Increased budget for peace, reconciliation and humanitarian assistance

In the government budget for 2008, the Government proposes that allocations for peace, human rights and humanitarian assistance be increased by NOK 306 million.

“Norway has always given priority to humanitarian efforts, and we are known for our ability to provide assistance quickly when needed. Therefore one of the Government’s primary aims is to improve our capability to prevent humanitarian crises and thereby alleviate human suffering and want,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Total allocations for peace and reconciliation efforts, human rights, democracy and humanitarian assistance will amount to more than NOK 4.4 billion in 2008.

The UN plays a key role in Norway’s peace and humanitarian efforts, and Norway is a major contributor to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). It is proposed that support for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) be increased by NOK 70 million.

“Our aim is to coordinate our political and humanitarian efforts more closely. Therefore, the various measures must be tailored both to the geography and to the political situation, for example with regard to Sudan, Afghanistan and the Middle East. In these efforts, the Government is also concerned that Norway should continue to press for a more active role for women in peace processes, peacebuilding and humanitarian efforts,” said the Foreign Minister.

The Government is also proposing increased allocations for development and peacebuilding in countries that have recently emerged from a crisis or conflict.

“By allocating money to the UN Peacebuilding Fund, for example, we want to ensure that countries that have recently emerged from civil war or some other crisis receive assistance quickly so that they can begin the reconstruction process. This is extremely important in order to stabilise the peace and lay the groundwork for necessary development,” said Minister of International Development Erik Solheim.