The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, conducted a visit to Norway from 19 to 23 October 2026. The visit focused on the human rights of older persons living in long-term care facilities, as part of the Commissioner's broader engagement on this issue across Council of Europe member states. The Commissioner also examined issues concerning the environment and human rights.
Meeting older persons' evolving care needs, wherever they live
The Commissioner welcomes Norway's efforts to support older persons to live at home, maintain their health and participate in society as the population ages, including through the provision of home-based care. However, he observes that stringent criteria for admission to residential facilities may delay access to appropriate care, notwithstanding the degree of care needs. In this regard, he welcomes recent budget proposals for additional round-the-clock care places and encourages the authorities to ensure timely access to adequate home-based or residential care for all those who require it.
Geographical disparities in the availability and quality of care, particularly regarding remote and sparsely populated areas, need to be further addressed. Municipal responsibilities for care provision should be matched by adequate resources, including through the appropriate allocation and use of block grants. Further capital investment is needed to develop and modernise relevant care facilities and adapt them to climate change.
Addressing staffing challenges, advancing culturally competent care and ensuring technology supports rights
The Commissioner was informed of commonplace staffing shortages, heavy workloads and high staff turnover, with vacancies often covered by temporary workers. Measures to ease workforce pressures and improve efficiency, including through the use of technology, should be carefully assessed to ensure that they do not compromise the quality or continuity of care, or affect rights, including the right to privacy. While he commends the strong tradition of volunteering in the care sector, the Commissioner notes reports of increasing reliance on families and volunteers, whose valuable contribution should complement, not substitute for, professional care.
The Commissioner encourages the authorities to ensure that long-term care services take account of the geographical, linguistic and cultural barriers that older Sámi persons may face. Further developing care staff's cultural competencies and abilities to respond to individual needs and ensuring that technology also supports communication in Sámi languages can contribute to rights-compliant, person-centred care of Sámi people.
Safeguarding older persons' dignity, autonomy and human rights
Concerning the protection of older persons' dignity, autonomy and human rights in care homes, the Commissioner recalls the importance of:
- Strengthening safeguards and ensuring that care staff receive appropriate human rights related training;
- More regular inspections, adequate resources for independent oversight bodies, including the Parliamentary Ombudsman, and effective follow-up to their findings; and
- Effective access to justice for care home residents whose rights have not been respected.
Aligning environmental and climate policies with international commitments and human rights standards
The Commissioner welcomes Norway's recognition of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment in its Constitution. He also takes note of the Climate Change Act as amended in 2025. Norway also plays a significant role in international climate and forest-protection initiatives, and leads in the use of renewable energy.
The Commissioner observes the tension between Norway's position as a climate leader and its role as a major fossil-fuel exporter with the substantial carbon footprint that follows. He also notes concerns regarding the protection of the human rights of the Sámi people in the context of green transition projects. The Commissioner was informed of the high costs incurred by civil society organisations when litigating matters related to environmental and climate protection, as well as concerns regarding fines imposed on peaceful protesters.
While acknowledging the complex geopolitical context and Europe's current energy security needs, the Commissioner notes that these considerations must not come at the expense of human rights obligations, including the principles laid out by the European Court of Human Rights in Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland and the International Court of Justice in its Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change, as well as the obligation to respect and protect Sámi people's human rights. Although states enjoy a wide margin of appreciation in determining the operational means through which they implement climate policies, this discretion is not unlimited. Climate protection must be accorded considerable weight when balancing competing national interests. The Commissioner encourages Norway to further strengthen its role in combating climate change and the adverse effects thereof, including by considering supporting the development of a binding Council of Europe instrument that recognises the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
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During the visit, the Commissioner met with the Minister of Climate and Environment, Sigrun Aasland; the State Secretary of the Ministry for Health and Care Services, Usman Mushtaq; the State Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Agnete Masternes Hanssen; the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Astrid Bergmål; and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Ole Martin Stenberg Slyngstadli. He also met with members of the National Delegation of Norway to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; the President of the Sámi Parliament, Silje Karine Muotka; the Director of the National Human Rights Institution (NIM), Kai Spurkland, and NIM experts; representatives of the Parliamentary Ombud and the Oslo and Akershus Patient and User Ombud; research centres, civil society organisations, and a representative of the Council of Elders of the Sámi Parliament.
He visited the 'Carpe Diem Dementia Village' in Bærum and the 'Lørenskog Nursing Home', where he also engaged with staff, family members of residents, and representatives of the local authorities. He delivered a lecture at Oslo University, hosted by the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights. He thanks all his interlocutors for their openness and constructive engagement.
