Norway elected to UN Commission on Population and Development

Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre commented, “The Norwegian Government has taken a particular responsibility, both politically and financially, in the efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 on reducing child and maternal mortality and improving access to reproductive health services. We therefore look forward to playing an active role in the UN Commission on Population and Development.”

The voting took place in the United Nations Economic and Social Council, with three countries – Norway, Spain and Malta – competing for two places. Following a secret ballot, Spain and Norway both won seats on the Commission.

The UN Commission on Population and Development has a mandate from the UN General Assembly to monitor, review and assess the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994.

The Commission plays an important role in setting guidelines for work on sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. The starting point is that all women and men are entitled to make their own sexual and reproductive decisions, including whether and when they want to have children. This work includes areas such as family planning, antenatal and maternal health services, and protection against sexually transmitted diseases. As a member of the Commission, Norway will also promote sexual rights, both the rights of women and men to make their own sexual decisions and the rights of sexual minorities.

The UN Commission on Population and Development influences the work of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), where Norway is the third largest contributor of core funding.