Norway

Norway regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Norway's criminal law contains specific penalty enhancements for certain criminal offences. The reported official data include cases of incitement to hatred. Hate crime data are collected by the National Police Directorate. Hate crime statistics are regularly published. The National Police Directorate conducts annual victimization surveys, which include questions about hate crime.

OFFICIAL DATA

Year Hate crimes recorded by police Prosecuted Sentenced
2020 744 804 67
2019 761 70 37
2018 624 60 37
2017 549 Not available Not available
2016 466 Not available Not available
2015 347 Not available Not available
2014 223 Not available Not available
2013 238 Not available Not available
2012 216 Not available Not available
2011 218 Not available Not available
2010 307 Not available Not available
2009 236 Not available Not available

About 2020 Data

    The records presented in this table include incidents of hate speech and discrimination, which fall outside of the OSCE's definition of hate crimes. The sum of disaggregated incidents below adds up to more than the total because crimes can be recorded under more than one bias motivation.

Hate crime recorded by police

In the breakdown below, the numbers do not correspond with the total number of police-recorded hate crimes above because: (i) there may be several motives registered in one criminal case; and (ii) the police records included incidents of hate speech and discrimination, which were excluded as they constitute hate speech and discrimination which do not fall under the OSCE definition of hate crime.

National developments

The police investigators and prosecutors completed compulsory training on hate crime. The government launched two new action plans in 2020: (i) Action plan to combat discrimination and hatred towards Muslims (2020-2023); and (ii) The Norwegian Government's Action Plan against Racism and Discrimination on the Grounds of Ethnicity and Religion (2020-2023). Work to include gender identity and gender expression, among other groups with special protection, in the relevant specific penalty enhancement provisions of the Penal Code continued in 2020 and was completed in 2021.

INCIDENTS REPORTED BY OTHER SOURCES

Anti-Christian hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2020-03 Attacks against property
OIDAC
 Show info

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Racist and xenophobic hate crime, Anti-LGBTI hate crime

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) published relevant recommendations in its "Sixth report on Norway."

KEY OBSERVATION

ODIHR recognizes Norway's efforts in training investigators and prosecutors on hate crime. However, based on the available information, it observes that Norway's hate crime recording and statistics do not sufficiently distinguish hate crimes from other crimes. In addition, ODIHR observes that Norway would benefit from ensuring that hate crimes are addressed in a comprehensive manner, including by introducing a coordination mechanism.

ODIHR recalls that in the Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, participating States have agreed to a definition of hate crime shared by all OSCE participating States. They have also committed to collecting reliable data and statistics on hate crimes. To that end, hate crimes need to be distinguished throughout the recording and data collection process from discrimination and other crimes. In the Ministerial Council Decisions 9/09 and 13/06, participating States have also committed to ensuring a comprehensive approach to hate crimes. To that end, the authorities and civil society need to collaborate and coordinate. ODIHR stands ready to support Norway in meeting its relevant commitments through the provision of comprehensive resources and tailored assistance in the area of hate crime recording and data collection, as well as providing further resources and tailored assistance in the area of addressing hate crimes comprehensively.

Our methodology