HISTORY

Communication with the political authority's

In may 1998 Bjørn Hernæs (H) forwarded questions to the government concerning the war children’s destiny after 1945. Among the governments represents there were a large agreement of the need to enlighten both the declarations and the myths.

We all know  it’s been difficult to establish communication with the political authority’s.

There for, it was a small beginning in the right direction when the minister of social and health, Magnhild Meltvet Kleppa (SP) took the case in hand.

The Bondevik government granted money for research, and in February 1999 The Research Council of Norway were given the mission of making a report about the war children’s situation. Among the problem issues it were particularly the questions about compensation and moral restitution they were asked to look in to.

The report “ the children of the enemy” were presented in the autumn 1999. The minister Magnhild Meltvet Kleppa expressed that she wanted to follow up the report by financing  more of the research around this important issue. Further, she said it was necessary to finely get all the facts on how the war children suffered abuse in the early years after the second world war. Further assets were granted, now with priority on with which attitude the war children were meet in the schools, health and social departments, and late consequences of this.

In the years 1998-2002 several politicians agreed that something had to be done, related to the prospective compensations for the war children, but nothing concrete took place.

In February 2002 all three of the associations ( The national ass. justice for losers, The ass. of war children Lebensborn and The Norwegian war children’s ass.) were invited to a meeting with the government.

The government Bondevik resigned marsh 2000. Magnhild Meltvet Kleppa, now elected represent, felt she had participated to the start of something that were not followed up. She wanted to handle the case again and wished to hear the associations view.

April 10^th 2002 the document 8-109 were presented:  

- the government state a commission to consider an extraordinary compensation to the war children. The commission will consider the grounds for any compensation towards this children and advice the disposal  for such compensation.

The case were presented for the comity of justice April 23rd 2002.

Already April 29^th the NKBF sent a letter to the comity of justice, where we point out how the war children have been depending on private persons initiatives to handle issues concerning us. We also argued that the case now had to be handled without further delays.

The document 8-109 were expected to be handled in the comity of justice in the spring session but were delayed. NKBF sent a new letter October 14^th 2002.

October 22nd 2002 all three organisations were invited to a hearing. Both document 8-109, the letters and the minute from the hearing is presented in NKBF`s members magazine, Roots.

November 21st the result came, all in favour by vote, the comity of justice acquainted restitution/compensation for war children.

Monday December 16^th 2002, the document 8-109 were debated by the government. The result were referred as:

• The government ask for an investigation to alternative suggestions for arrangement of compensation as a restitution to the war children that have suffered particularly torment, loss and distress from the fact that they are war children.

• The government ask to be presented suggestions to the settlement of compensation as soon as possible, preferably during the year 2003.

• The government ask for the ongoing investigation concerning the war children to continue.

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