2 Security policy and operations

In all operations and missions, one of the goals is to ensure the security and safety of the whole population. This is best achieved by making a gender perspective the basis for the actions of the organisation and personnel, for how personnel are selected for participation in operations and missions, and for their contribution to competence building.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in close cooperation with other ministries where relevant, will:

• ensure that Norwegian military and civilian personnel have a sound knowledge of the women, peace and security agenda, including how to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence and to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH);
• integrate a gender perspective into the planning, implementation and evaluation of education, training, exercises, operations and missions nationally and internationally, when applicable;
• play a part in developing the international framework for women, peace and security in international forums, and in implementing UN and NATO policy and operational guidelines relating to women, peace and security;
• promote understanding of conflict-related sexual violence through multilateral forums, and advocate international action to prevent, respond to and prosecute conflict-related sexual violence;
• include women and integrate a gender perspective into national efforts to prevent and combat violent extremism;
• promote the integration of a gender perspective and women’s participation in counterterror efforts and in the prevention of violent extremism internationally;
• build and share knowledge about the links between the women, peace and security and climate, peace and security agendas, and seek to ensure that a gender perspective is an integral part of the basis for making decisions in national and international forums;
• seek to ensure coordination of work on the women, peace and security and climate, peace and security agendas, and that they are dealt with as two interconnected and cross-cutting issues in Norway’s multilateral and international cooperation on peace and security;
• Work towards greater participation and more direct influence by women and girls on national and international decision-making processes relating to climate and environment.
• Support the UN’s work on climate, peace and security internationally, regionally and at country level, and advocate the integration of a gender perspective and women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in this work.

To contribute to the achievement of these goals, we will:

• Endeavour to ensure that peace operations have strong mandates that take account of security needs regardless of gender and that strengthen women’s position.
• Promote and implement the WPS agenda in relevant forums under the UN, NATO and the OSCE, including meetings, debates and side events, as well as in text and budget negotiations, in close dialogue with secretariats and other countries’ representatives. Work on these issues by other regional organisations, such as the African Union and ASEAN, is also worth following up closely.
• Support the development and implementation of WPS policy and guidelines in the UN, NATO, the OSCE and other relevant multilateral and regional organisations.
• Promote women’s participationand leadership in peace operations, for example by
• proposing Norwegian women for international missions and operations, including in leading positions;
• supporting other countries’ efforts to increase the proportion of women in their teams;
• supporting research to increase knowledge about women’s participation in operations and missions and thus ensuring that the action we take has a sound basis and is relevant;
• raising the profile of women who are or have been on international missions and operations, and inviting women with this experience to participate in relevant forums and discussions.
• Work to ensure that the UN, NATO and the OSCE integrate a gender perspective into their work and implement relevant gender policies.
• Support the multilateral collaboration aimed at protecting women, children and men from sexual and gender-based violence, for example by working for more cooperation in vulnerable regions between international organisations such as the UN and Interpol.
• Support preventive measures in the security sector, such as the development of and procedures to uphold the code of conduct on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).
• Engagewith relevant actorsin peace operations as regards WPS issues. In the case of UN, NATO or OSCE operations in which Norway takes part or to which it contributes substantial support, our missions should consider
• establishing and maintaining contact with the leadership of the operation about women’s participation and men’s and women’s roles in the operation;
• asking what is being done to implement mandated WPS tasks, including on conflict-related sexual violence, and what practical measures are being taken to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
• Maintain close contact with Norwegian representatives on operations and missions. This includes:
• encouraging and supporting WPS-related work by our representatives in operations and missions;
• for diplomatic and consular missions, taking steps where relevant and possible to facilitate regular contact with those deployed on operations and missions, thus strengthening Norway’s voice in dialogue with host country authorities and with the leadership of operations, and making Norway’s contribution as coherent, goal-oriented and consistent as possible.