Norway to provide NOK 400 million to promote women’s and minority rights and gender equality

‘Across the world – from Uganda to the US – we are seeing major setbacks in battles that were won over the last 30 years. This makes the effort to promote gender equality and women’s rights more important than ever before,’ said Minister of International Development Åsmund Aukrust.

Norway is allocating NOK 400 million in 2025 to support international efforts to promote gender equality. New agreements, ranging in duration from one to five years, have been entered into with the following five Norwegian organisations: CARE Norway, Norwegian People’s Aid, Plan International Norway, FRI (the Association for Gender and Sexuality Diversity) and the Norwegian Confederation of Sports. Among other things, the funding is to be used to combat gender-based violence, promote women’s right to decide over their own lives and bodies and their right to economic and political participation. Some of the funding will also be used to support efforts to promote queer rights, diversity and inclusion.

‘When democracies come under pressure, the rights of women and minorities are among the first casualties. Inclusion of everyone is a defining feature of democracy. This is an area where Norway can make a difference and where we have long been at the forefront. This has been a key priority for Norway since Gro Harlem Brundtland helped to achieve the ground-breaking plan of action to promote gender equality that was adopted in Cairo in 1994,’ said Mr Aukrust.

The Minister of International Development took part in the 58th Session of the UN Commission on Population and Development in New York from 7–11 April. This is a key arena for discussions on the right of women to decide over their own bodies, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

‘It is also important to focus on efforts to protect minorities against discrimination, prejudice and oppression. The vilification of minorities undermines fundamental democratic values. Uganda’s anti-homosexual legislation allowing the use of the death penalty is an example of this. Hatred towards the LGBTIQ+ community is spreading in many countries in Africa, Asia and South America, and now also in other countries such as the US and Hungary,’ said Mr Aukrust.

‘Gender equality is a key priority area of Norwegian development policy. Countries like Norway must lead the way in the area of gender equality, women’s rights and the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community if we are to succeed in achieving progress worldwide. We are talking about half the world’s population. There are many challenges facing the world today, but we cannot afford to neglect this important issue,’ said Mr Aukrust.