UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 36) Domestic violence remains a challenge. More incidents are being reported and a large proportion of children are affected. The Government will continue to strengthen efforts to combat domestic and sexual violence. Specific action plans on combating violence and abuse, forced marriage, and female genital mutilation guide this work. In 2016, the Government presented a plan to step up efforts against violence and abuse, reduce the number of incidents, and improve care for children who have been exposed to violence and abuse.
Para 37) Various measures have been implemented: • Support centres for victims of crime have been established in all police districts. • 11 children’s houses in different parts of the country provide treatment and followup, including child-friendly facilities for police interviews, for children who have suffered violence and abuse. • From 2010, all municipalities are obliged to provide crisis centre services free of charge to women, men and children. • Research programmes on domestic violence, negative social control, forced marriage and female genital mutilation have been established. • A committee has been appointed to review intimate partner homicides and recommend ways of preventing new cases. • Cooperation has been established with the Sámediggi on research into, and measures to prevent, violence in Sami communities. • There is a training programme for adults who work with children, and digital information resources are available for children, victims, family members, perpetrators and the support services. • The health service and school health services have been strengthened as an important means of exposing violence. • A new national plan for child daycare centres states clearly that personnel must know how violence against children can be prevented and how to identify signs of abuse. • NGOs’ efforts to combat forced marriage, female genital mutilation and restrictions on young people’s freedom have been strengthened.
Para 38) In addition, the Government will: • establish groups with expertise on domestic violence and sexual abuse in all police districts. • establish a national cyber crime centre to strengthen the fight against internet-related abuse. • draw up an action plan on combating rape. • develop a national strategy on competence-building in the field of violence and abuse.
Para 39) People who need help to rebuild their lives after experiencing sexual violence, negative social control, forced marriage, trafficking or other traumatic experiences receive assistance from NAV to start studying or find work and to assure a satisfactory standard of living.
Para 40) In 2015, the maximum sentence for abuse in close relationships was increased to six years, and to 15 years for aggravated abuse. To meet the obligations of the Istanbul Convention, a penal provision on stalking has been introduced and the penal provision on forced marriage has been amended. The provisions on sexual abuse of minors have also been amended in line with the obligations set out in the Lanzarote Convention.
Para 41) The definition of sexual assault in the Penal Code is intended to apply to sexual activity without consent. The definition does not include wording to the effect of ‘without consent’. However, circumstances that imply a lack of consent are described.

UN Compilation:
Para 45) CEDAW remained concerned about the high level of gender-based violence against women, especially domestic and sexual violence, including rape. The HR Committee was concerned that the lack of free consent was not at the centre of the definition of rape in the Criminal Code. It was also concerned by the alleged underreporting of rape and other forms of gender-based violence, societal and legal barriers in accessing justice for rape victims, and the low number of prosecutions and convictions of rape cases.
Para 53) was concerned about the reported increase in online child sexual abuse and exploitation, and the trend of underreporting the sexual abuse of children, particularly when the victim was a boy.
Para 71) The HR Committee was concerned by the reported high rates of violence against Sami women, who faced difficulties in seeking justice for those crimes due to cultural and linguistic barriers and their mistrust of authorities.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 18) Women and children belonging to Sami people were reportedly more exposed to domestic violence than the rest of the population.
Para 56) ODVV stated that gender-based violence, including rape and sexual violence remained a serious concern and that violence against women was underreported. NGO-Forum noted a low rate of prosecutions in rape cases owing to weakness in police investigations.