Svalbard Act
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| Politics of Norway |
TheSvalbard Actof 17 July 1925 no. 11,normally referred to as theSvalbard Act(Norwegian:Lov om Svalbardor colloquiallySvalbardloven), is alaw of Norwaywhich governs the major aspects of theSvalbardarchipelago. The law was passed by theParliament of Norwayon 17 July 1925, establishes Norwegiansovereigntyof the island, and states that Norwegiancriminal law,civil lawandprocedure laware enforced on the island. Otherwise, other provisions and laws only apply when specified. The act further established the policy for administration, including creating theGovernor of Svalbard,and since 2002,Longyearbyen Community Council.The act also establishes rules for real estate and environmental protection.[1]
The act was passed as a response to theSpitsbergen Treatyof 9 February 1920, which established Norwegian sovereignty of Svalbard, but limited the archipelago to afree economic zoneanddemilitarized zone.The act established the basis for an orderlycivil societyon the islands, which had until that point been prone to lawlessness among miners, fishermen and hunters.[2]
The law has been amended several times, and consists of 6 chapters and 46 paragraphs. Chapter One (§§1–4) covers the relationship between Norway and Svalbard; Chapter Two (§§5–13) pertains to governance and courts; Chapter Three (§§14–21) concernsfamily law;Chapter Four (§§22–28) governs property law; Chapter Five (§§29–44) establishes the Longyearbyen Community Council, and Chapter Six (§§45–46) consists of miscellaneous provisions.[3]From 1 July 2002, theSvalbard Environmental Actof 15 June 2001 nr. 79 supplements theSvalbard Act,regulating all environmental aspects of the archipelago.[4]
References
[edit]- ^"Svalbard Act".Governor of Svalbard.Archived fromthe originalon 23 July 2011.Retrieved26 March2010.
- ^Arlov, Thor B. (1996).Svalbards historie(in Norwegian). Oslo: Aschehoug. p. 319.ISBN82-03-22171-8.
- ^"Svalbardloven"(in Norwegian).Lovdata.Retrieved26 March2010.
- ^Backer, Inge Lorang."Svalbardloven".Norwegian National Authority for the Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime.Archived fromthe originalon October 9, 2007.Retrieved27 March2010.
External links
[edit]- Svalbard ActatLovdata(in Norwegian)
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