Norway

Current situation

Feedback from the state

From the replies by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence to the EBCO Questionnaire:

Conscription into obligatory military service is imposed in Norway, and is governed by the procedures stated in the Act on military service (Lov om verneplikt og tjeneste i Forsvaret m.m) and the regulation for conscription (Forskrift om verneplikt og heimevernstjeneste). Chapter 4 of the act states the rights and duties of conscientious objectors, and chapter 12 of the regulations states procedures to be followed when a conscript declares her/himself a conscientious objector. The initial duration for service for a conscript ranges from 6 to 16 months, with 12 months being the duration most practised by the Armed Forces. The total length of conscription in peace time is 19 months. Voluntary recruitment into military service is also regulated by the Act on military service.

The Norwegian Armed Forces regularly visits secondary schools to inform students about upcoming selection procedures and career opportunities in the Armed Forces. This is not part of the curriculum and more often a part of the schools’ vocational opportunity orientations. The Ministry of Defence has no information of whether student participation during these orientations is mandatory or not.

Recruitment in recent years:

The numbers above refer to the number of persons conscripted for first-time military service, not the total number of persons who finished their service (6-16 months) as per requirements. Some are discharged early for medical reasons and due to other circumstances.

Information about conscientious objection and exemption may be found on the Norwegian Armed Forces’ official website. Further information is given in person if questions about conscientious objection arise during the selection process. The Norwegian Armed Forces Human Resources and Conscriptions Centre (FPVS) is the body responsible for handling applications for exemption. Each application is considered on individual grounds. While an application is pending, the conscript must attend the service as ordered until the application is finally processed. However, the applicant may serve without arms.

Statistics on applications from 2021 to 2023 inclusive:

As reported in 2022 by the Parliamentary Ombudsman,

There is no alternative service for conscientious objectors – it was abolished in 2012. Those whose applications for exemption have been approved may however be ordered to serve in the Civil Defence (Sivilforsvaret) until the year they turn 55. They get a three week start-up course, then serve two days per annum as training. If there is a crisis, they will be called in for service.

If professional military personnel become conscientious objectors during their service, and thus wish to end their service contract, they are free to terminate their contract based on the regular rules of contract law and labour law.

Postscript: On 3rd April 2024, Norway announced plans to increase conscript numbers by 50% to 13,500 by 2036, which would represent about 25% of those liable as opposed to some 15% at present. “The Defence Forces Recruit Training Centre in Terningmoen, 140 kilometres north of Oslo, will be modernised and expanded to train about 1,800 recruits four times a year, up from about 300 today. To facilitate a rapid increase in training capacity, the Norwegian Armed Forces will lease civilian infrastructure until Terningmoen is fully developed, scheduled for 2036.”^[1] Some 400 extra training posts would also be created.

It may be noted that from the figures given in the State response, above, the increase in the annual number of conscripts has already begun, and may indeed have reached almost halfway to the target point, which would seem to imply a much earlier than announced completion of the process.