Torild Skard (born 29 November 1936) is a Norwegian psychologist, politician for the Socialist Left Party, a former deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a former chairman of UNICEF.

She served as a Member of Parliament for Akershus, president of its Upper Chamber and deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Justice from 1973 to 1977.

[1] She has also served as director-general for development cooperation, deputy permanent secretary responsible for development cooperation and special adviser in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has been a senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs.

She was originally a member of the Labour Party, but as leader of the Socialist Student Group she was excluded in 1959 together with most of the group, because they were opposed to the Labour Party's western-aligned foreign policy and Norway's NATO membership.

She was secretary for the party parliamentary group from 1962 to 1963,[3] and served as a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway during the term 1965–1969.

During this term she served as the President of the Lagting - Upper House and deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Justice.

In 1991 she was promoted to assisting permanent under-secretary of state for development cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a position she held until 1994.

[5] In accordance with the longstanding policy of NKF Skard har opposed conscription of women.

[6] A painting of Torild Skard by Sonja Krohn (2001) is on permanent display in the Parliament of Norway Building.