Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Africa’s first democratically elected woman president. Since her inauguration in 2006, she has helped to secure peace in Liberia, and has promoted economic and social development and the empowerment of women.
Leymah Gbowee mobilised and organised women across ethnic and religious boundaries to put an end to the prolonged war in Liberia and ensure the participation of women in elections. She has since worked to strengthen women’s influence in West Africa in conflict and post-conflict situations.
Both before and during the Arab Spring, in extremely challenging circumstances, Tawakkul Karman has played a key role in the fight for women’s rights and for democracy and peace in Yemen. She is the first Arab women to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
“Norway supports women’s efforts to promote peace in many parts of the world. In our view, these efforts, which are often long-term in nature, put us in a better position to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts, and not least to rebuild societies once the conflicts are over. That is why the Government attaches great importance to following up Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security,” said Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim.
Security Council resolution 1325 calls for women’s equal participation and full involvement in all issues relating to peace and security. It attaches importance to women’s experiences in situations of armed conflict, and emphasises that sexual and other violence against women during conflicts should be dealt with in the same way as other war crimes.
Norwegian Policy on Peace and Gender Equality
Gender equality and women’s rights have long been a priority in Norwegian foreign policy and development policy. In Norway’s view, this is a matter of promoting fundamental democratic values and human rights.
The Norwegian Government’s follow-up of Security Council resolution 1325 is first and foremost a question of supporting the women who are fighting for peace, democracy and equal rights in their own societies. Another important priority for the Government is to help to ensure that women are given visible roles in peace processes, that they are able to participate in making key decisions and that they are given formal positions and the power to exert an influence over their own future.
Putting an end to a conflict is not necessarily the same as achieving peace. Including women on an equal footing with men increases the chances of securing lasting peace. When Norway plays the role of facilitator in peace processes, one of the goals is always to make the processes as inclusive as possible and increase the participation of women.
Tawakkul Karman's Nobel Lecture:
Arabic
English
Video:
Tawakkul Karman on CNN
Jordan Times