WHAT DOES IT MEAN

TO BE ABANDONED ABROAD?

Are you going on a holiday trip and feeling afraid of not being able to return to Norway? Do you fear being forced into a marriage during a trip abroad or being subjected to other forms of violence? Are you being forced to stay abroad against your will? Do you have friends who have been abandoned abroad?

Some parents may be concerned about their children's lifestyle and choice of friends. Others want the young person to learn more about their parents' language, culture, and religion. Some parents may feel that they have lost their parental authority and control and believe that a stay abroad would be beneficial for their child.

When you are abroad, there are limitations to what the Norwegian authorities can do, even if you are a Norwegian citizen or have legal residence in Norway. Therefore, we recommend that you do not travel if you are concerned about not being able to return.

If you are a helper, a relative, or have concerns about someone being left behind abroad against their will, please read the government's emergency letter that describes how to proceed. If you are unsure, you can call us at the Red Cross helpline or the Competence Team against Negative Social Control and Honor-related Violence to discuss the matter.

ARE YOU ABROAD AND NEED HELP?

• Contact the nearest Norwegian embassy or report it to someone you trust.

• If you are unsure about contacting the embassy, the Red Cross helpline can assist you with this.

• You can find contact information for all Norwegian embassies at norway.info.

• If the embassy is closed when you call, the call will automatically be redirected to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Operational Center in Oslo, which is open 24/7.

• Certain embassies (Amman, Nairobi, Islamabad, and Ankara) have integration advisers with special expertise in helping young people who are at risk of, or fear, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, or involuntary abandonment abroad. The integration advisers also provide advice and guidance to other embassies without integration advisers.

• The embassies will be able to provide you with advice and guidance, and together with other Norwegian authorities, assess how they can best assist you.

IF YOU STILL CHOOSE TO TRAVEL:

• Leave a copy of your passport, ticket, and address information with your school, child welfare services, police, or someone else you trust.

• Register at www.reiseregistrering.no.

• Take a copy of your passport and extra money with you. Keep them hidden!

• Arrange regular phone calls or internet contact with a person in Norway whom you trust.

• Note down the phone number of the Norwegian embassy in the country you are visiting. It's wise to memorize the number - notes can get lost.

• Mobile phones with prepaid SIM cards do not work abroad. If you have a mobile phone with a prepaid SIM card, you need to get a local subscription when you arrive at your destination.

• The Red Cross helpline has a WhatsApp number that you can also reach us at: +47 926 26 488 (Note: You are not anonymous if you contact us through WhatsApp.)

The Child Act and the Convention on the Rights of the Child state that the older you get, the more your opinion should be taken into account:

After you turn 12 years old, you have the right to refuse to move or stay abroad without your parents, according to the Child Act § 40.

After you turn 12 years old, you have the right to refuse vacation abroad without your parents, according to the Child Act § 41.

Younger children also have the right to express their views, and their opinions should be given weight in accordance with their age and maturity.

CONSEQUENCES OF BEING LEFT ABROAD:

• Lost education opportunities in Norway

• Weakened Norwegian language skills

• Difficulties in resuming or completing education in Norway

• A feeling of outsiderness in Norwegian society

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

• It is more challenging for Norwegian authorities to assist you when you are abroad.

• If you are under 18 years old, your parents are responsible for you, even when you are abroad.

• If you hold dual citizenship as both a Norwegian citizen and a citizen of the country you are visiting, it may be more challenging for the embassy to help you.

• Please be aware that if you are not a Norwegian citizen and stay abroad for an extended period, it may have consequences for your residence permit.

"I have friends who have been left behind in a foreign country because their parents discovered that they had boyfriends or girlfriends. That's why I'm very unsure if I dare to go with my family abroad this summer. I feel a sense of unease in my stomach. The past year has been difficult at home. My family found out that I have a boyfriend/girlfriend. They have been trying to pressure me to end the relationship, but I refuse! I want to trust my family, but right now I don't know what to think or do." — Girl, 21