[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

NORWAY (Tier 2) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

The Government of Norway does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Norway remained on Tier 2. These efforts included investigating more trafficking cases, developing new trafficking guidelines for police, and allocating significantly more funding toward implementation of the NAP. For the first time in five years, the government reported an official number of identified and assisted victims. In addition, the government developed a new action plan against “social dumping” and work-related crime, with several measures aimed at preventing exploitation, including trafficking, of foreign workers. Furthermore, the government organized a ministerial conference on fisheries crime, including labor trafficking, and established an international vessel tracking center that communicates data and analysis on illegal vessels and enables secure intergovernmental cooperation to combat fisheries crime, including labor trafficking. Several government-contracted research foundations published reports, including one looking at the prevalence of trafficking in Norway and documenting challenges and providing recommendations on how to obtain more reliable trafficking statistics. However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. Authorities prosecuted and convicted fewer traffickers. The government continued to delay development of formal identification procedures, an NRM, and a comprehensive statistical system for collecting data. The government continued to focus on the deportation of some foreign nationals rather than screening for trafficking indicators. Some victims were penalized for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked rather than identified as victims and given care. Finally, when authorities investigated and prosecuted a trafficking crime as another crime, victims were unable to access assistance granted to trafficking victims under Norwegian law, leaving them vulnerable to re-victimization.

Prioritized Recommendations

Expand efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict traffickers with an increased focus on pursuing labor trafficking cases.

Establish an NRM and victim identification procedures that receive adequate input from NGOs, define processes and roles of all relevant government agencies and front-line actors, and train those actors to ensure uniform implementation nationwide.

Develop and implement a reliable comprehensive statistical system for collecting and collating data, including on victim identification and assistance and investigations, prosecutions, and convictions.

Screen all foreign nationals and asylum-seekers for indicators of trafficking and stay deportation of potential victims prior to screening.

Ensure all trafficking victims receive access to assistance regardless of whether authorities investigate and prosecute a trafficking crime as another crime.

Enhance efforts to proactively identify and assist trafficking victims, particularly children, by training relevant workers on procedures for identifying victims and recognizing indicators.

Consistently implement the existing non-punishment provisions in the criminal code to ensure trafficking victims are not inappropriately penalized solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked.

Enhance training for investigating cases and collecting evidence against suspected traffickers.

Increase training for investigators, prosecutors, and judges on identifying trafficking, applying trafficking laws, and understanding different aspects of trafficking.

Develop an updated NAP, corresponding to the current situation and trends in Norway, with related anti-trafficking activities.