We appeal to parliament for a significant increase in earmarked support for the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The contribution is still far too modest compared with Norwegian support to other United Nations bodies.
Why do we ask this parliament about this, especially now?
Human rights is one of three pillars of the UN, but receives only 3% of the UN’s total budget.
The UN must succeed in its reforms where human rights be prioritised consistently through all UN agencies.
We see that the gap between international human rights standards and national compliance is becoming greater.
In addition, we see an increase globally in the persecution, criminalisation and control over independent civil society. Under such circumstances, our partners are weakened as local watchdogs.
Therefore it is even more important to strengthen the High Commissioner’s office, which has a watchdog mandate within the UN, and has high expertise and competence in human rights. More resources are needed for the High Commissioner to strengthen its presence locally and regionally.
Norway must continue to directly support small, local independent civil society actors.
Norway’s embassies play an important role in protecting human rights defenders. Norway must ensure good competence on protection, and there must be concrete measures to prioritise the work within the embassy.
Norway leads the UN’s normative work on the protection of human rights defenders. We call on political leadership and parliament to, in its dialogue with other states, to consistently and officially highlight and acknowledge the legitimate role and work of human rights defenders regardless of Norway’s business interests with the country concerned.
