Human Rights

Norway supports UN efforts to establish the right to clean drinking water and sanitation. Every year more children die of diseases caused by contaminated drinking water than of Aids, malaria and measles combined. Read more

Norway supports the UN Security Council statement dated 31 May, that condemns the acts that led to the loss of civilian lives when Israeli naval forces boarded the convoy carrying humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The statement underscores the need for a prompt, impartial and credible investigation of the incident. Read more

Human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity was the topic of a panel debate that Norway organized with the UN Permanent Missions of Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, France and the Netherlands on Thursday 10 December. The event was especially timely as several countries are looking to tighten legislation that criminalizes lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender people. Read more

“Demanding, stimulating and challenging” were Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s description of the three-hour review of the human rights situation in Norway in Geneva Wednesday 2 December. This was the first time Norway was examined under the UN’s new system of Universal Periodic Reviews of member states’ national efforts to respect and ensure human rights. Read more

The General Assembly’s human rights committee, in its recently concluded session, unanimously adopted a Norwegian proposal on the protection of human rights defenders. The main purpose of the text is to protect those – such as Nobel Peace Prize winners Shirin Ebadi and Aung San Suu Kyi – who often risk their personal safety to speak up for the human rights of others. Read more

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child turned 20 on the 20 November this year. UNICEF has launched a special edition of its annual “State of the World” report to coincide with the anniversary. “For the last 20 years, the UN’s convention for children has protected children against violence, abuse and discrimination. It’s given increasing numbers of children the right to schooling and healt... Read more

Twenty years ago the Convention of the Rights of the Child came into force. Today the UN General Assembly discussed the challenges that remain with regards to the promotion of children’s rights. Norwegian Ambassador Mona Juul stressed that while there has been progress in the last two decades, much remains to be done on this issue. Read more

On Thursday 24 September, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre chaired this year's Trygve Lie Symposium in New York. The aim of this year's symposium was to agree on a way forward to increase respect for international humanitarian law and its rules on protection of civilians. Read more

On Thursday 24 September, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre will chair this year’s Trygve Lie Symposium in New York. The theme this year will be the protection of civilians and international humanitarian law. Read more

USA have decided to put their candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council at the election in the General Assembly in May 2009. Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jonas Gahr Støre, welcomes the US candidacy and their engagement in the work of the Human Rights Council.     Read more

Norway was one of 66 countries behind a statement on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. It is the first time a statement on this topic is read to the UN General Assembly. Read more

Norway was one of 66 countries behind a statement on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. It is the first time a statement on this topic is read to the UN General Assembly. Read more

After 60 years the Universal Declaration for Human Rights has not lost its relevance. Serious human rights abuses are reported from all over the world. Read more

A large majority of states from all regions adopted a second United Nations resolution calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.  105 countries, six more than last year, voted for the resolution when the Third Committee voted Thursday. Read more

Speech on Norwegian human rights policy by Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre University of Bergen (Norway), 11 November 2008 Read more

Ten years afther the UN adopted the Declaration of the Human Rights Defenders the Special Rapporteur Margaret Sekkagya, concluded that the Daclaration have made an positive effect on the work fore Human Rights. Read more

In Norways statement on the Rights of Children Ambassador Mona Juul expressed disappointment that the Secretary-General not yet has appointed a Special Representative on Violence against Children Read more

The UN Human Rights Council adopted 27 March a proposal put forward by Norway to renew the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders for a further three years. Read more

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre pledges that Norway will intensify its efforts – and seek to be more strategic in promoting the freedom of expression. Read more

"How to address demand, as a driving force behind trafficking, should form part of any discussion to how multilateral cooperation can prevent trafficking in persons," said Mildrid Mikkelsen, Adviser at the Norwegian Forum for Women and Development (FOKUS) at the informal thematic debate of the General Assembly on human trafficking 3 June 2008. Read more