Human rights in Norway: freedom of expression and protection against discrimination

Human rights are basic rights that all people have because they are human. They apply regardless of citizenship, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, political opinion or money. In Norway these rights are not only ceremonial words. They are part of the Constitution, ordinary legislation and international agreements that Norway has accepted. For the Social Studies test, you should be able to explain both the principle and the everyday meaning: the state must protect people’s freedom and dignity, but rights also have to be balanced against other rights and against public safety.

Where are the rights written?

The most important Norwegian legal source is the Constitution. In 2014 the Constitution received a separate human rights chapter. It says, among other things, that the authorities must respect and secure human rights. This means that the Storting, the government, courts, police, schools, NAV, municipalities and other public bodies must take rights into account when they make rules and decisions. The Constitution is Norway’s highest law. If an ordinary statute conflicts with it, the ordinary statute must give way.

Norway is also bound by international human rights conventions. The European Convention on Human Rights, often called the ECHR, is especially important because it has been made Norwegian law through the Human Rights Act. Several UN conventions, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, have also been incorporated. If there is a conflict, the conventions in the Human Rights Act take precedence over other Norwegian laws. Courts and public administration can therefore use both the Constitution and human rights conventions when assessing a case.

What do human rights protect?

The rights protect many parts of life. Some rights concern freedom from abuse: prohibition of torture, slavery, human trafficking and arbitrary imprisonment. Others concern legal security, such as the right to a fair trial, the rule that no one can be punished without law, and the presumption of innocence. Many rights concern participation in society: freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of association, the right to vote and the right to privacy. There are also rights connected to welfare and social security, such as children’s right to care and education, and protection of health and family life.

A key exam point is that human rights primarily bind the state. This does not mean that private people may do whatever they want. The state also has a duty to protect people against serious violations by other private individuals, for example violence, threats, hate crime, human trafficking and discrimination. If someone is exposed to domestic violence, it is not only a private conflict. Norwegian authorities must have laws, police, crisis centres and courts that can protect the person at risk.

Freedom of expression in Norway

Freedom of expression means that people may speak, write, publish, demonstrate, criticise and take part in public debate. In Norway it is protected by Constitution section 100 and ECHR article 10. It is essential for democracy because voters must be able to criticise politicians, newspapers must be able to investigate powerful people, and minorities must be able to describe their own experiences. Without freedom of expression it becomes difficult to discover mistakes, corruption and injustice.

Freedom of expression also protects unpopular, sharp and provocative opinions. You do not have to agree with a statement to think it should be legal. This is a common exam trap: human rights do not only protect opinions the majority likes. At the same time, freedom of expression is not unlimited. Threats, defamation, severe personal attacks, unlawful sharing of private information and hate speech may be prohibited. The Penal Code has rules against discriminatory or hateful speech directed at protected groups. The point is not that the state should stop every uncomfortable debate, but that the law may set limits when expression seriously harms other people’s safety, dignity or rights.

In practice, rights must be weighed against each other. A newspaper may have a right to report on a matter of public interest, while an individual has a right to privacy. A demonstration may be protected, but the police may move it if necessary for safety and traffic. Authorities normally need a legal basis, a legitimate aim and a proportionate reason to limit a right.

Protection against discrimination

Protection against discrimination means that people must not be treated worse on improper grounds. Constitution section 98 says that everyone is equal before the law and that no one may be subjected to unjustified or disproportionate differential treatment. The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination because of, among other things, gender, pregnancy, leave related to birth or adoption, care responsibilities, ethnicity, religion, belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and age.

Discrimination may be direct or indirect. Direct discrimination can be an employer saying that a qualified applicant will not get a job because she wears a hijab, is pregnant or has a disability. Indirect discrimination can be an apparently neutral rule that in practice excludes a group, such as a requirement that is not necessary for the job but affects people with disabilities. Harassment, sexual harassment and retaliation against someone who complains are also prohibited.

Not all differential treatment is unlawful. Sometimes different treatment can be objective, necessary and proportionate. Age limits for driving licences, special rules for children and measures intended to promote equality can be lawful. The decisive question is whether the difference has a good reason and does not go further than necessary. Read more in the SamfunnPrep articles on equality in Norway and LGBTQ+ rights in Norway.

Where can you get help?

If you believe you have been discriminated against, first write down what happened: date, place, who was present, messages, e-mails, job advertisements, rejections or other evidence. The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud, LDO, gives free guidance on discrimination law. The Ombud can explain whether the case may be discrimination and how you can proceed.

The actual complaint is handled by the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal. The Tribunal is a neutral administrative body that decides complaints about discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and retaliation. It is free to complain, and you usually do not need a lawyer. In serious cases, such as violence, threats or hate crime, you should also contact the police. In working life a union representative, safety representative or the Labour Inspection Authority may be relevant. At school you can contact a teacher, principal, school owner or the County Governor.

Rights and duties in a democracy

Human rights are closely connected to democracy and the rule of law. Democracy does not only mean that the majority decides. The majority must also respect basic rights for minorities and individuals. The rule of law means that power is bound by law, courts are independent, and citizens can appeal public decisions. This is explained further in the articles on democracy in Norway and the rule of law and courts.

For the test you should be able to use concrete examples. A person may criticise the government without being punished. A religious minority may practise its faith within the law. A job applicant must be assessed by qualifications, not ethnic background. A child has the right to protection and schooling. A defendant has the right to a defence lawyer and fair treatment in court. Human rights are therefore both ideals and practical rules that affect everyday life in Norway.

New from 2026: CRPD as Norwegian law

A current example of how rights develop is the CRPD, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. From 1 January 2026, the CRPD is incorporated into the Human Rights Act. This means that the convention applies as Norwegian law and takes precedence over other Norwegian legislation if there is a conflict. For the test, the point is not that you must know every article in the convention, but that you understand the direction: public authorities must work for equal opportunities, accessibility, participation and protection against discrimination. Municipalities, schools, health services and other public bodies must therefore think about human rights also when they make practical everyday solutions.