Norway’s participation in the UN Human Rights Council

Norway’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Bente Angell-Hansen, delivered Norway’s opening statement as a member of the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday 15 September 2009. In her statement Angell-Hansen set the tone of Norway’s policy by highlighting the issues of protection of human rights defenders, freedom of expression and the empowerment of women.

The Human Rights Council opened its 12th session this week. This is Norway’s first session as a member of the Council. Norway was elected as a member in May this year together with a number of other countries including the US and Belgium.

In its statement Norway argued in favour of establishing an initiative to strengthen efforts to eliminate discriminatory legislation. The proposal will be presented later in the session. Angell-Hansen requested that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights prioritise work on this issue.

During this session Norway is due to make statements on freedom of expression and the death penalty, children’s rights, the rights of indigenous peoples and gender equality. Norway will also address the human rights situation in a number of countries.

The Human Rights Council session will be concluded on 2 October.  Belgium has been elected to the presidency of the Human Rights Council and will head the work of the Council for the coming year. Statements by Norway are published on an ongoing basis on www.regjeringen.no/ud.  See also the website of the Human Rights Council here.