Norway's new international strategy to eliminate harmful practices 2019-2023

In addition to Norway's main pledge (1), the Norwegian Government efforts to eliminate harmful practices are part of its work to fulfil the promise of Cairo and implement the 2030 Agenda, work to promote human rights, women’s rights and gender equality.

Norway commits itself to the overall goal of elimination of harmful practices, both nationally and globally.

Norway has been one of the main contributors to the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM) for the last decade. In the new International Strategy to Eliminate Harmful Practices 2019-2023. Norway commits to continuing and strengthening this work, and to increase our efforts to combat child marriage. In addition, we will work to combat the practice of son preference and its consequences. Financially, Norway has increased the support from NOK 117 million in 2018 to approximately NOK 189 million in 2019. We are committed to providing at least this level of support until 2023.

Norway commits too:
 Strengthen the work on harmful practices in priority areas such as education, health, gender equality and human rights.
 Maintain a high level of support for the UN’s work to eliminate harmful practices, in the form of both core funding and earmarked funding.
 Strengthen cooperation with civil society organisations.
 Initiate dialogue and collaboration with religious leaders and faith-based organisations
 Safeguard global norms in the UN, including sexual and reproductive health and rights.
 Base our work on the rights of children and youth and ensure their meaningful involvement.
 Stand firm by the promise that the rights of women and girls must be fulfilled.
 Strengthen collaboration with national and regional actors, affected governments and civil society.
 Contribute to data collection and research in order to strengthen and share the knowledge base for effective approaches.

Education: Norway will continue to support initiatives to prevent and re