THE
TANDEM PROJECT
UNITED NATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS,
FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF
Separation of Religion or Belief & State
NORWAY
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To: The Tandem
Project International List Serve
Re: Norway – Universal Periodic Review &
Freedom of Religion or Belief
The
Norway Universal Periodic Review was held by the UN Human Rights Council
on Wednesday 2 December 2009 from 9.00-12.00. Open these links to access
reports for the Norway Universal Periodic Review: National Report;
Compilation prepared by OHCHR; Summary prepared by OHCHR; Interactive Dialogue;
Comments & Answers; Final Remarks.
HRC
Web Cast: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/PAGES/NOSession6.aspx
http://www.un.org/webcast/unhrc/archive.asp?go=091202
Objectives:
Survey
on Human Rights & Freedom of Religion or Belief
NORWAY UPR EXCERPTS
National
Report: 3.15 Freedom of thought, religion and belief. “Norway has a constitutional state church system that
has been the subject of criticism as a matter of principle from several
quarters, including the UN Human Rights Committee. Article 2 of the Constitution
protects certain aspects of freedom of religion or belief, but does not go as
far as the protection provided by international human rights principles.” “A
White Paper has been discussed in Parliament, and formal proposals to amend all
seven articles in the Constitution establishing the state church system has
been submitted. The proposals will be voted on in the next parliamentary
session.” “In connection with continuous focus on dialogue, cooperation between
religious and life stance communities, the authorities and the general
population, grants are provided for three councils for religion and belief: the
Council of Religious and Life Stance Communities, the Islamic Council of Norway
and the Christian Council of Norway.” “Religious and belief communities outside
the Church of Norway have a statutory right to claim an annual financial grant
from the State and municipal authorities. This grant scheme is unique
internationally.”
Stakeholder
Letter: Norwegian National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR): 5. Freedom of religion and belief, expression,
association and peaceful assembly 20. Inclusive approach to religion and belief
- The Government has purposed a new formulation of the Constitution § 2
articulating basic values. It mentions humanity and Christianity specifically,
with no reference to other religions or beliefs. This may not be in conflict
with any human rights conventions; it might however exclude groups of the
population. The same problem arises in the statements of objectives in the law
on both schools and kindergartens. NCHR finds the principle of inclusion to be
highly relevant in this debate. NCHR recommends that Norwegian authorities
reconsider whether there is a need for explicitly highlighting the Christian
belief in the constitutional values and in the statement of objectives in the
laws on schools and kindergartens.
Norway
– Universal
Periodic Review & Freedom of Religion or Belief
Documents Attached:
Norway - Universal Periodic Review & Freedom of Religion or Belief
Questions - Survey on Human Rights & Freedom of Religion or Belief.
Survey on Human Rights & Freedom of Religion or Belief.