Report by Norway on THB March 2010

Trafficking in Human Beings – Norwegiandescription to the BSPC working groupMarch 2010Jan AustadSenior adviserNational coordinator on Trafficking in Human BeingsMinistry of Justice and the PoliceNorwayNational Plan of Action against TraffickingSince 2003 the Government has developed national plans of action to structure the effortsagainst trafficking. The current plan is from 2006. A new plan will be introduced in 2010.The plan of action was drawn up by the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion, the Ministryof Children and Equality, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Health and Care Services,the Ministry of Justice and the Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The Ministry of Justice and the Police has the main responsibility for coordinating theGovernment’s efforts to combat human trafficking.The main goals and measures in the plan of action include the following: limit recruitment and demand ensure appropriate assistance and protection for victims ensure that child victims of human trafficking receive appropriate follow-up services ensure a greater degree of exposure and prosecution of human traffickers ensure more knowledge and stronger inter-disciplinary cooperation strengthen the international framework and international cooperation.The plan contains 37 measures.Norway does not have a National Rapporteur on trafficking in human beings.The Coordinating Unit for Assistance and ProtectionIn 2006 the Government established a Coordinating Unit for victims of trafficking. This unit(the KOM project) is administered by the Directorate of Police and assists the welfareservices by providing methods for identifying victims and for planning and mobilisingassistance and protection services for victims of human trafficking. The Coordinating Unitalso contributes to the development of information and human resources in the field of humantrafficking.LegislationIn Norway, human trafficking comes under section 224 of the Penal Code. This provision,introduced in 2003, is based on the Palermo Protocol and covers exploitation for the purposeof prostitution, forced labour, including begging, or trade in human organs.The Norwegian Penal Code distinguishes between prostitution, procurement (pimping) andhuman trafficking. Purchasing sexual services is prohibited (section 202a and 203 of the PenalCode).Procurement, i.e. promoting and earning money from the prostitution of others, is covered bysection 202 of the Penal Code. In practice, it is difficult to distinguish between victims ofhuman trafficking and other persons engaged in prostitution, and between human traffickingand procurement.Norway has ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking inHuman Beings.2In 2006 the Government extended the so-called reflection period so that assumed victims ofhuman trafficking without legal grounds for staying in Norway, may be granted a temporaryresidence and work permit for up to six months.A new temporary work permit for one year is possible if the person has broken away from thepeople responsible for human trafficking and a police investigation is initiated against theperpetrators.Extent of the problemThe Coordinating unit for victims of trafficking has collected data that gives a picture of thereported extent of trafficking. Needless to say, the real extent remains uncertain.The Unit estimates that during 2009, various authorities and organisations in Norway wereproviding assistance to a total of 292 presumed victims of trafficking. (Several of thesevictims had been identified in previous years.) 121 were Nigerian citizens, the remaining wereof 42 other nationalities.In 2009, a total of 73 foreigners applied for a temporary permit (reflection period) for the firsttime. 50 were granted, while 23 were denied.Since 2005, the Ministry of Justice and the Police has financed the ROSA project run by thecrisis centre secretariat, which offers safe housing, follow-up and information to femalevictims of human trafficking.In 2009, 51 women were placed in safe housing by the project.A total of 18 persons have received final sentences for violating section 224 in the Penal Codesince its introduction in 2003.3