Introduction

Youth informant in the report Negativ sosial kontroll gjennom sosiale medier [negative social control through social media] (Proba, 2022) (available in Norwegian only)

Challenges

Being subjected to threats, coercion and violence has serious consequences and can cause long-term physical and psychological harm. It can prevent participation in education and working life, lead to exclusion, and erode trust in society and in other people.

Children and young people who are subjected to negative social control growing up are often deprived of the opportunity to make their own choices. This can make it more difficult to build relationships, navigate society, express oneself and make independent choices based on one’s own interests and needs, even into adulthood.

When negative social control is also exercised digitally, it can be ever-present and exercised by individuals across national borders. That is when nowhere is safe.

Legislation is an important policy instrument for protecting people from negative social control and honour-motivated violence. For the law to provide the necessary protection, it must be carefully crafted. We must place responsibility where it belongs, and prosecute those who deprive others of their freedom. In June 2024, a public committee submitted the Norwegian Official Report (NOU) 2024: 13 Lov og frihet [Law and Freedom] (available in Norwegian only), which provides a comprehensive review of legislation and legal issues in cases involving negative social control, honour-motivated violence, forced marriage, female genital mutilation and psychological violence. The report contains a number of recommendations and proposals for legislative amendments to strengthen legal safeguards (see Box 5).

There are no exact figures on how many people are experiencing negative social control and honour-motivated violence, including forced marriage, involuntary stays abroad and female genital mutilation. However, there has been a noticeable increase in cases reported to the national expert team against negative social control and honour-based violence in recent years. In 2024, the expert team provided guidance in 1,402 cases. This represents a 23 per cent increase since 2023. An increase in the number of cases does not necessarily indicate that the scope has expanded. It may also suggest that the specialised services in the field (see Box 3) have become more widely recognised, and that more victims are aware of where they can seek help. Those who are afraid to ask for help, or who are unaware of where to seek it, do not appear in any statistics.

For the victim, reporting violence and threats can lead to significant consequences. A report to the police may result in the person facing further violence and threats or being forced to sever ties with their family. This is one of the reasons why it is believed there are significant unreported cases.

Negative social control and honour-motivated violence are serious societal issues that can occur in various environments and demographic groups. Although negative social control occurs across various groups and environments, it is more prevalent in families with backgrounds from countries where patriarchal and collectivist family structures, as well as conservative attitudes toward gender and sexuality, are more widespread than in Norway. In 2024, the expert team against negative social control and honour-based violence received the most cases from persons with backgrounds from Syria, Pakistan, Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Many people find fellowship and a sense of belonging in religious and life stance communities. In some of these communities, negative social control may also occur, making it difficult to make individual choices and live life as one wishes. The consequences of breaking rules and going against expectations may include being ostracised from the religious community and risk losing contact with family, friends, and other networks.

Action plans – a structured and targeted effort

Action plans have been a key tool in the efforts against what is now referred to as negative social control and honour-motivated violence. The plans have contributed to structured and targeted efforts, with measures that have led to legislative amendments, the establishment of specialised services, research and competence development.

Forced marriage and female genital mutilation were brought onto the political agenda in the 1990s. In 1995, a penal provision prohibiting female genital mutilation was enacted, and in 2003, Norway introduced a separate penal provision against forced marriage. In the 2000s, several specialised services with expertise in negative social control and honour-based violence were established. A national inter-agency expert team was established, diversity advisors were placed in schools and special representatives on integration issue were stationed at selected foreign service missions. A national team for competence building has also been established in the Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi). In addition to the specialised services, there are several programmes aimed at victims and the service system (see Box 4).

The aim of this Action Plan is to ensure effective prevention, systematic competence enhancement within the service system, improved support and protection for victims, and stronger legal safeguards in cases involving honour-motivated violence and involuntary stays abroad.