Norway will play a proactive role in combating discrimination on grounds of gender, race and sexuality in development cooperation.
11/03/2008 :: “We cannot accept discrimination on grounds of race, gender or sexual orientation. There are two reasons in particular why the gender perspective is important in development cooperation: first, women are particularly severely affected by poverty; and second, it makes sense to combat discrimination from an economic point of view. It is difficult to achieve economic growth if half of the population is excluded from development,” said Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim at a seminar in connection with International Women’s Day on 8 March.
The Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim with Dr. Ejike Oji and Fikile Vilakazi, two of Africa’s stongest voices against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Photo: Pierr de Brisis/ MFA.
Action plan for women
Early in 2008, the Norwegian Government launched the white paper On Equal Terms: Women’s rights and gender equality in international development policy, which is the first of its kind in Norway. The Action Plan on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality in Development Cooperation was launched in 2007.
The focus will be on measures that lead to tangible improvements in girls’ and women’s lives. The aim is to ensure that women are afforded equal protection in conflict situations and to promote women’s rights and status in society in general.
Women, peace and security
Norway is playing a proactive role in the efforts to follow up UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. Gender-based violence is a particular challenge. It affects women both within and outside the family and in situations of armed conflict.
Right to participation in social processes
The Norwegian Government’s aim is to promote an awareness among boys and men that they, too, benefit from allowing women to participate as equal partners in political and economic decision-making bodies. Women are also to have the same social rights and access to education and employment as men.
Women’s rights and gender equality are among the most important priorities of the Government’s international development policy. Photo: WFP/ Khaled Mansour.
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs