The Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers (NOAS) aims to advance the interests of asylum seekers in Norway. According to NOAS’ principles, the organization provides legal aid or welfare assistance to persons who seek and/or have been granted asylum status and protection in Norway. NOAS also engages in refugee policy matters as well as works to combat racism and xenophobia.

NOAS has currently 12 staff members. The main office is located at Torggata in Oslo; another office is situated at the asylum reception centre in Bærum. NOAS’ operations include legal aid, information work, and academic and political efforts aimed at ensuring that asylum seekers get appropriate justice and welfare assistance. NOAS is a membership organization with approximately 500 members. NOAS is mainly financed through state grants. Membership contribution is also an important source of our finances. However, membership contributions are not a prerequisite for receiving assistance from us.

NOAS’ foremost organ is the general assembly, where the organization’s members meet. The general assembly meeting is held once a year. The meeting also serves as a forum for electing the board. The board is responsible for the organization’s operations. The board also appoints the general secretariat who is in charge of the day to day activities of the organization.

NOAS was established in 1984 by among others Annette A. Thommessen. Thommessen ran the organization until 1994.  In 1984, asylum seeking was an almost unknown phenomenon in Norway. This changed in 1985 when NOAS, helped by the Norwegian press, contributed to the return of six Iranian asylum seekers from Turkey. The Iranians, who were in danger in Turkey because they were at risk to be sent to Iran, were sent to back to Turkey without any due processing of their individual applications for asylum in Norway. This was a clear breach of Norway’s commitment to justice processes. The case brought to public attention the situation of asylum seekers as well as NOAS’ work.

During NOAS’ first 10 years of existence, the number of asylum seekers in Norway greatly increased – in 1993 about 12000 persons applied for asylum. NOAS was the group’s most important representative during this period – a role the organization continues to play to this day.

A lot of change has taken place since 1984 regarding asylum seekers in Norway. The authorities have more expertise and knowledge about the conditions of asylum seekers today than previously. However, asylum seekers are still a vulnerable group. Norway and other European countries continue to pursue a restrictive asylum policy which consequently increases the tendency of refugees being sent back to the home countries persecuting them. The need for a watchdog on asylum issues is therefore still as necessary today as it was when NOAS began.