or between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Article 5. Appropriate monitoring mechanisms. 1. Labour inspectorate. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, the Labour Inspection Authority supervises the compliance of enterprises with the provisions of the Working Environment Act and Regulation No. 551. It also notes that, according to section 74 of the Working Environment Act, the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority consists of the Directorate of Labour Inspection and the Local Officers of the Labour Inspection Authority. The Directorate is responsible for the activities of the Labour Inspection Authority. The Committee notes that, by virtue of section 77 of the same Act, the Labour Inspection Authority: may issue orders and make individual decisions to fulfil the requirements of the Act; has the power to close down an establishment if the time limit of the order has ended or close down the establishment if there is a threat of "immediate danger"; may order the discontinuance of a certain supply or marketing, or recall a product. It notes that, according to section 80, the Labour Inspection Authority and any experts or commission of inquiry appointed pursuant to the Working Environment Act are empowered to perform inspections and to accede to establishments. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the functioning of the labour inspectorate and to provide extracts of inspection reports, specifying the extent and nature of violations detected involving children and young persons involved in the worst forms of child labour.

2. Ministry of Justice and the police. The Committee notes that, according to Norway’s Plan of Action for Combating Trafficking in Women and Children, the National Bureau of Crime Investigation is, together with the National Policy Academy, designed to systematically transfer expertise in the investigation of cases of sexual abuse of children to local police districts. Priority will be given to police investigation and prosecution of cases involving sexual abuse of children. Cooperation with the child welfare service will be intensified. Efforts to combat child pornography will be stepped up, and expertise in investigating child abuse, child pornography in the media and on the Internet and child sex tourism will be further developed. Nevertheless, with regard to trafficking, it notes that, according to Norway’s Plan of Action for combating Trafficking in Women and Children, at present the Norwegian authorities have little systematic knowledge of the extent and methods of human trafficking in the country. In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to obtain information from the prostitution community, especially from foreign women and girls. Moreover, the efforts of the police are complicated by links between prostitution and powerful criminal organizations in Norway and abroad. The Committee requests the Government to provide more information on the methods adopted by the National Bureau of Crime Investigation and the National Police Academy and other relevant bodies for the monitoring and effective implementation of the provisions of the Penal Code giving effect to the Convention.

Article 6, paragraph 1. Programmes of action to eliminate as a priority the worst forms of child labour. The Committee notes that Norway’s Plan of Action for Combating Trafficking in Women and Children will be implemented between 2003-05. It notes that this plan includes measures for: protecting and helping woman and children who are victims of human trafficking; preventing trafficking in woman and children; detecting and prosecuting the traffickers; disseminating information and promoting cooperation that will fulfil the intentions of the plan. The Ministry of Children and Family Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be responsible for implementing measures in their respective spheres of competence. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the achievements and impact of the Plan of Action for Combating Trafficking in Women and Children, especially with regard to protecting children under 18 who are victims of trafficking.

Article 7, paragraph 1. Penalties. The Committee notes that, according to section 225 of the Penal Code, anyone who commits the offences related to slavery shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of between five and 21 years. The offence of association for the purpose of abetting any practice related to slavery is punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years. It notes that the Penal Code sets out penalties of imprisonment for offences against the person, such as coercion, deprivation of liberty and threats (sections 222-231). According to section 203 of the Penal Code, anyone who has sexual intercourse or activity with a person under the age of 18 for remuneration will be penalized with fines or imprisonment of up to two years; a mistake concerning the victim’s age does not exclude criminal liability, unless the offender acted in reasonable good faith. It draws the Government’s attention to the difficulty to ascertain the exact age of boys and girls. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the meaning of the term "reasonable good faith", and relevant court decisions in this regard. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that offenders who commit intentionally the offences related to child pornography (section 204 of the Penal Code) are liable to fines or imprisonment not exceeding two years; negligent actors receive a prison term for six months or less. In addition, a proprietor or superior who wilfully or negligently omits to prevent the commission in his business of any acts, which are illegal in accordance with section 204, is liable to the same penalty. The Committee notes that, according to section 162 of the Penal Code, drug felonies are punishable by fines or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years. The Committee notes that the Working Environment Act contains penal provisions for employers who violate the Act and commit offences which involve a serious hazard to life or health. It notes that, by virtue of section 88 of the Working Environment Act, parents and guardians of children who allow a child or young person to work contrary to the Act, are liable to a fine. The Committee notes that, in order to enforce the decisions of the Labour Inspection Authority, section 78 of the Working Environment Act gives the Labour Inspection Authority the power to impose a continuous, coercive fine for each day, week or month that passes after expiry of the time limit set for implementation of the order and until the order is implemented. Section 89 imposes a penalty on those who obstruct the inspections or who fail to furnish the mandatory assistance or information required for effecting supervision in accordance with the Act.

