It almost got lost in all the news about the Corona virus, but Norway has been convicted in two more cases involving its child welfare agency Barnevernet. The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled that Norwegian authorities violated rights to family life in both.
Norway was ordered to pay EUR 60,000 (around NOK 640,000) in compensation plus court costs. In one of the cases, a father with two children had demanded EUR 60,000 himself but was awarded EUR 25,000, reports news bureau NTB. In another case the parents sought EUR 100,000 and EUR 50,000 on behalf of the child. The parents were awarded EUR 35,000.
Norway had been sued for not overturning decisions regarding custody of a child. The other case involved adoption of a foster child, whose biological parents lost custody. The court criticized Norwegian authorities for limiting the biological parents’ visitation rights and thus not providing for a future reunion between them and their child.
Norway has become a repeat offender for allegedly strict practice regarding parental visitation after care of a child has been turned over to others. The court in Strasbourg has heard 36 such cases since 2015, nine of which have been heard, resulting in seven convictions of Norwegian authorities.
newsinenglish.no staff
