bevegelsesfriheter

Bevegelsesfriheter, or the freedom of movement, is a fundamental human right recognized in international law and constitutional frameworks worldwide. It refers to an individual's right to move freely within a country, choose where to reside, and to depart from and enter a state. The right is rooted in the concept of personal liberty and is often intertwined with other civil and political rights, such as freedom of expression, association, and privacy.

Internationally, the right to freedom of movement is codified in Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and protected more robustly by Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The European Convention on Human Rights likewise safeguards this right under Article 5, allowing derogations only in times of war or public emergency under strict procedural safeguards. Regional and human rights mechanisms monitor compliance, issue jurisprudence, and inform state duty to prevent arbitrary restrictions.

National constitutional protections vary. In Norway, the Constitution’s Article 102 guarantees the citizen’s right to move and reside freely across the kingdom, subject to legitimate public interests such as national security or public health. States may impose restrictions, but these must be proportionate, necessary, and based on clear legal regulations, with transparent procedures for redress. Immigration policies, visa regimes, and border controls are typical areas where the balance between state control and individual freedom is negotiated.

The practical application of bevegelsesfriheter affects migration, refugee protection, labor mobility, and international trade. Global migration challenges, pandemics, and security concerns have prompted temporary and permanent adjustments to movement restrictions, underscoring the need for continual legal scrutiny to safeguard this core human right.