Norway´s Contact Committee for Immigrants and the Authorities

Norway's Contact Committee for Immigrants and the Authorities (KIM) is an advisory body appointed by the Norwegian government every 4 years. The committee has two functions: To advise the government in matters that affect immigrants and to conduct a dialogue between immigrants and authorities. The Contact Committee was appointed by the government for the first time in 1984 at the request of Parliament. As of 2010 the Norwegian Minister of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion is the minister responsible for KIM. 1/1/2010 marked the start of KiMs 9th appointment period, with Anita Rathore as Chairperson.

The Committee's mandate

The committee's mandate states that:

The Contact Committee for Immigrants and the Authorities (KIM) is an advisory, independent body for the authorities in matters concerning persons with immigrant background .... KIM may persue a dialogue with the ministries and other government agencies, academic and research institutions, political parties, interest groups, and other relevant stakeholders concerning all fundamental aspects of the Norwegian policy concerning immigrants and their children.

Committee Structure

From 1/1/2010 KIM consists of 24 persons: The Chairperson and 23 representatives of the immigrant population appointed from Norway's 19 counties among candidates nominated by immigrant and minority organizations. From KIM was first created in 1984 until 2003, KIM consisted of a single forum consisting of representatives from political parties, government and immigrant organizations. From 2003 - 2009 the committee was restructured with two forums with different functions: An Immigrant Forum with an advisory mandate consisting of persons with immigrant backgrounds from different regions in Norway and a Contact Committee with the dialogue function consisting of members of the Immigrant Forum in addition to representatives of central authorities, the political parties in Parliament and The Norwegian Association of Municipalities. From 2010, KIM is appointed without permanent representation from political parties and administration. The Committee's dialog function will filled by the committee itself inviting political parties and government authorities to dialogue from issue to issue.

Committee Activity

The committee may address any matter of principle importance for the portion of the population with an immigrant background. In addition to its quarterly meetings, the Contact Committee facilitates dialogue between people of immigrant background and the authorities and politicians through meetings, seminars and conferences. The regional representatives on the committee are responsible for conferences and other activities in their regions. KIM is also ACTIVE in advocating immigrant and minority interests in public policy through meetings with the central government, through consultative advisory statements and through lobbying.

Advisory Function

• consultative advisory statements
• Contributions to ongoing work in the government
• Input on its own initiative in matters KIM considers important

Dialog Function

• Quarterly meetings
• Seminars and conferences
• Participation in external fora, e.g. committees and reference groups

Advocacy Function

• Letters to and meetings with:

:* Government ministers and ministries.

:* organizations

:* political parties

• Participation in Parliament Hearings and other external fora

no:Kontaktutvalget mellom innvandrerbefolkningen og myndighetene