Children's Affairs

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child safeguards the rights of children in various ways, stipulating that the authorities must seek to safeguard the best interests, survival and development of the child, protect children from discrimination and respect children’s views in matters that concern them directly. The Convention was ratified by Norway in 1991, and has now been ratified by 191... Read more

Norway has a long tradition of focusing priority on efforts to enhance the ability of children and young people to exert an impact on the development of society. Norway has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and has incorporated into its national legislation the principle that children and young people have a right to state their views and be heard. This creates a framework... Read more

Children and adolescents under the age of 18 comprise 24 per cent of the Norwegian population (2005). Of this, roughly 77 per cent lives in cities or urban centres. Norway has a fertility rate of 1.83, which is relatively high compared to many other European countries. The government authorities place great importance on creating a safe and secure environment for all young people growing up in... Read more