Article 7, paragraph 2. Effective and time-bound measures. Clauses (a) and (b). Prevent the engagement of children and give direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour. 1. Child prostitution. The Committee notes that a Plan for Norway’s follow-up to the first World Congress in Stockholm in 1996 against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children was submitted and a report was published in 1999 (hereinafter follow-up Report on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children). It notes that this report focuses on measures implemented after the first World Congress, and in particular on measures taken at the national level to combat the sexual exploitation of children and problems encountered and examples of good practices. It notes that, according to this report, the Government has taken a number of concrete measures: (a) a training inter-agency programme launched by the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs (aimed at initiating information and supplementary training programmes for personnel who get in touch with minors who sell their sexual services); (b) the 2002 Project for Sexually Abused Children launched by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (aimed at reinforcing measures by the child care services and other agencies to help children involved in prostitution); (c) the adoption by the largest Norwegian tour operators of the ECPAT’s Code of conduct for the Travel and Tourism Industry (for preventing child sex tourism); (d) 1998 Plan to reduce the use of intoxicants launched by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (preventing the exploitation of children and young persons in the sale of sexual services through measures to reduce/stop the misuse of alcohol and drugs). The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the impact of the abovementioned measures with regard to removing children from prostitution and providing for their rehabilitation and social integration.

2. Child pornography. The Committee notes that, according to the follow-up Report on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, Norway is involved in two plans on child pornography. (1) A project was launched by Save the Children - Norway in order to create an e-mail hotline for preventing misuse of the Internet by distributing, exchanging and selling child pornography and form an international network for combating it. The hotline has received tips and ideas on a daily basis on where to find sites containing child pornography and sites linked to other paedophile activities. Verified information regarding child pornography is passed on to the National Bureau of Crime Investigation, which communicates to other countries through the Interpol system. (2) The "Children, Young Persons and the Internet" Plan was launched in 2001 by the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs (aimed at promoting hotlines against child pornography; gaining knowledge on risk behaviour and information needs; teaching children to be responsible Internet users; diminishing risk behaviours; empowering parents and educators). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of those measures on protecting children under 18 from child pornography.

3. Child victims of trafficking. The Committee notes that, according to Norway’s Plan of Action for Combating Trafficking in Women and Children, the Government will work to ensure that women and children who are victims of trafficking are given assistance. Specifically, the Government plans to: recognize victims of human trafficking as refugees; take the initiative to ensure safe places for victims of trafficking to stay, where they have access to necessary assistance and information; provide a reflection period which includes counselling for up to 45 days before the expulsion decision; develop routines for coordinating the follow-up, return, and rehabilitation of women and children in collaboration with the authorities in the country of origin, in order to ensure that these victims of trafficking have a place to stay and are protected and that they receive support in relation to jobs, education and ways of improving their living conditions and opportunities. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the impact of these programmes of assistance established by the Plan of Action for Combating Trafficking of Women and Children on the rehabilitation and social integration of children below 18 who are victims of trafficking.

Clause (d).  Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. 1. Children at risk in the Baltic Sea Region. The Committee notes that, according to the follow-up Report on Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, the Child Centre for Children at Risk in the Baltic Sea Region, is a part of the Children’s Unit within the secretariat of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. It notes that one of the functions of the Child Centre is to raise the level of knowledge and to coordinate activities targeting children at risk in the Baltic Sea Region. The areas prioritized include: (1) child sexual abuse and exploitation; (2) street children; (3) child victims of trafficking.

2. Separated children seeking asylum. The Committee notes that, according to Norway’s Plan of Action for Combating Trafficking in Women and Children, children who accompany their families to Norway are strongly affected when the caregiver, usually the mother, is a victim of trafficking. Separated children seeking asylum are a specially vulnerable group because they arrive in the country without a caregiver. Every year a number of these young people disappear from Norwegian reception centres. In addition, children who have been sent to, lured or forced to travel to Norway without a parent or a guardian and who are sexually exploited or abused, are also deprived of care, family life, education and other rights. The Committee notes that, according to the abovementioned Plan, the Directorate of Immigration issued guidelines concerning the duties of the various agencies when a separated child disappears from a reception centre. The Directorate also introduced a requirement that relatives must prove that they have a formal responsibility to care for a separated child seeking asylum before he/she is allowed to move out of a reception centre.

