Eva Kolstad

Eva Severine Lundegaard Kolstad (born Eva Severine Lundegaard Hartvig; 6 May 1918 – 26 March 1999) was a Norwegian politician and government minister for the Liberal Party, and a central figure in the history of gender equality in Norway and internationally. She served as President of the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights (1956–1968), member and vice chairman of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (1969–1975), Minister of Government Administration and Consumer Affairs of Norway in Korvald's Cabinet (1972–1973), leader of the Liberal Party (1974–1976) and as Norwegian Gender Equality Ombudsman (1978–1988), the first gender equality ombudsman worldwide. She contributed significantly to the development of the United Nations' gender equality policies.

Eva Kolstad
18th President of the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights
In office 1956–1968
Preceded by	Signe Swensson
Succeeded by	Clara Ottesen
Member of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
In office 1969–1975
Minister of Government Administration and Consumer Affairs
In office 18 October 1972 – 16 October 1973
Prime Minister	Lars Korvald
Preceded by	Inger Louise Valle
Succeeded by	Odd Sagør
Leader of the Liberal Party
In office 9 March 1974 – 27 March 1976
Preceded by	Helge Rognlien
Succeeded by	Hans H. Rossbach
Gender Equality Ombud of Norway
In office 1978–1988
Succeeded by	Ingse Stabel
Personal details
Born	Eva Severine Lundegaard Hartvig 6 May 1918 Halden, Østfold, Norway
Died	26 March 1999 (aged 80) Oslo, Norway
Nationality	Norwegian
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Ragnar Kolstad

Early life

Eva Kolstad was born in 1918 in Halden, Norway.[1] She worked as a bookkeeping teacher before becoming active in the cause of women's rights.[1][2]

Career

Kolstad was the leader of the Liberal Party from 1974 to 1976, making her the first female party leader in Norway. She was also the first ombudsman for gender equality (likestillingsombud) in Norway, and in extent the world. Outside politics she worked as an accountant.[2]

She was a minor ballot candidate in the 1953 election, and was not elected.[3] She served as a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway from Oslo during the terms 1957–1961 and 1965–1969.[4] In between she was runner-up behind Helge Seip on the Liberal ballot in the 1961 election, but the Liberals had no MPs elected.[5] She was the Minister of Administration and Consumer Affairs in 1972–1973 during the cabinet Korvald. On the local level she was member of the executive committee of Oslo city council from 1960 to 1975.[2][4]

Kolstad was a Commander of the Order of St. Olav and received the Medal of St. Hallvard in 1986.[2]

Personal life

She was married to the lawyer and Assistant Director General in the Ministry of Justice, Ragnar Kolstad. Her father-in-law was Prime Minister Peder Kolstad.[2]

References

1. Commire, Anne (2007). Dictionary of Women Worldwide: 25,000 Women Through the Ages. Detroit: Yorkin Publications. p. 1049. ISBN 0787675857.
2. "Eva Kolstad". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Kunnskapsforlaget. 1999–2005.
3. "Norges Offisielle Statistikk. XI. 180. Stortingsvalget 1953" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
4. "Eva Kolstad" (in Norwegian). Storting.
5. "Norges Offisielle Statistikk. XII. 68. Stortingsvalget 1961" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.