International Development
After hard and long negotiations the resolution on the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) regarding youth and adolescence was adopted during overtime. Different fractions opposed each other during the negotiations, and the political differences were made evident. This was especially clear when it came to the case of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for youth, which w... Read more
In his first visit to the UN as Minister for International Development, Mr. Heikki Holmås emphasized the importance of women and showcasing results of development efforts in poor countries when he met with key UN leaders. Read more
“Sustainable Energy for All” was the theme of the Nordic side event held Tuesday 27th of March. The side event was arranged during the informal negotiations leading up to the Rio +20 Conference on Sustainable Development. This side event can be seen as a reflection of Norway strong focus on sustainable energy. Read more
It is difficult to make 193 states agree. This became clear as the first round of the ’informal-informal’ negotiations on the zero draft of the outcome document to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development Rio + 20 started up last week. Read more
Around 20 percent of our planet is at risk from at least one natural hazard and more than half the world’s population is exposed. As the Rio + 20 Conference on Sustainable Development is approaching, Norway and the rest of the Group of Friends for Disaster Risk Reduction, launched a photo exhibition to coincide with the opening of the "informal-informal" negotiations leading up to Rio + 20. Read more
Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg will be serving as one of the co-chairs for the new UN Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children which were launched March 23rd. The commission will work to improve access to essential but overlooked health supplies that could save the lives of millions of women and children every year. Read more
“2012 will be a bad year for red tape and bureaucracy at the UN”, Norway’s UN Ambassador Morten Wetland concluded at a meeting about the United Nations “Delivering as One” approach. Read more
Half of the world's population is younger than 30 years. - The fact that young people are not being heard is a waste of resources and could become a threat to the world peace. The UN now signals that they take this challenge seriously, said Norwegian Junior Minister for International Development Mr Arvinn Gadgil, after a meeting with UN Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-moon in New York. Read more
A new Norwegian-led research project is to identify the economic benefits of investing in women’s health. Read more
Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has received the "Champion for Global Change Award" from the UN Foundation and the UN Association - USA (UNA-USA). He is honoured for the work he and Norway's government has done in promoting global health, climate initiatives and energy for all-agenda. Read Stoltenberg's speech from the Global Leadership Awards dinner. Read more
Today the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched this year’s Human Development Report. The report includes the 2011 Human Development Index, which measures countries’ ability to provide opportunities for people to improve their living conditions. Norway is at the top of this index. Read more
Every fall the Norwegian Parliament, the Storting, sends two delegations to the UN. What impressions are these members of parliament left with after their four week visit? The participating parliamentarians shared their thoughts on the eve of departure. Read more
The UN has for the first time put Non-communicative deceases (NCD) on the agenda. All 193 member states agreed on a declaration to target the global threat that diabetes, pulmonary diseases, cancer and cardio diseases represents, both for health-, economy- and social development. Read more
The 2011 High-Level Meeting on HIV and AIDS concluded Friday. The final declaration includes important references to populations at higher risk of the disease, men having sex with men being one of them. Read more
Side event on global campaign for women's and children's health. Opening remarks by UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador HRH The Crown Princess. Watch video here. Read more
As Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS, HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit is taking part in the UN High-Level Meeting on Aids from June 7-9, along with Minister for Development Erik Solheim, and Deputy Minister for Health Ragnhild Mathisen. Read more
On World No Tobacco Day, the Permanent Missions of Norway, Thailand and Uruguay to the UN hosted a luncheon to celebrate to celebrate the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the world's answer to the tobacco epidemic. Read more
Norway has been elected to serve on the UN Commission on Population and Development from 2012-2016. Norway is strongly committed to the Commission’s work and to the goal of universal access to reproductive health by 2015. Read more
An investment in sexual and reproductive health is an investment in life. Giving women access to modern methods of contraception, safe deliveries and safe abortions is key. Read Norway's statement to the UN Commission on Population and Development here: Read more
Norwegian UN delegates were mainly in listening mode as members of civil society discussed the upcoming High-level meeting on HIV/AIDS. The participants included leaders of religious, education, business and community-based groups from many different countries. Read more