The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the results attained and the impact of the activities targeting children at risk in the Baltic Sea Region. It also asks the Government to provide information on the implementation of the measures taken in order to address the situation of separated children seeking asylum.

Clause (e). The special situation of girls. The Committee notes that, according to Norway’s Plan of Action for Combating Trafficking in Women and Children, a strategy for education in Norwegian development cooperation was launched in January 2003 in which special priority is given to girls’ education. It also notes that, according to this Plan, projects will be carried out in priority areas to examine the problems arising from human trafficking in general and the situation of foreign women in the sex trade in Oslo in particular, especially the situation of young girls. The Committee notes that gender equality in Norway is an integral part of the Education Act. According to the Development of Education 1991-2000 - National Report from Norway, there is a broad consensus on Norwegian policy issues related to gender equity in education.

Article 8. International cooperation and/or assistance. The Committee notes that Norway is actively involved in efforts to prevent trafficking in women and children in the Baltic Region, the Balkans, Moldova and Central Asia, e.g. through information campaigns and police training. These measures are largely channelled through the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, other international organizations and NGOs and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

1. International Cooperation. The Committee notes that, according to the abovementioned Plan, in 2001 Norway endorsed a new recommendation (2001-16) of the Council of Europe on Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation, in connection with the preparation at European level for the Second World Congress against Sexual Exploitation of Children. The Committee notes that Norway is a member of the Interpol Group on Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation, set up in 2000, and the Standing Working Party on Offences against Minors. In 2001, Norway concluded a cooperation agreement with Europol on intensifying the joint efforts to combat serious organized crime, including human trafficking and make them more effective. These projects have resulted in the arrest of a large number of persons with links to criminal organizations with branches in many countries, including EU members and the Balkans.

2. Regional cooperation. The Committee notes the Government’s information that the opening seminar of a joint Nordic Baltic Campaign against Trafficking in Women and Children was held in Tallinn, Estonia, in May 2002. The main purpose of this joint campaign is: to raise awareness; to stimulate discussions on how to combat trafficking; to establish a common platform for further cooperation. The Committee also notes the Government’s information that Norway, chairing the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2002, has invited all Nordic and Baltic Ministers involved in this campaign to engage actively and take the opportunity of building an even more solid basis for cooperation against trafficking in women and children in the countries involved. The Committee further notes that, according to Norway’s Plan of Action for combating Trafficking in Women and Children, Norway is participating actively in the important efforts to combat human trafficking under the auspices of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe. These efforts include awareness-raising campaigns, training and sharing experience and expertise, cooperation and law enforcement, protection of victims, assistance in repatriation and integration, the development of adequate legislation and preventive measures, such as better immigration and asylum policy.

The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the concrete measures taken pursuant to the abovementioned regional and international initiatives and plans of action.

3. Elimination of poverty. The Committee notes that in March 2002 the Government adopted an Action Plan for Combating Poverty in the South towards 2015. It asks the Government to supply information on the impact of this Action Plan for Combating Poverty towards eliminating the worst forms of child labour in the countries concerned.

Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the Government’s information that section 203 of the Penal Code, which prohibits purchasing sexual services from persons under 18 years of age was enacted on 11 August 2000. Consequently, only numbers from 2001 exist, and only one instance was reported. No sanctions have been reported. The Committee also notes that the statistics reported by the Government do not distinguish between child and adult pornography. It notes that, according to Norway’s Plan of Action for Combating Trafficking in Women and Children, the police revealed that there is organized prostitution in Norway; the proportion of foreign prostitutes is high in the country as a whole, and the sex trade can be linked to some extent with criminal networks. A survey carried out in Oslo showed that there had been a substantial increase in the number of foreign women engaged in prostitution, especially from eastern and south-eastern Europe. Indoor prostitution and prostitution arranged by mobile phone have increased dramatically. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing information on the nature, extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour, the number of children covered by the measures giving effect to the Convention, the number and nature of infringements reported, investigations, prosecutions and convictions. To the extent possible, all information provided should be disaggregated by sex.