Gender Equality

«Norway is very satisfied with the outcome of this year’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The outcome document agreed by consensus, gives strong recommendations to eliminate and prevent all forms of violence against women and girls,” Counsellor Ms. Hilde Klemetsdal stated after tough negotiations. Read more

This years' UN Commission on the Status of Women from 4th to 15th of March is the largest conference ever to focus on the topic of violence against women and girls. Read more

Every 17 May, we celebrate Norway’s constitution. This is a day for commemorating the ideals of freedom and equality. It is also the date of the International Day Against Homophobia and transphobia, which will be marked all over the world. Read more

A Norwegian police team has been working with the UN in Haiti to promote the position of women within the Haitian National Police Service. First Lady Sophia Martelly was there when the new Office of Women’s Affairs was handed over to a Haitian national coordinator. Read more

The 56 Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 56) ended without agreed conclusions, almost one week over time. Norway finds the result deeply regrettable, particularly for rural woman, which was the theme for this year’s meeting. Read more

Thursday, the UN Human Rights Council held the first debate on how the UN can help to combat violence and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre commented, “This is a historic moment for the UN. Under the leadership of South Africa, we have at last had a debate on how the international community can promote... Read more

Michelle Bachelet of UN Women praised the the gender-equality policies of the Nordic countries' when she attended a seminar hosted by the Nordic Council of Ministers at the UN on Wednesday 29 February. Read more

A group of African women leaders have met with Norway’s UN Ambassador Morten Wetland to discuss the how UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security is being implemented in their countries. Read more

Is the workplace a masculine domain? And can we mandate sexual attitudes? Some of the questions that came up at our panel discussion "Sex & The Office" - Gender equality at home and at work. Read more

Walking to the Unites Nations Headquarter on Monday 27th of February you’d see a mass of women in colorful dresses, talking, laughing and smiling in the sun. All the excitement buzzing in the air is caused by the fact that this is the opening day of the 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Read more

Norway will have a strong presence during the annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). This is the UN’s key arena for debate on gender equality and women’s empowerment. In the coming weeks Norway will focus on gender equality in the work place, violence against women, rural women's access to clean water and energy, plus the rights of lesbian and bisexual. Read more

The head of UN Women, Ms. Michelle Bachelet, has visited Norway, a key supporter of the UN's newest entity. It was in itself an important visit, but the timing made it even more pertinent. Read more

“I congratulate the three winners of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman. This is an important recognition of the role they have played in ensuring women’s safety and right to participate in peace-building work,” said Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. Read more

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Special Adviser Tore Godal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been included on a list of the 100 most inspiring people with regard to UN Millennium Development Goal 5 – improving maternal health. Read more

Thousands of delegates gather in mid-town Manhattan this week for the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Norway will be represented by State Secretary for Gender Equality, Ms. Henriette Westhrin, and State Secretary for International Development, Ms. Ingrid Fiskaa, along with a strong Norwegian civil society presence. Read more

Six out of ten women in Uganda say they have been beaten or raped in their own homes. The Government has now decided to contribute about USD 10.8 million (more than NOK 60 million) to the United Nations to combat violence against women in the country. Read more

UN Women Head Michelle Bachelet presented five major priorities for the new UN organiztion, well in line with Norwegian gender discrimination policies. Read more

Norway has signed a new two-year agreement with UNICEF worth USD 166 million (NOK one billion). The Norwegian funding will be used to ensure that children are able to go to school in crisis and conflict situations and to improve the quality of education in several countries. In addition, this money will used with particular focus on girls’ access to education. Read more

Norway has been elected to serve on the Executive Board of the UN’s new gender entity, UN Women. Iran was not elected, despite the fact that the Asian Group initially had nominated the country as one of ten to ten seats. In the last week before the vote, East Timor launched its candidacy thus becoming the eleventh Asian candidate. East Timor went on to beat Iran with 36 to 19 votes. Read more

Norwegian State Secretary Espen Barth Eide met the head of the UN gender entity, Michelle Bachelet, on Monday. It was Ms. Bachelet’s first bilateral meeting as head of UN Women. This reflects Norway’s status as a leader on gender equality and as a strong, reliable supporter of the UN’s work in this field. Read more