Jens Evensen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jens Evensen
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Evensen in 1974
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| Minister of Trade and Shipping | |
| In office 16 October 1973 – 27 September 1974 |
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| Prime Minister | Trygve Bratteli |
| Preceded by | Hallvard Eika |
| Succeeded by | Einar Magnussen |
| Minister of Maritime Law | |
| In office 27 September 1974 – 1 January 1979 |
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| Prime Minister | Trygve Bratteli Odvar Nordli |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jens Ingebret Evensen
5 November 1917 Christiania, Norway |
| Died | 15 February 2004 (aged 86) Asker, Norway |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Sylvei Evensen |
| Children | 2 |
Jens Ingebret Evensen (born November 5, 1917 – died February 15, 2004) was an important person in Norway. He was a skilled lawyer, a judge, and a politician for the Labour Party. He also served as a government minister.
Evensen was an expert on international laws about the sea and oil. He helped Norway manage its valuable oil resources. Later, he became a judge at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which is a big court for countries around the world.
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Early Life and Education
Jens Evensen grew up in Oslo, Norway. His father was a butcher who often gave food to people who needed help. Young Jens also helped his father support families without work or food. He learned early on about helping others.
In 1936, Evensen started studying law at the University of Oslo. After he finished his studies, he worked at a law firm. This firm helped people who rented apartments to buy their homes. Evensen helped many people, even those who couldn't read, to understand their rights.
Helping During World War II
During World War II, Norway was occupied by Germany. Jens Evensen joined the Norwegian resistance movement. He helped by making fake identity papers for people. This was very dangerous work.
After the war, he worked as a prosecutor. He helped find out what the wartime leader Vidkun Quisling and his helpers had stolen. Evensen believed in justice for what happened during the war.
In 1947, Evensen went to the United States to study more. He received a special scholarship to attend Harvard University. There, he met many people from the oil industry. This helped him later in his career.
Career in Government
From 1961 to 1973, Jens Evensen led the legal department for Norway's Foreign Ministry. At this time, oil companies wanted to explore for oil in the North Sea. Norway was not fully ready for this.
Evensen took on the challenge. He worked hard to create the laws that would give Norway rights to the oil found off its coast. This work was very important. It helped Norway gain control over its oil and gas, which led to the country's successful oil industry.
A Political Role
Later, Evensen became a politician. He was a member of the Labour Party. He served as a minister who helped manage Norway's trade with other countries. He worked in the governments of Trygve Bratteli and Odvar Nordli.
Evensen was known for being both respected and sometimes controversial. He made important agreements, like sharing fishing resources in the Barents Sea with the Soviet Union. This decision was debated by some of his fellow Labour Party members.
He also supported the idea of a nuclear-free zone in the Nordic countries in 1980. This meant he wanted to keep nuclear weapons out of this region.
Later Life and Legacy
Jens Evensen remained an international expert on laws about the sea. He helped create rules for economic zones that extended far out to sea. These rules allow countries to control resources up to 200 nautical miles (about 370 kilometers) from their coastlines.
He later became a judge at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. He served there until 1993. This court helps countries solve disagreements peacefully.
Jens Evensen passed away in February 2004. His work was very important for Norway. He helped secure the country's valuable oil resources and played a key role in international sea laws. The United Nations' oceans treaty from 1982 is largely based on his ideas and efforts.
