Vesla Gunvor Vetlesen
Encyclopedia
Vesla Gunvor Vetlesen, née Hansen (born 19 October 1930) is a Norwegian
weaver, trade unionist, writer and politician for the Labour Party
. She was Minister of International Development from 1986 to 1988.
She was born in Farsund
as a daughter of Peder Håkon Jarl Hansen (1890–1986) and Sigrid Berger (1898–1994). The family moved to Stavanger in 1937. For a period during the German Occupation of Norway
the family's home at Storhaug
was the location for production of the illegal newspapers Stritt folk and Frihet. Her father was later imprisoned and sent to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp
, while her brother Johan was sent to NN camps
. Her brother Helge
was the joint leader of a group of saboteur
s in the Stavanger district during the war. She finished
her secondary education in 1949 and studied textile design at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
from 1950 to 1954. In 1951 she became the second wife of Leif Vetlesen
(1921–2003). She was a communist during her early life, chairing the regional chapter of the Young Communist League of Norway
in Rogaland from 1948 to 1949, when she was expelled from the Communist Party. After the Soviet invasion of Hungary she renounced Communism and joined the Norwegian Labour Party
together with her husband.
Vetlesen worked as a weaver from 1951, and left Norway to teach weaving in Uganda
in 1968, where her husband worked for the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
. After some years in Uganda, they returned to Norway. Vesla Vetlesen was a journalist for the European Movement
for one year before working in Arbeidernes Opplysningsforbund. She then worked as a secretary for humanitarian organizations; Save the Children
from 1973 to 1975 and Norwegian People's Aid from 1975 to 1980, before working in the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
from 1980 to 1986 and 1988 to 1994. From 1986 to 1988 she served as Norway's Minister of Development Cooperation in Brundtland's Second Cabinet. Her only elected political position was as borough council member in Vestli from 1973 to 1977.
Vetlesen was a board member of the United Nations Association of Norway
from 1982 to 1984, and chaired the European Movement in Oslo from 2000 to 2001. She wrote several books. She was also interested in flowers in her later life, chairing the Norwegian Orchid Society from 1989 to 1998.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
weaver, trade unionist, writer and politician for the Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
. She was Minister of International Development from 1986 to 1988.
She was born in Farsund
Farsund
is a town and municipality in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway.The town of Farsund was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 , although already recognized as a trading center in 1795...
as a daughter of Peder Håkon Jarl Hansen (1890–1986) and Sigrid Berger (1898–1994). The family moved to Stavanger in 1937. For a period during the German Occupation of Norway
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
the family's home at Storhaug
Storhaug
-Neighbourhoods:Although the borders of neighbourhoods do not correspond exactly to the borough borders, Storhaug roughly consists of the following neighbourhoods : Johannes, Nylund, Varden, Bergjeland and Øyane.-Politics:...
was the location for production of the illegal newspapers Stritt folk and Frihet. Her father was later imprisoned and sent to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen or Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg was a Nazi concentration camp in Oranienburg, Germany, used primarily for political prisoners from 1936 to the end of the Third Reich in May, 1945. After World War II, when Oranienburg was in the Soviet Occupation Zone, the structure was used as an NKVD...
, while her brother Johan was sent to NN camps
Nacht und Nebel
Nacht und Nebel was a directive of Adolf Hitler on 7 December 1941 signed and implemented by Armed Forces High Command Chief Wilhelm Keitel, resulting in the kidnapping and forced disappearance of many political activists and resistance 'helpers' throughout Nazi Germany's occupied...
. Her brother Helge
Helge Hansen
Helge Hansen was a Norwegian resistance member during the German occupation of Norway, and later a politician, chemist and factory manager.-Personal life:...
was the joint leader of a group of saboteur
Sabotage
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is...
s in the Stavanger district during the war. She finished
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
her secondary education in 1949 and studied textile design at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
The Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry was established in 1818.In 1996 the National Academy of Craft and Art Industry became part of Oslo National Academy of the Arts .-Noted alumni:-External links:*...
from 1950 to 1954. In 1951 she became the second wife of Leif Vetlesen
Leif Vetlesen
Leif Vetlesen was a Norwegian sailor, political worker, organizational worker and writer.He was born in Kristiania as a son of engineer Alf Vetlesen and teacher Aagot Bugge . He was a great-grandson of Frederik Moltke Bugge. He finished his secondary education at Oslo Cathedral School in 1939,...
(1921–2003). She was a communist during her early life, chairing the regional chapter of the Young Communist League of Norway
Young Communist League of Norway
Young Communist League of Norway was until April 2006 the youth league of Norges Kommunistiske Parti . April 1st 2006 NKP declared that NKU was no longer its youth organization, and that all youths interested in joining the movement should contact the party directly...
in Rogaland from 1948 to 1949, when she was expelled from the Communist Party. After the Soviet invasion of Hungary she renounced Communism and joined the Norwegian Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
together with her husband.
Vetlesen worked as a weaver from 1951, and left Norway to teach weaving in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
in 1968, where her husband worked for the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation is a directorate under the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its task is to ensure effective foreign aid, with quality assurance and evaluation. NORAD both finances NGOs, and does its own research and projects. The current director general is...
. After some years in Uganda, they returned to Norway. Vesla Vetlesen was a journalist for the European Movement
European Movement
The European Movement International is a lobbying association that coordinates the efforts of associations and national councils with the goal of promoting European integration, and disseminating information about it.-History:...
for one year before working in Arbeidernes Opplysningsforbund. She then worked as a secretary for humanitarian organizations; Save the Children
Save the Children
Save the Children is an internationally active non-governmental organization that enforces children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries...
from 1973 to 1975 and Norwegian People's Aid from 1975 to 1980, before working in the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions
The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions is a national trade union center, decidedly the largest and probably the most influential umbrella organization of labour unions in Norway. The 21 national unions affiliated to the LO have more than 850,000 members of a Norwegian population of 4.8 million...
from 1980 to 1986 and 1988 to 1994. From 1986 to 1988 she served as Norway's Minister of Development Cooperation in Brundtland's Second Cabinet. Her only elected political position was as borough council member in Vestli from 1973 to 1977.
Vetlesen was a board member of the United Nations Association of Norway
United Nations Association of Norway
The United Nations Association of Norway is an information organisation in Norway.It was established as Norsk Samband for de Forente Nasjoner , but later changed its name. It is a member body in the World Federation of United Nations Associations, and its purpose is to inform schools and media...
from 1982 to 1984, and chaired the European Movement in Oslo from 2000 to 2001. She wrote several books. She was also interested in flowers in her later life, chairing the Norwegian Orchid Society from 1989 to 1998.