4 The role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the overall responsibility for formulating and implementing policies related to human rights, including human rights defenders. Country desks are the primary point of contact on all country-specific issues. The Section for Human Rights, Democracy and Gender Equality assists on request and should contribute to consistency and quality in human rights positions and responses.

4.1 Division of labour and responsibilities in the Ministry

4.1.1 Department for Regional Affairs / Department for Security Policy and the High North / Department for European Affairs and Trade Policy:

• Responsible for the bilateral relationship including, when relevant, efforts to support human rights defenders at country level.
• Primary point of contact for questions from Norwegian missions abroad regarding support to human rights defenders, including responsibility for approving démarches and public statements proposed by the missions.
• Responsible for coordinating cases concerning individuals in cooperation with the relevant Norwegian mission abroad. Coordinates with the Section for Human Rights, Democracy and Gender Equality and the Communication Unit.
• Responsible for considering which human rights issues to raise during political meetings or visits.
• Considers organising meetings with relevant Norwegian NGOs before and after political visits.
• When planning political visits, consideration should be given to organising meetings with representatives of local civil society and human rights defenders.
• When applicable, prepares bilateral consultations on human rights together with the Section for Human Rights, Democracy and Gender Equality.

4.1.2 Section for Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Regional Organisations

• Coordinates Norway’s work in the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

4.1.3 Section for Human Rights, Democracy and Gender Equality:

• Thematic responsibility for support to human rights defenders globally.
• Supports country desks and embassies on request and contributes to consistency in human rights positions and responses, including in urgent cases.
• Coordinates Norwegian policy and initiatives on human rights defenders at the UN in consultation with relevant country desks and other relevant Ministry sections and diplomatic missions.
• Coordinates Norway’s work in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly in New York.
• Coordinates Norway’s work in the Council of Europe.
• Develops and provides an internal training course in collaboration with the Foreign Service Institute (UKS).
• Facilitates information sharing between missions on supporting human rights defenders.
• Maintains and updates the internal resource on human rights defenders.

4.1.4 Section for Humanitarian Affairs

• Coordinates the tasks assigned to the Ministry as regards the processing of cases submitted by a Norwegian embassy in accordance with section 35 of the Immigration Act.

4.1.5 Section for Business Promotion and Green Transition

• Coordinates the Ministry’s work on responsible business conduct, and is the Ministry’s contact point for questions about the Transparency Act.

4.1.6 Norwegian National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct

• Promotes the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct and contributes to the resolution of issues that arise relating to the implementation of the Guidelines.

4.1.7 The regional hub missions for Immigration Affairs

• The responsibility for Immigrations cases in the Foreign Service is regionalised to 11 hub missions. Depending on an applicant’s country of residence, the relevant hub mission may be consulted with questions regarding visa policy and application procedures.
• The following are hub missions: Abu Dhabi, Accra, Amman, Ankara, Bangkok, Beijing, London, Nairobi, New Delhi, New York and Pretoria.