Today is a great day. It is the UN Human Rights Day, as well as the day the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded Tawakkol Karman, Leymah Gbowee and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. These three women have received the Prize for their efforts to improve women's living conditions and promote women's right to participate in peacebuilding.
Many issues are close to my heart – one of them is combating violence against women. We cannot, and will not, accept that, for some women, threats, violence and abuse are part of everyday life.
Norway participates in and supports international efforts to combat violence against women. In 2006, we launched an action plan to implement Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. We are actively following this work.
When we as a nation choose to intervene in international conflicts, we do so bearing in mind the principle of gender equality. Norway has actively participated in the Council of Europe's work on the "Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence.” This summer, we signed the Convention.
All violence violates basic human rights and is prohibited under Norwegian law. Abuse, incest, rape, forced marriages and genital mutilation are just some of the many faces of violence. Gender equality means that everyone is treated equally. It's about equal opportunities, rights and obligations to participate in all aspects of life. An equal society is one where discrimination, coercion and violence are absent.
Norway is repeatedly voted the world's most gender-equal country. But women in Norway are exposed to violence. Most violence against women occurs at home, where the perpetrator is known and violence repetitive. In the course of a lifetime, one woman in four women experience violence or threats of violence by her partner. Ten percent of women have experienced heinous violence committed by their partner. This suggests that the debate about gender equality is not yet over!
Domestic violence was considered a private matter. Not so anymore. The law on municipal domestic violence shelters, which came into force on January 1, 2010, is an example of the how the government has taken over responsibility for something developed and previously run by volunteers. At the same time, family protection services have been given the task of combating domestic violence. They have now built up expertise to provide good public services to families where violence occurs. The government has prioritized efforts to build and strengthen the skills of those who assist victims of violence, and to institutionalize these offers.
The Ministry for Children and Equality is one of the ministries with a particular responsibility to ensure good and accessible services for people exposed to domestic violence. This work is high up on my list of priorities!
Violence against women manifests itself in many different ways. Taboos are still many, and the threshold for seeking help is still high. It is, therefore, essential to discuss violence openly. As a matter of fact, it is a prerequisite for being able to do something about it. I challenge all municipalities, communities, organizations and individuals to put violence against women on the agenda the rest of the year too!
Let us all be inspired by the three women who receive the Nobel Peace Prize today. Congratulations to Tawakkol Karman, Leymah Gbowee and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf!