The Norwegian Association for Women's Rights

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The Norwegian Association for Women's Rights (Norwegian: Norsk Kvinnesaksforening, NKF) is a Norwegian organization advocating women's liberation and equality between the sexes. The organization was founded in 1884 by teacher Gina Krog and editor and Member of Parliament Hagbart Berner. Fredrikke Marie Qvam and Randi Blehr, both wives of Norwegian Prime Ministers, also played a major role in the inital phase of the movement. Ragna Nielsen was chairman for some time (1886-1888 and 1889-1895), until the so-called morality debate (Norwegian: Sedelighetsdebatten) caused a split in the movement and Anna Bugge became the new leader. Other prominent members during the first years were Margrethe Vullum and Pylle Horst.

The Association also initiated the founding of The Norwegian Women's Public Health Association (Norwegian: Kvinners Sanitetsforening) to deal with humanitarian issues.

Among the important causes that the NAWR has fought for are women's suffrage (achieved in 1913), the right to work (in the 1930s), abolishment of the common taxing for spouses (the 1950s), right to equal schooling (the 1960s), the establishment of the Council for Equality between the Sexes (Norwegian: Likestillingsrådet) 1972, later replaced by the Centre for Equality between the Sexes - 1977, later by The Equality and Anti-discrimination Ombud - 2006).

The NAWR has co-operated with the National Association for Women's suffrage (Norwegian: Landskvinnestemmerettsforeningen) and later with the Norwegian National Women's Council. Prominent figures within the association were Aasta Hansteen, Betzy Kjelsberg, Randi Blehr, Margarete Bonnevie, Aslaug Moksnes and Eva Kolstad. The current leader is Torild Skard.

[edit] Further reading

Aslaug Moksnes. 1984. Norsk Kvinnesaksforenings historie 1884 – 1913: Likestilling eller særstilling? (in Norwegian)

[edit] External links