Norway is intensifying efforts to promote women’s rights and gender equality in international development policy.
24/01/2008 :: “Women’s participation and gender equality are absolutely essential for development. We cannot combat poverty and achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals if half of the world’s population is excluded from political and economic processes,” said Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim when he launched the white paper On Equal Terms: Women’s rights and gender equality in international development policy on 18 January.
Efforts targeted at girls and women
Mr Solheim stressed that it is necessary to intensify the efforts targeted at promoting women’s rights and gender equality. At the same time more priority must be given to this issue in Norway’s international development policy in general. The gender equality we enjoy in Norway is due to the efforts of Norwegian women’s organisations. Thus, we must support women’s organisations and activists in our partner countries in the South.
Women should have the same social rights and access to education and employment as men. Photo: WFP/David Trilling.
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. The aim of the white paper is to help to ensure that women are afforded equal protection in conflict situations and to promote women’s rights and status in society in general.
Women’s rights and gender equality are among the most important priorities of the Government’s international development policy. Photo: WFP/ Khaled Mansour.
Right to participation in social processes
The Norwegian Government’s aim is to encourage men to loosen their grip and give women an opportunity to participate on equal terms in political and economic decision-making bodies and to raise men’s awareness of the fact that they, too, benefit from a more egalitarian society. Women are also to have the same social rights and access to education and employment as men.
- Norway should be a fearless champion
“In matters concerning women’s right to control their own bodies and sexuality, the Government should be a fearless champion of women’s right to safe abortion on demand. The Government is also seeking to implement concrete measures and will take a clear and bold stance on sensitive issues such as sexual orientation and the rights of homosexuals and transsexuals,” said Mr Solheim.
Gender equality is a matter of changing traditional gender roles and gender-based behaviour. Photo: Odd Naustdal/MFA Norway.
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs