Torild Skard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Torild Skard
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Torild Skard speaking in the Storting in 2011
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| Member of the Storting | |
| In office 1 October 1973 – 30 September 1977 |
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| Constituency | Akershus |
| President of the Lagting | |
| In office 9 October 1973 – 30 September 1977 |
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| Vice President | Egil Aarvik |
| Preceded by | Egil Aarvik |
| Succeeded by | Margit Tøsdal |
| Director for Questions relating to the Status of Women of UNESCO | |
| In office 1984–1986 |
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| Regional Director for West and Central Africa at UNICEF | |
| In office 1994–1998 |
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| Preceded by | Stanislas Adotevi |
| Succeeded by | Rima Salah |
| Chairman of the UNICEF Executive Board | |
| In office 1988–1989 |
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| Preceded by | Makoto Taniguchi |
| Succeeded by | Margarita Dieguez |
| 29th president of the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights | |
| In office 2006–2013 |
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| Preceded by | Berit Kvæven |
| Succeeded by | Margunn Bjørnholt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 November 1936 Oslo, Norway |
| Political party | Socialist Left |
| Spouses | Berge Furre (m. 1962; div. 1965) Kåre Øistein Hansen (m. 1994–2012; his death) |
| Parents | Sigmund Skard Åse Gruda Skard |
| Profession | Psychologist |
| Committees | Standing Committee on Justice (deputy chair) |
Torild Skard (born November 29, 1936) is a Norwegian psychologist and politician. She is known for her work with children's rights and women's rights around the world.
Skard was a Member of Parliament in Norway from 1973 to 1977. During this time, she was also the president of the Lagting, which was the upper house of the Norwegian Parliament. She was the first woman to hold this important position.
She has worked for international organizations like UNESCO and UNICEF. At UNESCO, she focused on women's issues. For UNICEF, she helped children in West and Central Africa. She also led UNICEF's international board. Torild Skard is seen as a very important person in the history of women's rights in Norway.
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Early Life and Family
Torild Skard was born in Oslo, Norway, on November 29, 1936. Her parents were both professors. Her father was Sigmund Skard and her mother was Åse Gruda Skard.
She has several siblings, including a twin sister named Målfrid Grude Flekkøy. Her family includes many well-known people. Her grandfather, Halvdan Koht, was a historian and a former foreign minister. Her grandmother, Karen Grude Koht, was a pioneer for women's rights.
From 1962 to 1965, Torild Skard was married to the politician Berge Furre. Later, in 1994, she married Kåre Øistein Hansen.
Education and Early Career
Torild Skard started her schooling in Washington, D.C., in the United States. This was because her family had to leave Norway during the German occupation of Norway in World War II. After the war, she finished her schooling in Norway.
She studied at the University of Oslo and earned degrees in French, education, and sociology. She also became an approved psychologist in 1975. Before becoming a politician, she worked as a lecturer at universities. She also researched social issues.
Political and International Work
Torild Skard began her political journey in the Labour Party. However, she later helped start the Socialist People's Party in 1961. She believed in different foreign policies for Norway.
From 1973 to 1977, she was a Member of Parliament for the Akershus area. As mentioned, she made history by becoming the first woman President of the Lagting. She also represented Norway at the UN General Assembly in 1974. She was a delegate for Norway at the World Conference for the International Women's Year in 1975.
Working for Global Change
After her time in Parliament, Skard took on important international roles. From 1984 to 1986, she was a director at UNESCO in Paris. There, she focused on issues related to the status of women.
She then worked for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She was the first woman to hold a high position there, helping with development cooperation. From 1994 to 1998, she was a Regional Director for West and Central Africa at UNICEF. She helped lead UNICEF's international executive board from 1988 to 1989.
Later, she continued to advise the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She also worked as a senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. She has given lectures on leadership, women, and the United Nations.
Advocacy for Women's Rights
Torild Skard is well-known for her strong support of women's rights. She was the president of the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights (NKF) from 2006 to 2013. During this time, she also served as the vice chair of the Forum for Women and Development.
She has written several books. One book, Continent of Mothers, Continent of Hope (2003), is about development in Africa. Another book, Women of Power (2014), looks at female leaders around the world.
Awards and Recognition
Torild Skard has received several honors for her important work:
- In 1998, she was made a Commander of the National Order of the Lion of Senegal.
- In 2012, she became a Commander of the Order of St. Olav of Norway.
- In 2013, a Norwegian newspaper named her one of the "100 most important women" in Norwegian history.
- In 2014, she became an honorary member of the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights.
A painting of Torild Skard is displayed permanently in the Parliament of Norway Building.
