Staff at Norway’s largest women’s health organization have noted an increase in women reporting abuse and sexual assault by their partners ahead of the rape trial involving a member of the royal family. They hope the case will help “break taboos.”
Marius Borg Høiby, the 28-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is set to stand trial in February on 32 charges, including four counts of rape, domestic abuse of a former partner, and illegally filming several women without their knowledge or consent. His lawyer, Petar Sekulic, stated that Høiby “denies all charges of sexual abuse, as well as the majority of the charges regarding violence,” and will present his detailed version of events in court.
Høiby, whose stepfather is Crown Prince Haakon, Norway’s future king, could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted on the most serious charges.
May Britt Buhaug, secretary general of the women’s public health organization Sanitetskvinnene, said her staff has seen more women seeking help and advice after experiences of violence and sexual assault. She expects this to rise further once the trial begins. “Media coverage of cases like Høiby’s makes it easier for women to ask for help. That openness breaks taboos,” Buhaug explained.
According to the Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, one in 10 women in Norway has experienced serious violence from an intimate partner. Buhaug added, “Although tragic, this case may help break the silence around intimate partner violence and rape.”
Meanwhile, a new book that Høiby tried unsuccessfully to block claims he personally sold drugs on the streets of Oslo. Høiby has denied these allegations.
The negative attention has energized republican sentiments in Norway. Craig Aaen-Stockdale, leader of the group Norge som republikk, said membership has more than tripled in the past two years, largely due to the accusations against Høiby. “Many Norwegians are now reconsidering their support for the royal family, who were once seen as harmless,” he said. “This ongoing scandal has tarnished the reputation of the younger royals, including the future heir.”
However, Torgeir Pedersen Krokfjord, co-author of the book White Lines, Black Sheep, which published the drug claims, believes the royal family remains popular and has weathered the storm relatively well. “One can only imagine what they’ve been through, dealing with all this while facing health issues,” he said.
The royal palace and Høiby’s lawyer have been contacted for comment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the news that more women in Norway are reporting abuse as a member of the royal family faces trial for rape
General Understanding The Case
Q What is this news story about
A Its about two connected events in Norway 1 A significant increase in women reporting sexual assault to the police and 2 The highprofile trial of a member of the Norwegian royal family Ari Behn who was accused of rape by multiple women The trial brought national attention to the issue
Q Who is Ari Behn
A Ari Behn was a Norwegian author and the former husband of Princess Mrtha Louise He was accused of rape by three women in incidents dating from 2006 to 2010 He denied the allegations but died by suicide in 2019 before the trial concluded
Q Was he found guilty
A The criminal case was formally closed after his death so there was no legal verdict of guilty or not guilty However the public allegations and the media coverage had a major impact
Impact Statistics
Q How did this case affect reporting rates
A Following the media coverage of the allegations against Ari Behn Norwegian support centers and police reported a sharp rise in the number of women coming forward to report past and present sexual assaults It sparked a national conversation about power privilege and believing survivors
Q Why would a highprofile case make more people report abuse
A Experts call this the Weinstein Effect or breaking the silence When a powerful or famous person is publicly accused it can make other survivors feel less alone more believed and more empowered to share their own stories It validates that abuse can happen to anyone by anyone
Q Is this trend only in Norway
A No Similar surges in reporting have been seen globally after major movements like MeToo and highprofile trials Norways case is unique because it directly involved a figure connected to the respected monarchy
Deeper Questions Context
Q Does this mean abuse is increasing or just that more people are reporting it
