Efforts to reduce sickness absence

absence, work and health under the auspices of the Research Council of Norway. Gender differences in medical problems as a cause of sickness absence are a topic that has been studied to a lesser degree. Chapter 5 contains a more detailed discussion of working life and gender differences in health.

sickness absence from leading to lasting attrition from working life. The use of sliding-scale sick leave is an important policy instrument. The current IA agreement offers significant simplifications in the system for follow up of employees on sick leave.

The parties to the IA Agreement 2014–2018 agreed to attach greater importance to knowledge development, including the testing and evaluation of policy instruments. The follow-up methods employed by Hedmark County are currently being tested in Rogaland, Aust-Agder and Buskerud counties. Pilots are in progress to clarify with the workplace what possibilities there are for adapting and activating employees on sick leave (Sykmeldt i jobb/At work on sick leave). Pilots have also been initiated to explore more goal-oriented follow up through better classification of sick leave pathways (the 1234 Project), while new pilots are in the pipeline to test possibilities for return-to-work trials in undertakings.

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4 Protection against violence and assault

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Photo: Monica Strømdahl

Violence and assault are a gender equality issue. Violence has serious consequences for society. Gender-based violence, harassment and coercion reduce people's ability to participate actively in society. Violence can cause physical harm to people and increases the risk of mental and somatic illness. At worst, violence results in loss of life.

Violence in close relationships alone costs Norwegian society an annual NOK 4.5–

6 billion.³⁵ Violence and assault are a major challenge to society; one that is persistent.

Violence is also a public health issue. Recent studies show that the extent of violence in close relationships has remained fairly stable over time.

Men are responsible for most of the violence. They make up 87 per cent of all persons charged with crimes against life, person and health, and 81 per cent of the persons charged with crimes in family relationships. Men are most at risk of violence in public places, during the weekend and violence committed by perpetrators under the influence of drugs/alcohol.

Women are most at risk of violence in close relationships, rape and other types of sexual assault, as well as sexual harassment. Young girls are particularly at risk, but also boys and men experience violence in close relationships and sexualised violence. Boys and girls who are exposed to violence and assault at a young age are at significantly greater risk of violence and assault as adults.

This chapter looks at violence and assault that mainly target women and girls, or where women and girls suffer disproportionately; i.e. violence in close relationships,

including female genital mutilation, forced marriage and severe restrictions on young people's freedom, as well as rape, sexual harassment of youths and hate speech. The chapter focuses on women and men who experience or carry out acts of violence in close relationships against present or former partners. The Government's work on violence in close relationships builds on White Paper Meld. St. 15 (2012–2013) Forebygging og bekjempelse av vold i nære

relasjoner – Det handler om å leve [Preventing and combating violence in close relationships – It's a matter of living] and the action plan against violence in close relationships Et liv uten vold (2014–2017) [A life without violence]. The work to help children at risk is a key part of the public efforts. The action plan A good childhood lasts a lifetime (2014–2017) presents the Government's strategy to combat violence and sexual assault against children and youths under the age of 18. Forced marriage and female genital mutilation are also forms of violence in close relationships. The White Paper is also based on the Action plan against forced

marriage, female genital mutilation and severe restrictions on young people's freedom (2013–2016).

35Vista Analysis (2012)

The public authorities have a special responsibility for preventing all types of violence and assault. The public authorities and the support services today have more knowledge about violence in close relationships and rape compared with just a few decades ago. There is also far greater openness on these topics. Norway has well-developed health and care services, a family counselling service, a child welfare service, crisis centres, centres against incest and sexual assault, and a police and court system. Certain challenges remain in spite of this.

Under-reporting of cases of violence and assault provide grounds for concern. The police and health and care services are underutilised. The same applies to personal networks.

Cases are not reported to the police, health and care services are not used, and many people are reluctant to tell those closest to them about the offences committed against them. At the same time, the public support services must collaborate better on the users' needs.

Voluntary organisations play an important role in the work to prevent and combat violence in close relationships. Women's organisations have driven much of the initiatives against violence towards women, but society today is much more committed to combating this violence. Many of today's services were first offered by voluntary organisations and have later been taken over or partly financed by the public sector. Voluntary organisations, also those that represent men, play an important role in putting violence and assault on the agenda.

Victims may find it easier to contact organisations and request help and guidance than to contact the public authorities. Collaboration between voluntary organisations and the public authorities is key in order for the work to combat violence in close relationships and sexual assault to succeed. Public funding schemes contribute to this collaboration.

Sexual harassment is a major gender equality problem. Studies from Sør-Trøndelag county show that six out of ten pupils in upper secondary school had experienced at least one form of sexual harassment during the past year.³⁶ The Equality Report calls for more goal-oriented, systematic and knowledge-based work to prevent sexual harassment. The

Commission on Equality underlines that preventing sexual harassment and rape must be seen as a whole, and that work to increase awareness of gender, body and sexuality must be integrated into the schools' work against bullying.³⁷

The Government is concerned about the extent of hate speech in Norway. Such utterances limit the individual's opportunities for participation in the public discourse. Hate speech not only affects the individual or society as a whole. It limits the public debate and can lead to social exclusion and increased polarisation.

The Government will

 increase efforts to combat violence in close relationships through

 greater knowledge about its causes, prevention and assistance to persons at risk

 developing care services for victims and improving coordination in the public support apparatus

36Bendixen & Kennair (2009) and Bendixen & Kennair (2014)

37Official Norwegian Report (NOU) 2012: 15

 continuing to develop the police's work to combat violence in close relationships

 implementing development projects that may strengthen municipal crisis centre services for groups at risk

 increase its efforts against rape

 increase its work to combat forced marriage by

 improving the national housing and support scheme for young people over the age of 18 who have been victims of forced marriage, threats of forced marriage or other honour-related violence, and

 investigating whether the current state of the law is able to effectively enforce the legislation against forced marriage

 work in a targeted manner to combat female genital mutilation by

 reviewing dropped cases regarding female genital mutilation pursuant to the General Civil Penal Code, and

 sharing knowledge about the negative health effects of female genital mutilation

 increase knowledge about hate speech.

The Government will also

 continue to support teaching programmes to prevent violence and harassment among youths

 continue to support voluntary organisations that work to combat forced marriage, severe restrictions on young people's freedom and female genital mutilation.