Our work

Each year, people contact us to report bullying, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, abuse and violence. The common theme is that their lives are severely constrained. They are denied the opportunity of participating in society, controlling their own lives and their day-to-day existence.

Employers and union representatives contact us with questions on how to prevent discrimination in the work place.

Our main task is to promote equality and fight against discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and age. 

Who we are

The office of the Ombud is a government agency, administratively subordinate to the Ministry of Culture. The Ministry provides our funding, but we operate independently from the government and can not be instructed by other authorities.

What we do

Our mandate and role are stipulated under the Norwegian Anti-Discrimination Ombud Act. We fulfill our mandate in different ways:

• We are actively involved in public engagements. We participate in public hearings; provide comments to draft laws and public actions plans; hold lectures, meetings and conferences on specific topics and we provide reports and analysis to the public on a range of issues. We also engage in public debates and provide information through the media.
• We monitor whether Norway fulfills its human rights obligations. The Ombud has an official role to ensure that Norway upholds its human rights obligations in line with three UN conventions: Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW); Convention on Racial Discrimination (CERD); and Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). We report directly to the UN on to what extent the Norwegian government upholds these three conventions.
• We offer guidance, free of charge, to individuals, employers and organisations. If you believe you have been discriminated against, you can receive advice and guidance from us. Organisations and employers may also contact as for guidance on how to prevent harassment or discrimination.

In addition the Ombud can provide guidance on how to bring a case to the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, which was established in 2018. The Tribunal is a complaints body and makes final, legally binding decisions on harassment and discrimination cases. It can also award compensation.

Goals and vision

We envision a society where power and influence is equally distributed, freedom is available to all, and dignity is inherent to each individual.

All equality and freedom from discrimination entails having the power to define for oneself what is important, the power to influence take control and realise one’s dreams. Knowledge of one’s own rights and opportunities is a prerequisite for real power and influence.

Freedom is a prerequisite to be one’s self and to realise one’s potential, whether it concerns economic freedom, freedom from violence, freedom of movement, religion or freedom to make one’s own decisions. Equality is not about being the same, but about valuing who one is and the choices one makes.

Equality is all about ensuring that all people, regardless of who they are, are treated equally.

The Ombud is here to help you

We provide advice and guidance by telephone, letter or over digital Post Box. We can also meet you in person at our offices in Oslo. Communication with us is entirely informal. You may contact us anonymously if you so choose. Our services are free of charge.

We can guide you if you want to issue a complaint to the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Tribunal.

Information in English

We are currently working on our English website. In the meantime, do not hesitate to contact us.

• Information about the employers activity duty and the duty to issue a statement

Contact us

You can contact us via our encrypted contact forms with secured data and privacy protection.

• Contact us via our encrypted contact form.
• Contact us via ID-porten. You will need Norwegian electronic ID (e-ID). You can find more information about e-ID.