The Norwegian Child Welfare Services and the European Court of Human Rights The Implications of Judicial Review on Norwegian Democracy and Legitimacy

In recent years, Norway, and the Norwegian Child Welfare Services have received both considerable domestic and international attention for having numerous cases brought before the European Court of Human Rights. Several of these cases have resulted in convictions against Norway, and the Norwegian Child Welfare Services, for human rights violations. That the Norwegian Child Welfare Services have garnered such ample negative international attention draws the organization´s legitimacy and efficacy into question. The implications upon both the state, in this case Norway, and the organization, in this case the Norwegian Child Welfare Services, could be immense. This thesis will examine the impact judicial review from the European Court of Human Rights has had on Norwegian legitimacy, sovereignty, and democracy, specifically in regards to the convictions against the Norwegian Child Welfare Services. In doing so this thesis will argue that while the rulings have had an impact on Norwegian politics, legitimacy, and democracy, this impact has not been entirely negative. Rather, in respecting the rulings from the European Court of Human Rights, the Norwegian government has been compelled to follow both domestic and international children´s and human rights laws which they have previously agreed to follow, thereby enhancing the country’s democracy and legitimacy.