Trond Viggo Torgersen, hired by the government as the official watchdog for Norway's kids, often snaps at the hand that pays him.
"My job is to be a free-speaking person who works exclusively for children, with no other goal," said the 39-year-old father of three.Along with Save the Children and the United Nations Children's Fund, Torgersen will be host to more than 600 experts from 70 countries attending a conference that opened Wednesday in Bergen, titled "Children at Risk."
The conference, which ends Saturday, will cover topics including the sale of children, children in war, child marriage and nutrition. It follows up the 1989 U.N. Convention on the Rights of Children.
Torgersen, who is a medical doctor, writer and entertainer, doesn't mince words when it comes to children. He expects the conference to do the same.
For example, he plans to pit Brazilian government officials against researchers in a debate about death squads murdering street children in the South American country.
"I didn't want people just to come and read papers," he said. "I wanted them to confront each other."
Torgersen has been fighting for children's rights ever since he was appointed to a four-year term as Norway's National Commissioner for Children in 1989.
"The ombudsman should resist his political leaders and decision-makers, when there are grounds for opposing them on the behalf of children," said Torgersen. "In a democracy, it is necessary to have a spokesman for those without voting rights."
More than 3,000 children a year call his toll-free "Children's Hotline," asking questions or stating problems that he addresses in a weekly national television program.
Torgersen is quick to use television and other news media to tongue-lash decisionmakers and start national debates.
When his boss, Minister of Families and Children Grete Berget, said she could do little against illegal day-care centers that mistreat Norwegian kids, Torgersen responded:
"She knows what's happening but is doing nothing about it. That is pretty frightening to hear from a government minister."
As children's commissioner, Torgersen has adminstrative superiors, but they cannot interfere in his work. But he has limits.
He cannot decide disputes, override government orders or interfere in court cases. Other agencies, such as the child welfare board, look after individual children.
He is to concentrate on matters of principle, such as legislation.