25 General information on the right to demonstrate

Norwegian nationals and persons who are permanently resident in Norway enjoy freedom of speech and thought. The organisation of demonstrations is an expression of these fundamental rights. However, certain requirements must be fulfilled when demonstrations are to take place in public places.

A notification should be made to the police well in advance of the demonstration. The police may prohibit a demonstration only when there is reason to fear that it may give rise to a serious breach of public peace and order or disrupt traffic, or if the cause that it is intended to promote or the manner in which it is promoted conflicts with the law.

The police may break up demonstrations in public places if they are held contrary to a ban or fail to meet the conditions imposed on them, or if, for example, they provoke a serious breach of public order or cause obstruction to traffic. The police may also break up a demonstration if there is reason to fear violence, or in order to prevent anyone suffering physical harassment.

When a lawful demonstration has been announced near a diplomatic mission or the residence of a head of mission, the police will inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and seek to inform the relevant mission.

For further information, please see section 11 of the Police Act.

• In Norwegian
• The English translation of the Act