Report on Criminal Charges Against Marius Borg Hoiby and Relevance to Sustainable Development Goals

Case Summary

• Subject: Marius Borg Hoiby, son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway.
• Status: Charged with 32 criminal offenses following a yearlong police investigation.
• Defendant’s Plea: Denies the most serious charges of rape and domestic violence but intends to plead guilty to lesser offenses.

Allegations and Legal Proceedings

Formal Charges

1. Rape with sexual intercourse (one count).
2. Rape without sexual intercourse (three counts).
3. Domestic violence against a former partner, Nora Haukland.
4. Physical assault, including hitting, choking, and kicking.
5. Additional offenses totaling 32 criminal counts.

Judicial Process

• A trial is anticipated to commence in early 2025 and is estimated to last approximately six weeks.
• If convicted on the most serious charges, the defendant faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years.
• The Oslo state attorney has affirmed that the defendant’s connection to the royal family will not influence the legal proceedings, ensuring he will not be treated “more lightly or more severely” than any other citizen.
• The Norwegian royal palace has issued a statement indicating that the matter is for the courts to decide.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The charges of rape and domestic violence directly contravene the objectives of SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
• Specifically, the alleged acts are a severe violation of Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.”
• Prosecuting such crimes is essential for upholding the rights of women and dismantling systemic gender-based discrimination, in line with Target 5.1.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• This case serves as a critical test for Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.” The prosecutor’s commitment to impartial treatment underscores this principle.
• Holding individuals accountable for violent crimes, regardless of social standing, strengthens judicial institutions and public trust.
• The legal action taken addresses Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere,” by seeking justice for victims of violent assault.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The defendant’s admission of committing acts of violence while under the influence of cocaine and alcohol highlights challenges related to Target 3.5: “Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.”
• The profound physical and psychological trauma experienced by victims of rape and domestic violence is a direct impediment to achieving the broader goals of health and well-being for all, as outlined in SDG 3.

Background and Context

• The defendant was previously held in detention for one week in November of the preceding year as part of the investigation.
• In a prior statement, Hoiby admitted to causing bodily harm to a woman and damaging her property while under the influence of controlled substances, expressing regret for his actions.
• Reports have indicated the defendant’s association with known criminal organizations. He was previously arrested in 2017 for cocaine use.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The article extensively discusses charges of rape against four women and domestic violence against a former partner. These acts represent severe forms of gender-based violence, which is a primary focus of SDG 5. The details of the assault, including “repeatedly hitting her in the face… choking her, kicking her,” directly highlight the issue of violence against women.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The core of the article revolves around the justice system’s response to criminal offenses. It describes a yearlong police investigation, the role of the state attorney in filing 32 criminal charges, the upcoming trial, and the principle of equal justice. The prosecutor’s statement that Hoiby “would not be treated ‘more lightly or more severely’ than anyone else” underscores the commitment to the rule of law and equal access to justice, which are central to SDG 16. The acts of violence themselves (rape, assault) are what this goal aims to reduce.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article explicitly links the violent acts to substance abuse. It notes that Hoiby admitted to causing bodily harm “while he was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol” and mentions a prior arrest in 2017 for “using cocaine at a music festival.” This connection points to the challenges of substance abuse, which SDG 3 aims to address through prevention and treatment.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Targets under SDG 5: Gender Equality

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.
2. The charges of “raping four women, domestic violence, [and] assault” are direct examples of the violence this target seeks to eliminate. The description of the physical assault on his former partner is a clear case of violence against women in the private sphere.

Targets under SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
2. The 32 criminal offenses, including rape and assault, represent the “forms of violence” that this target aims to reduce. The legal proceedings are a societal mechanism for addressing and deterring such violence.
3. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
4. The article details the functioning of the Norwegian justice system: a police investigation, charges filed by a prosecutor, and a scheduled trial. The prosecutor’s assurance of equal treatment for a member of the royal family directly reflects the principle of promoting the rule of law and ensuring justice is accessible and impartial.

Targets under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

1. Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
2. The article’s mention of Hoiby committing violence “under the influence of cocaine and alcohol” and his previous arrest for cocaine use highlights the problem of substance abuse, which this target is designed to address.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied

Indicators for SDG 5 Targets

• Implied Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner.
• The article’s focus on the “physical assault against a woman with whom he had been in a relationship” provides a specific case that would be counted under this indicator. The charges of domestic violence directly relate to measuring intimate partner violence.

Indicators for SDG 16 Targets

• Implied Indicator 16.1.3: Proportion of population subjected to physical, psychological or sexual violence in the previous 12 months.
• The victims in this case—the four women allegedly raped and the woman subjected to domestic violence—represent individuals who would be included in the data for this indicator. The criminal charges serve as an official record of reported violence.
• Implied Indicator 16.3.2: Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population.
• The article states that “Police in November last year held Hoiby in detention for one week as part of the investigation.” This period of pre-trial detention is precisely what this indicator measures, reflecting the process of justice administration before a final verdict is reached.

Indicators for SDG 3 Targets

• Implied Indicator 3.5.1: Coverage of treatment interventions for substance use disorders.
• While the article does not mention treatment, it clearly identifies a case of substance abuse linked to violent crime (“under the influence of cocaine and alcohol”). Such an event implies a societal need for the prevention and treatment services that this indicator measures.

Summary of Findings

Source: aljazeera.com