Annex to Norway’s Addendum to the Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review 26 August 2019 123 124 125 126 127 128 Consider further strengthening gender sensitive training of lawyers, prosecutors and judges to support their capacity in criminal cases involving gender-based violence, including rape and other sexual violence (Finland); Consider training judges, prosecutors and lawyers on gender-based violence, including rape (Ghana); Strengthen the investigative capacity of the police and prosecutors in all forms of gender-based violence (Iceland); Provide training to judges, prosecutors and lawyers about gender based violence, including rape and other sexual violence, in line with SDG 16 (Netherlands); Develop targeted training programmes to enhance the capacities of police, prosecutors and the Judiciary in cases of gender-based violence (Seychelles); Strengthen the investigative capacity of police and prosecutors in relation to all forms of gender-based violence (Australia); Accepted. Gender-based violence, including rape and other sexual violence, is taken very seriously by the courts. Various measures to enhance competence in this area are offered to all judges, both by the Norwegian Courts Administration and by the individual courts. These include training in procedural and material legal issues, general ethics, and in difficult cases where there is conflicting evidence. Accepted. Accepted. See 123 and 124. Accepted. Measures relating to the legal system 129 Ensure adequate financing of courts having in mind unacceptable long delays in dealing with cases before courts owing to a lack of human resources of the judiciary (Russian Federation); 130 Amend the legal framework to effectively regulate discretion of judges on the use of solitary confinement and to assess the need for it (Jordan); 131 Take effective measures to improve conditions for prisoners with psychological disabilities and serious mental health problems, including by providing full access to mental healthcare services in all prison facilities or limiting the use of isolation (Germany); Improve detention conditions in the petitionary system and in the temporary detention places for asylum seekers (Russian Federation); Introduce clearer and more restrictive legal criteria to limit the holding of people in solitary confinement during preventative detention to the absolute minimum (Spain); Evaluate the effects of solitary confinement in prisons with a view to reducing it and use alternative measures whenever possible (Sweden); 132 133 134 11 Partially accepted. The Storting draws up aims and objectives and the annual budget framework for the courts and the Norwegian Courts Administration (NCA). The Ministry of Justice is not in a position to instruct the NCA on specific administrative matters. Not accepted. The Criminal Procedure Act is currently under revision. In this connection, the Government will consider proposing amendments to the provisions on the use of solitary confinement during pre-trial detention. Accepted. Measures are being taken to improve access to mental health care for prisoners over the coming years. Accepted. Not accepted. See 130. Accepted. The Government will reduce the use of solitary confinement and acknowledges that isolation may have detrimental effects on prisoners.