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Norway

WILPF’s Recommendations For The Universal Periodic Review Of Norway

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Date/month:
10 January 2014
Document type:
Statement
Body submitted to:

As a peace organisation, WILPF believes that peace and security are inextricably linked and a precondition to human rights. The basic causes of conflict will only be solved through the implementation of human rights.

National Institution on Human Rights

The Norwegian Centre for Human Rights at the University of Oslo has since 2001 had the status of a national institution in Norway. However, last year the UN degraded this institution from A to B status. Degradation means that the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights no longer has the right to speak in the various UN monitoring bodies. With B status, the Centre can no longer vote in the international network and cannot receive positions in this system.

For a national human rights institution to achieve A status, it must satisfy the so-called Paris Principles. According to these principles, the National Institution (NI) must be regulated by a separate act, it must be assured influence through institutionalised channels as well as being a visible driving force and receiving sufficient funding.

WILPF Norway is pleased to see that the work on a NI has come a long way, resulting in a thorough document on hearing earlier this year. Now we look forward to the finalising of the process of reestablishing a NI with A status in Norway. For our organisation the main thing is that a good organisation and structure is developed – not how – so that a NI can be an independent and clear voice in the UN system in accordance with the rights granted to independent national institutions.

In this context, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom suggests the following recommendation for the UPR of Norway:

  • Intensify efforts to re-establish a National Institution for human rights in accordance with the Paris Principles.
Gender Equality

WILPF Norway believes it is important, as does the draft State report for the UPR of September 2013 in paragraph 3.1.2., to highlight sexual harassment of young girls/women as a social problem. For instance, ‘cyberbullying’ is limiting young womens’ freedom, and we believe that measures to combat this and other forms of sexual harassment must be taken.

It is important to note that the final State report to the UPR does not include this part on sexual harassment and is different to the draft State report that NGOs were called to comment on.

In this context, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom suggests the following recommendation for the UPR of Norway:

  • Take concrete measures to end sexual harassment of young girls and women.
 Norwegian Priorities Internationally

Regarding the continuation of Norwegian efforts for the promotion and protection of women’s human rights internationally, WILPF Norway believes that it is important that Norway in this work actively supports the national implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security has as its overall objective to increase women’s participation and influence in preventing, managing and resolving conflicts. The resolution will also help to protect women’s human rights during war and conflict and integrate the gender perspective in peace-building work.

In this context, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom suggests the following recommendation for the UPR of Norway:

  • Actively support the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 at the national level.

 

Contact us:

María Muñoz Maraver, WILPF International: mmunoz@wilpf.ch

Kari Nes, WILPF Norway: kari.nes@hihm.no

 

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Melissa Torres

VICE-PRESIDENT

Prior to being elected Vice-President, Melissa Torres was the WILPF US International Board Member from 2015 to 2018. Melissa joined WILPF in 2011 when she was selected as a Delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women as part of the WILPF US’ Practicum in Advocacy Programme at the United Nations, which she later led. She holds a PhD in Social Work and is a professor and Global Health Scholar at Baylor College of Medicine and research lead at BCM Anti-Human Trafficking Program. Of Mexican descent and a native of the US/Mexico border, Melissa is mostly concerned with the protection of displaced Latinxs in the Americas. Her work includes training, research, and service provision with the American Red Cross, the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Centre, and refugee resettlement programs in the U.S. Some of her goals as Vice-President are to highlight intersectionality and increase diversity by fostering inclusive spaces for mentorship and leadership. She also contributes to WILPF’s emerging work on the topic of displacement and migration.

Jamila Afghani

VICE-PRESIDENT

Jamila Afghani is the President of WILPF Afghanistan which she started in 2015. She is also an active member and founder of several organisations including the Noor Educational and Capacity Development Organisation (NECDO). Elected in 2018 as South Asia Regional Representative to WILPF’s International Board, WILPF benefits from Jamila’s work experience in education, migration, gender, including gender-based violence and democratic governance in post-conflict and transitional countries.

Sylvie Jacqueline Ndongmo

PRESIDENT

Sylvie Jacqueline NDONGMO is a human rights and peace leader with over 27 years experience including ten within WILPF. She has a multi-disciplinary background with a track record of multiple socio-economic development projects implemented to improve policies, practices and peace-oriented actions. Sylvie is the founder of WILPF Cameroon and was the Section’s president until 2022. She co-coordinated the African Working Group before her election as Africa Representative to WILPF’s International Board in 2018. A teacher by profession and an African Union Trainer in peace support operations, Sylvie has extensive experience advocating for the political and social rights of women in Africa and worldwide.

WILPF Afghanistan

In response to the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban and its targeted attacks on civil society members, WILPF Afghanistan issued several statements calling on the international community to stand in solidarity with Afghan people and ensure that their rights be upheld, including access to aid. The Section also published 100 Untold Stories of War and Peace, a compilation of true stories that highlight the effects of war and militarisation on the region. 

IPB Congress Barcelona

WILPF Germany (+Young WILPF network), WILPF Spain and MENA Regional Representative

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Demilitarisation

WILPF uses feminist analysis to argue that militarisation is a counter-productive and ill-conceived response to establishing security in the world. The more society becomes militarised, the more violence and injustice are likely to grow locally and worldwide.

Sixteen states are believed to have supplied weapons to Afghanistan from 2001 to 2020 with the US supplying 74 % of weapons, followed by Russia. Much of this equipment was left behind by the US military and is being used to inflate Taliban’s arsenal. WILPF is calling for better oversight on arms movement, for compensating affected Afghan people and for an end to all militarised systems.

Militarised masculinity

Mobilising men and boys around feminist peace has been one way of deconstructing and redefining masculinities. WILPF shares a feminist analysis on the links between militarism, masculinities, peace and security. We explore opportunities for strengthening activists’ action to build equal partnerships among women and men for gender equality.

WILPF has been working on challenging the prevailing notion of masculinity based on men’s physical and social superiority to, and dominance of, women in Afghanistan. It recognizes that these notions are not representative of all Afghan men, contrary to the publicly prevailing notion.

Feminist peace​

In WILPF’s view, any process towards establishing peace that has not been partly designed by women remains deficient. Beyond bringing perspectives that encapsulate the views of half of the society and unlike the men only designed processes, women’s true and meaningful participation allows the situation to improve.

In Afghanistan, WILPF has been demanding that women occupy the front seats at the negotiating tables. The experience of the past 20 has shown that women’s presence produces more sustainable solutions when they are empowered and enabled to play a role.

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