Background
She was born in Farsund as a daughter of Peder Håkon Jarl Hansen (1890–1986) and Sigrid Berger (1898–1994). Her father was later imprisoned and sent to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, while her brother Johan was sent to NN camps.
She was born in Farsund as a daughter of Peder Håkon Jarl Hansen (1890–1986) and Sigrid Berger (1898–1994). Her father was later imprisoned and sent to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, while her brother Johan was sent to NN camps.
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.
She was Minister of International Development from 1986 to 1988. The family moved to Stavanger in 1937. Foreign 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 brother Helge was the joint leader of a group of saboteurs in the Stavanger district during the war.
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 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.
She wrote several books
She was also interested in flowers in her later life, chairing the Norwegian Orchid Society from 1989 to 1998.
After the Soviet invasion of Hungary she renounced Communism and joined the Norwegian Labour Party together with her husband.
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.