The Norwegian Gender Equality Act was adopted in 1978. The Act prohibits all discrimination on the grounds of gender and is applicable to all areas of society. It also stipulates that the public authorities, employers and social partners are responsible for actively promoting gender equality within their respective spheres of responsibility.
The Gender Equality Act is enforced by the Equality and Anti-discrimination Ombud, a politically and professionally independent government body. The Equality and Anti-discrimination Ombud deals with complaints regarding violations of the Gender Equality Act free of charge. The Ombud also works to promote gender equality and monitors developments in society with a view to identifying and drawing attention to conditions that counteract gender equality and equal treatment.
The Ministry of Children and Equality launches and supports R&D activities to provide a satisfactory knowledge base for policies relating to gender equality and equal treatment of gays and lesbians. The ministry plays a leading, coordinating or collaborative role in inter-ministerial cooperation to combat female genital mutilation, forced marriage, trafficking of women and children and family abuse. The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs administers state funding to crisis centres. The Ministry of Children and Equality works closely with other relevant ministries in efforts to ensure equal pay for equal work and to promote a better gender balance in key political and economic decision-making processes and fora.
The Norwegian Government gives high priority to contacts with the NGOs/CSOs on gender equality issues. Such organizations are regularly invited to give their opinions on public matters regarding gender equality and to participate in international delegations. Basic government funding (from the Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs) and support for defined gender equality measures are also available to these organizations.
A gender mainstreaming perspective is important to emphasize that both women and men operate with gender-typical choices and priorities. The ministry has taken active policy steps to mobilize men as partners in gender equality efforts and provides support to the REFORM men’s resource centre.
Norway also takes part in international gender equality efforts, especially within the Nordic Council of Ministers, EU, UN and Council of Europe. As a member of the European Economic Area, Norway is obligated to comply with all EU regulations governing gender-based discrimination. Norway has incorporated the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) into the Gender Equality Act, and submits a report to the UN on trends in the situation of women in Norway every four years.
Integration strategy: gender mainstreaming in public policy and service production
Pursuant to the Gender Equality Act, the promotion of gender equality in all areas of society is a general responsibility. A gender mainstreaming strategy for all public activity was introduced in 1986 and is still being actively applied. It is the responsibility of the relevant public authority to ensure gender equality, e.g. in working life, in education, in the health care system, in terms of social rights, income, etc. In 2003, an amendment to the Gender Equality Act came into force stipulating that the public authorities and employers alike shall make systematic, targeted efforts to promote gender equality, and shall provide an annual account of the measures implemented to promote gender equality.
The principle of gender mainstreaming has been integrated into Norwegian government budget policy. The aim of gender-mainstreaming in budgeting activities is to promote gender equality and a fair distribution of public resources, as well as to enhance the effectiveness and quality of service delivery. Norway is actively engaged in Nordic, European and international cooperation to develop and promote gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting.
By the Norwegian Ministry for Children and Equality