Permanent Mission of India

Geneva

UPR WORKING GROUP – NINETEENTH SESSION

[28 April – 9 May 2014]

UPR OF NORWAY

INTERVENTION BY INDIA

(28 April 2014)

Mr. President,

1.India warmly welcomes the delegation of Norway led by H.E M. Borge Brende, Minister of Foreign Affairs.  We appreciate Norway’s efforts to implement recommendations accepted during the first cycle of the UPR supplementing Norway’s mid-term report submitted in June last year.

2.Norway has consistently remained at the top of the UN Human Development Index with high scores in education, health and living standards, which isindicative of Norway’s strong commitment to Human Rights.

3.CERD expressed concern about discrimination against immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees in accessing public services, housing, health and employment. We recommend that Norway take appropriate measures to address such discrimination.

4.  In the light of findings presented by Norwegian Center for Traumatic Stress Studies onthe high incidence of rape and that half of the victims were below 18 years, we recommend that Norway take effective measures to deal with violence against women and girls.

5. CAT and the Human Rights Committee have noted with concern allegations of cases of ill-treatment, harassment, incitement to violence and hate speech towards minorities, other vulnerable groups and sami people. We recommend that Norway takes concrete measures to promote tolerance and diversity in society and trains law enforcement officials in the detection and prosecution of hate speech, both online and offline. 

6.Various Treaty Bodies have recommended that Norway strengthen its efforts to provide parents with necessary assistance and support to enable them to exercise their parental role and responsibilities in the upbringing and education of their children. In this regard we encourage Norway to pay sufficient regard to the undoubted benefits of bringing up children in their own ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic milieu.

I thank you.