Norway lawmaker who sexually abused asylum seekers hid behind 'do-gooder' reputation: advocate

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He was one of Norway's most prominent politicians and an advocate for vulnerable children.

But now, former cabinet minister Svein Ludvigsen has been sentenced to five years in prison for sexually abusing three young men who were seeking asylum in Norway between 2011 and 2017, reports the BBC.

The men — now aged 25, 26 and 34 — testified that when Ludvigsen was the governor of Troms, he offered them housing and jobs in exchange for sexual favours. One of the youths was just 17 at the time.

Ann-Magrit Austena, the secretary general of the Norwegian Organisation for Asylum Seekers, spoke to As It Happens guest host Susan Bonner about the case. Here is part of their conversation. 

What do we know about how [Ludvigsen] abused these three young men?

We know that the relationship started with him showing interest, visiting them, being kind to them, doing favours for them, inviting them in this car for a car trip to his cabin and helping them in different ways.

And then it developed into him starting to ask favours or coercing them into doing sexual favours for him.

Before this case broke, what kind of reputation did Svein Ludvigsen have in Norway?

Ludvigsen, in his local community in the city of Troms, in the far north of Norway, was a prominent figure. He had been minister of fisheries. He had been a member of parliament. He had high positions in his city, and he was known to be a do-gooder and a person that was especially interested in the situation and the care for children and the vulnerable. 

What would this kind of attention have meant to these three young men?

He had told them of his influence, his friends in government and the power he had. He had told them the lies — that he was actually able to decide whether or not they could stay in Norway.

And how do you think his reputation as a do-gooder, to use your words, had an effect on his ability to get away with this?

I think this is a main reason that he got away with it for so long.

I think this case is a cruel example of how vulnerable some of these people coming to Norway as unaccompanied minors are.- Ann-Magrit Austena, Norwegian Organisation of Asylum Seekers

Were people afraid that these young men wouldn't be believed?

Yes, absolutely.

From what I understand from the testimonies that they [gave] and how reluctant they have been — the two of them stepping forward and actually taking part in this case — they were very much afraid that they would not be believed and that they would end up being thrown out of Norway.

It's interesting how his reputation played such an important role in this story. Norway itself has an international reputation as a champion for human rights. What does this case tell you about how vulnerable young migrants coming to Norway are treated?

They are not taken care of by child care. They're taken care of by the immigration service, and they're not followed up [on in] the same way as other minors in Norway.

I hope that this case is exceptional in the way of misuse of power. But I'm afraid that other unaccompanied minors also are being misused just because they are so vulnerable and they have so few [people] that they actually can trust and relate to until they have settled truly and are integrated.

But in the process, they are easy targets for people that start with befriending them and then take advantage of them.

What do you think needs to change to provide better protection to young asylum seekers?

I think that they, until they reach the age of 18, should be in child care along with other minors. And then we need to strengthen the legal representatives and the guardianship of them so that they can be followed up [on] in a better way than what they are today.

And how likely is that kind of policy change to take place?

The present government and the majority in parliament has only been focused on stricter measures — having fewer asylum seekers and refugees coming to our country and stricter policies.

So it will not be easy, but I think this case is a cruel example of how vulnerable some of these people coming to Norway as unaccompanied minors are.

Written by Allie Jaynes and Sheena Goodyear. Produced by Allie Jaynes. Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.