Peace Efforts

Even the superstorm Sandy couldn't stop Norway and the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) hosting a dialogue meeting as a side event to the UN Security Council’s annual Open Debate on women, peace and security. Read more

"We share a common responsibility to promote the realisation of a two-state solution. That is why it is essential to safeguard the institutions that will form the foundation for a future Palestinian state," said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, who chaired the meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) for assistance to the Palestinians in New York on Sunday. Read more

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has today appointed the Norwegian diplomat Mari Skåre as the Alliance’s first special representative for women peace and security. Read more

The UN goal is 20 percent female UN Police officers by 2014. Norway already contributes with more. Read more

Major-General Robert Mood of Norway briefed the UN Security Council on the crisis in Syria on Tuesday June 19. As head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) Mood explained why he decided to suspend operations last weekend. General Mood said the escalating violence made it impossible for the observers to fulfill mandated tasks. Read more

“I fully understand General Mood’s decision to suspend UNSMIS’s operations. The risk to the observers’ safety is a serious cause of concern. At the same time, their absence could put civilians in even greater danger, and the Syrian authorities would be responsible,” commented Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

The massacres in Houla and Qubair are absolutely unacceptable. This shows that Syria is not following up Special Envoy Annan’s six-point proposal. The Nordic Prime Ministers call on the regime to change course immediately and to take urgent steps to implement Mr Annan’s proposal. The perpetrators must be brought to justice. Failure to comply with obligations must have consequences. Read more

On UN Peacekeepers Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid tribute to the 112 peacekeepers who died in 2011 while serving in the cause of peace. Lieutenant Colonel Siri Skare of Norway was among those who were posthumously awarded The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal. Read more

Major General Robert Mood has been appointed as head of the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria, UNSMIS. The UN Security Council on April 21st unanimously decided to establish an unarmed military observer force. Read more

“The resolution adopted unanimously by the Security Council sends a positive signal that the international community is now more united in demanding an end to the violence in Syria. The Syrian authorities must halt the violence immediately and facilitate the deployment of the observers,” said Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

A progress report has recently been published that gives an update on Norway's efforts to promote the various UN Security Council resolutions on Women, war and peace. The summary for that report is published in English. Read more

Norwegian Major-General Robert Mood will assist the Joint United Nations-League of Arab States Special Envoy for Syria, Mr. Kofi Annan, in his efforts to secure an end to armed violence in all its forms by all parties in Syria, the provision of humanitarian aid, and the launching of a Syrian-led political process to address the legitimate aspirations and concerns of the Syrian people. Read more

The UN General Assembly has, with an overwhelming majority, passed a resolution that condemns the continued widespread and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities. Egypt presented the resolution to the Assembly. Norway was one of many co-sponsors. Read more

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre commented, “Norway strongly condemns the increasing use of violence in Syria, where thousands have been killed. We deeply deplore the Syrian authorities’ gross human rights violations against the country’s own population.” Read more

“Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman are each in their own right worthy winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. The Government welcomes the award of this year’s prize to these three women. It is recognition of women’s nonviolent efforts to promote peace and democracy,” said Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

“Norway has, together with key Arab and European countries, taken the initiative to bring the grave situation in Syria before the UN General Assembly,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

Norway condemns the bombing of the Yida refugee camp in South Sudan by the Sudanese military, and urges the parties to come to the negotiating table to find a solution to the conflict in Southern Kordofan State and Blue Nile State. Read more

Norway has funded a new e-learning course on women, peace and security. The initiative was launched by UN Women in partnership with the Peace Operations Training Institute (POTI) on Monday 24 October. It is intended to advance understanding of the core components of the UN Security Council’s resolutions on women and peace and security and promote their regional and national implementation. Read more

“The news that the Libyan city of Sirte has now fallen and that former dictator Muammar Gaddafi is dead marks a historic turning point for Libya,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

Norway, host of the 1994 Winter Olympics at Lillehammer, warmly welcomes the UN resolution on the Olympic Truce. The United Kingdom formally submitted the resolution to the General Assembly, and all the other UN member states chose to co-sponsor the resolution. Read more