NORWAY
Norway’s first WPS NAP was launched in 2006; in 2010 the NAP was revised plan to cover the period 2011-2013. It’s third NAP was for 2015-2018, and its fourth and current NAP covers 2019-2022. There is no news yet as to an update of this fourth NAP.
Objectives of 2019-2022 NAP:
The plan is divided into the following four focus areas:
- Peace and reconciliation processes:
We will work systematically to ensure that peace and reconciliation processes facilitate participation by women in all phases, and that both women’s and men’s rights, needs and priorities are respected.
- Implementation of peace agreements:
Where Norway is involved in the implementation of peace agreements, we will endeavour to facilitate women’s participation and to safeguard both women’s and men’s rights, needs and priorities. Norway will endeavour to ensure that multilateral organisations’ efforts in support of the implementation of peace agreements involve women and integrate the gender perspective.
- Operations and missions:
Norway is working to integrate women and men’s security, rights and needs in all areas of operations and missions that Norway is part of.
- Humanitarian efforts:
Women and men, girls and boys who are affected by crises must have more influence and be included as participants rather than as recipients of humanitarian aid. The gender perspective must be an integral part of the whole humanitarian effort. Women’s rights and participation must be given particular emphasis.
In addition to these four focal areas of commitment to international peace agendas the NAP sets out two domestic policy goals:
- The Norwegian Action Plan for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality describes how we organise our broad, long term work to strengthen women’s rights, thereby ensuring that women can contribute to building resistance, preventing conflict and sustaining peace.
- Preventing and combating violent extremism is an important part of the efforts for sustainable peace. Norway therefore supports women’s participation and integration of the gender perspective in that connection, as an integral part of the four focus areas in the action plan, and as measures in their own right.
Commentary:
Norway does not have a recent history of conflict, but plays an important role in international peacekeeping, humanitarian, and development organisations. Promoting conflict resolution and reconciliation is a central aspect of Norwegian foreign policy. As such, the NAP is focused not only on the domestic level but also internationally, reflecting the fundamental principles of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. Norway’s fourth action plan takes into account the emerging challenges in the international security agenda such as combating violent extremism and security-related aspects of climate change.
Civil society involvement in development of the NAP:
Civil society was well represented throughout the development process of the NAP, and are recognised as being important in implementation and monitoring through regular dialogue and their participation in the bi-annual meetings that will be held with ministries and other agencies responsible for implementation and progress reviews of the NAP.
UN Peacekeeping Statistics:
At April 2023 Norway contributed 57 personnel to UN peacekeeping missions, and ranked 69th for this contribution.
At September 2023 Norway contributed 53 personnel to UN peacekeeping missions, of which 16 were female, deployed as shown below.
Women in peacekeeping:
Norway has long been a supporter of women’s rights in the international policy arena as well as in domestic policy. For example, a Norwegian-led resolution on women human rights defenders was adopted by consensus at the UN General Assembly in December 2013, and the proportion of women in Norwegian peace negotiation and facilitation teams has varied from 46 to 65 per cent in recent years (p8).
References and sources
Norway’s WPS NAP: Norway-NAP-4-2019-2022.pdf (wpsnaps.org)
United Nations Peacekeeping (Sept 2023) https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/troop-and-police-contributors
Contribution of Uniformed Personnel to UN by Country, Mission, and Personnel Type (Sept 2023): 05-Missions Detailed By Country
Uniformed Personnel Contributing Countries by Ranking Experts on Mission, Formed Police Units, Individual Police, Staff Officer, and Troops As of: 30/04/2023: 02-Contributions by Country (Ranking)
