Europe
Norway.
The Norwegian Penal Code of 2005 makes it an offense to fail to help a person in obvious danger of losing their life or suffering serious injury, up to the limit of one's ability and without exposing oneself or others to special danger. The state also gives a tax deduction for gifts to voluntary organizations, pays VAT compensation to them, and routes a share of a state-licensed betting stake to local voluntary groups chosen by players.
Is there a legal duty to help a stranger?
YesStraffeloven section 287 ("Forsømmelse av hjelpeplikt", Neglect of duty to assist) punishes with a fine or up to 6 months in prison anyone who fails, according to ability, to help a person in obvious danger of losing their life or suffering considerable bodily or health harm, or to avert a fire, flood, explosion or similar accident endangering human life. The text says breach is not punished when the duty could not be met without exposing oneself or others to particular danger or sacrifice; the wording was amended in 2025.
Are people who help protected?
LimitedStraffeloven section 17 (necessity) says an act that would otherwise be punishable is lawful when it is done to save life, health, property or another interest from a danger of harm that cannot be averted in another reasonable way, and the risk of harm is far greater than the risk of harm from the act. No separate Good Samaritan liability statute was located in the texts reviewed.
How the government promotes giving and service
Ways to give and volunteer
Norway has a strong volunteer culture centered on local volunteer centers and large national groups. Fundraisers can choose an approved charity through the national control body.
Check a charity before you give
A control body that reviews fundraising organizations and lists those it has approved.
Give your time
Give money, blood or a donation
In an emergency or a crisis
Before you act
- Street and door-to-door collectors should carry ID, and you can ask which organization they represent. Look up a group in Innsamlingskontrollen's list or the national volunteer register before giving. Visitors from outside the EU or EEA may need a permit for unpaid work, so check with the host group.
This list does not cover local clubs, church groups or blood donation details. Checked 2026-10-28. Listing an organization is not an endorsement, and none of them has endorsed this site. Some official sites block automatic checks, so a link may need a second try.
One thing worth knowing
Straffeloven section 288 separately punishes failing to help a person in a helpless state whom one has a duty to care for, so Norwegian law pairs a general duty to help with a specific duty of care.
What this does not mean
The statute text quoted is the Norwegian original on Lovdata, paraphrased by this guide; the English translation was not available as full text in the pages retrieved, and its wording may differ. Norwegian People's Aid and the Red Cross are not covered because no state-support source was verified, and the government's volunteer policy white paper could not be retrieved. This is not legal advice. This is a plain-language summary of public sources, not legal advice, and it does not rank countries. No government named here has endorsed this site. Not reviewed by a lawyer. Statutes were read in public sources and may have changed. Last checked October 26, 2026.