Domestic violence, social control, family and children, equality, free speech, police and courts.
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Violence in close relationships
In Norway it is forbidden to use violence against others. This also applies at home. Violence in close relationships means violence against a partner, spouse, child, parent or others in the family. It is always a crime, and it makes no difference whether the violence happens behind closed doors.
Violence can take many forms:
Physical violence: hitting, kicking, strangling or anything else that harms the body.
Psychological violence: threats, harassment, humiliation, isolation and control over what a partner may do, wear or whom they may meet. Psychological violence can do as much harm as physical violence.
Sexual violence: any sexual act without consent. This also applies within a marriage or relationship.
Economic violence: denying someone access to money or preventing them from working, in order to control them.
Material violence: destroying or throwing away someone's belongings to frighten them.
Digital violence: monitoring, threatening or controlling someone through phones and social media.
Violence affects both women and men, and children who see or hear violence at home are also harmed. Male victims can get help too.
Violence is never a private matter, and 'culture' or tradition is no excuse. Norwegian law applies equally to everyone who lives in Norway. It is also a crime to threaten someone, even if you do not hit them.
Violence at home can lead to a fine or prison. Perpetrators can also be given a restraining order (kontaktforbud), so that they cannot approach or contact the victim.
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Key points
Violence in close relationships
Violence at home and in close relationships is forbidden and punishable.
Violence can be physical, psychological, sexual, economic, material or digital.
Psychological violence includes threats, isolation and extreme control.
Economic violence means denying someone access to money or preventing them from working.
Both women and men can be victims.
Perpetrators can be given a restraining order.
Getting help after violence and abuse
Call 112 for the police in immediate danger; 113 for an ambulance.
A crisis centre is free, open around the clock and needs no referral.
Men can also get help from a crisis centre.
VO-linja 116 006 is a free helpline for people exposed to violence.
Children can call 116 111; the out-of-hours doctor is 116 117.
You can report violence, and the police can issue a restraining order.
Negative social control and forced marriage
Negative social control is pressure, threats or coercion that limit someone's freedom to choose for themselves.
Forced marriage is forbidden; the punishment is prison for up to six years.
Both people must consent freely to marry.
The minimum age for marriage in Norway is 18.
Polygamy is forbidden and punishable.
You can get help from a crisis centre, the police, child welfare services and schools.
Female genital mutilation and sexual abuse
FGM is forbidden and punishable, even if it happens abroad.
It is forbidden even if health staff carry it out in a hospital.
From 1 July 2025 rape is defined by lack of consent.
The age of consent is 16.
It is a crime to buy sexual services; it is not a crime to sell them.
Sharing nude images of others without consent is a crime.
Children's rights and child welfare services
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is part of Norwegian law; the child's best interests come first.
Children must be heard from age 7; from age 12 great weight is given to their views.
All violence against children is forbidden, including smacking.
Child welfare services are municipal and must investigate reports of concern.
A care order means child welfare services move a child out of an unsafe home.
Teachers and health staff have a duty to report suspected violence to child welfare services.
Marriage, cohabitation, divorce and inheritance
You must be at least 18 to marry, and both must consent freely.
Two people of the same sex can marry; joint marriage act from 2009.
Community of property means assets are in principle shared equally in a divorce.
Cohabitants without joint children do not inherit from each other automatically; they should make an agreement and a will.
Spouses normally must be separated for one year before divorce.
Parents with children under 16 must attend mediation before separation or divorce.
Equality and discrimination
Equality means women and men have equal rights, duties and opportunities.
Women got the vote in 1913.
The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act forbids discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and more.
LDO works against discrimination and for equality.
The Anti-Discrimination Tribunal handles complaints about discrimination.
Sexual acts between men were a crime in Norway until 1972.
Freedom of expression and its limits
Freedom of expression is protected in the Constitution.
You can criticise the government and society without being punished.
Hate speech and serious threats are punishable, also online.
The racism provision is Penal Code section 185.
Freedom of religion means you can freely believe, not believe or change religion.
Spreading false claims that damage someone's reputation is called defamation.
The police and your rights
From 1 July 2025 the police are generally armed on duty.
Call 112 for immediate danger and 02800 when it is not urgent.
You are innocent until proven guilty.
Suspects have the right to a defence lawyer and an interpreter.
The police usually need a court decision to search a home.
A police certificate is required to work with children.
The courts and punishment
Court cases are normally public.
The district court hears most cases first; the court of appeal hears appeals.
The Supreme Court is the highest court.
Lay judges are ordinary citizens who judge together with professional judges.
The age of criminal responsibility is 15.
Preventive detention is a sentence for particularly dangerous offenders that can be extended for as long as they remain dangerous.
Explanation: The normal maximum sentence is 21 years in prison. Norway has no life sentence, but has preventive detention for particularly dangerous offenders.