“Norway intends to play an active and clear role in international efforts to promote peace and human rights and provide humanitarian assistance. International organisations like the UN, and regional and national initiatives must be strengthened. The Government is therefore intensifying efforts in these areas,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

The Government’s aim is that Norway should have a high profile as a promoter of peace and contributor in the humanitarian and human rights fields. Norway’s international peace and reconciliation efforts will be intensified. This applies both to efforts in specific countries and efforts to establish an international framework for peace and conflict resolution. In addition to measures to promote human rights in individual countries, the human rights dialogues with China, Indonesia and Vietnam will be continued.

The Government will work to strengthen the UN’s peacebuilding role, for example by allocating more money to the UN peacebuilding fund. Norway is vice-chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, which was established to mobilise political will and financial resources for peacebuilding.

The Government will support further reforms in the humanitarian field, and will increase Norway’s contribution to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). Our humanitarian assistance will also be used to support peace and reconciliation efforts. Efforts to prevent humanitarian crises will be intensified. The Government will continue Norway’s extensive humanitarian efforts in the Middle East, Sudan, Central Africa, the Horn of Africa, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. The allocations for humanitarian assistance will also be used for clearing cluster munitions and landmines and for helping victims of these weapons.

Efforts to improve the position of women will be an integral part of Norway’s efforts for peace, human rights and humanitarian assistance. The Government’s action plan for the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security will play a key role in this.