Portrait of Johan Castberg

The Castbergian Child Laws of 1915.

The Castbergian Child Laws of 1915 regarded the welfare of children and were named after politician Johan Castberg, who was the primary driving force behind the groundbreaking reform. Norway was among the first countries to pass new laws on the status of extra-marital children. According to the new laws, both parents were obliged to provide for the child born outside of marriage. If the father was unwilling or unable to pay, the mother was entitled to some financial support. It was also seen as crucial to reduce child mortality and prevent hidden pregnancies, which happened more frequently outside marriage. These Laws provided an example for other Nordic and Europeans countries.