Meld. St. 33 (2011–2012) Report to the Storting (white paper) Published by: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Norway and the United Nations: Common Future, Internet address: www.government.no Common Solutions Cover design: Anna Maria Pirolt/Felix Media Printed by: 07 Aurskog AS 03/2013 ER JØM KE IL T M 2 4 9 1 7 3 Trykksak Cover photo: Row 1: 1. Giacomo Pirozzi/ UNICEF, 2. Guri Dahl/ tinagent.com, 3. Victoria Hazou/ UN Photo, 4. Albert Gonzales Farran/ UN Photo, 5. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Row 3: 1. Johan Wildhagen/ Innovation Norway, 2. John Isaac/ UN Photo Row 4: 1. Bernadino Soares/ UN Poto, 2. Eskinder Debebe/ UN Photo Row 5: 1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Row 6: 1. Jacob Silberberg/Panos Pictures /Felix Features, 2. UN Photo/Joao Araujo Row 7: 1. Sigrun Agøy Engum/ Norway UN, 2. Marco Dormino/ UN Photo Meld. St. 33 (2011–2012) Report to the Storting (white paper) Norway and the United Nations: Common Future, Common Solutions Contents Summary ......................................................... 5 3 The international legal order, human rights and gender 1 Vision and values ....................... 10 equality .......................................... 41 1.1 Norway and the United Nations .. 10 3.1 The international legal order ........ 41 1.1.1 Norway’s UN policy in a 3.1.1 The normative role of the UN ...... 41 changing world .............................. 10 3.1.2 Compliance with international 1.1.2 A well-equipped toolbox: the UN’s law .................................................... 42 many roles and functions .............. 11 3.1.3 The UN and the Law of the Sea .... 43 1.1.3 The shifting balance of power – 3.2 Human rights .................................. 44 consequences for the UN as an 3.2.1 Pressure on human rights ............ 44 arena for negotiation ..................... 13 3.2.2 UN efforts in the field of human 1.1.4 Global governance, organisation rights .............................................. 49 and division of labour .................... 15 3.3 Norway’s membership of the 1.2 Norway’s influence and room for Human Rights Council manoeuvre ...................................... 19 (2009–12) ......................................... 49 1.3 Strengthening the UN and 3.3.1 From Commission on Human making it more effective ................ 22 Rights to Human Rights Council .. 49 3.3.2 In what way is the new Human 2 Peace and security ..................... 24 Rights Council an improvement 2.1 New threats and patterns of on the old Commission on Human conflict ............................................. 24 Rights? ............................................. 50 2.2 The UN Security Council: 3.3.3 Norway’s engagement in the legitimacy and effectiveness ......... 24 Human Rights Council .................. 50 2.2.1 The Responsibility to Protect – 3.3.4 The way ahead ................................ 51 state sovereignty versus the 3.4 Women’s rights and gender international community’s equality ............................................ 52 responsibility .................................. 26 3.4.1 The significance of the UN’s role 2.2.2 Reform of the Security Council: in promoting women’s rights ........ 52 legitimacy versus effectiveness? .. 27 3.4.2 UN Women ..................................... 53 2.3 The UN’s peacebuilding 3.4.3 Pressure on the global gender toolbox ........................................... 28 equality agenda .............................. 53 2.3.1 Political operations: prevention and mediation ................................. 28 4 A sustainable world: 2.3.2 Peacekeeping operations .............. 29 the United Nations and 2.4 Peacebuilding and fragile states ... 31 economic, social, humanitarian 2.4.1 The difficulties of peacebuilding .. 32 and environmental issues ........ 56 2.4.2 The UN peacebuilding 4.1 The UN and the political agenda .. 57 architecture .................................... 33 4.1.1 The UN’s role in sustainable 2.4.3 The right person in the right place development – the way forward at the right time ............................. 35 after Rio ........................................... 57 2.5 Disarmament and 4.1.2 A common post-2015 development non-proliferation ............................. 36 agenda ............................................. 59 2.5.1 Non-proliferation, no progress – 4.1.3 The links between national and deadlocked negotiations ............... 36 global policy .................................... 60 2.5.2 Reform of the intergovernmental 4.2 Development cooperation in machinery ....................................... 36 a state of change ............................. 61 2.6 UN efforts to address emerging 4.2.1 Financing for development .......... 61 threats ............................................. 38 4.2.2 Partnerships .................................... 62 2.6.1 Combating international 4.3 The UN as a driver of terrorism ......................................... 38 development .................................. 63 2.6.2 Transnational organised crime ..... 39 4.3.1 From words to action – the UN’s role at country level ........................ 63 4.3.2 A more effective UN: Delivering 5.4 Funding ........................................... 75 as One ............................................. 64 5.4.1 Voluntary contributions – the 4.4 The UN’s humanitarian efforts ..... 65 consequences of different forms 4.4.1 Global humanitarian challenges ... 66 of funding ........................................ 75 4.4.2 The UN’s roles: leadership, 5.4.2 Funding of UN activities in coordination and financing ........... 66 middle-income countries ............... 77 4.4.3 Partnership .................................... 67 5.5 Criteria for assessing UN 4.4.4 Disaster prevention and transition organisations ................................... 78 situations ......................................... 68 4.4.5 Humanitarian disarmament ......... 69 6 A coherent and predictable UN policy ....................................... 80 5 Results, influence and 6.1 Development trends and the control ............................................ 71 consequences for Norway’s 5.1 Priorities in Norwegian UN UN policy ........................................ 80 policy ............................................... 71 6.2 A coherent and predictable 5.2 Influence and control ..................... 73 UN policy ........................................ 82 5.3 Results-based management and 6.3 Financial and administrative results reporting ........................... 74 consequences ................................. 84 Norway and the United Nations: Common Future, Common Solutions Meld. St. 33 (2011–2012) Report to the Storting (white paper) Recommendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of 21 September 2012, approved in the Council of State on the same date. (White paper from the Stoltenberg II Government) Summary Vision and values Norway’s UN policy in a changing world Norway has a fundamental interest in a well-func- The international legal order and the UN’s global tioning global legal order in which right prevails role cannot be taken for granted. Geopolitical over might, and where relations between states changes, global challenges and lack of political are governed by binding standards, conventions and financial stability impose new demands on and legislation. The UN’s normative function international cooperation and on the UN’s ability means that the UN system plays a key role in to adapt and take on new tasks. The present white upholding and promoting the international legal paper sets out the Government’s UN policy in the order, which in turn promotes peace and human new era. rights. The Organisation is an important political Today’s challenges are more complex than arena for Norway, and the knowledge it generates they were in 1945, when the UN was founded. provides a basis for national and international pol- This calls for a greater capability to manage com- icy. The UN is an important partner in develop- plexity and to link agendas with responses. ment, state-building and global crisis manage- Another challenge is that some countries perceive ment. The legitimacy deriving from its virtually the existing structures as a mechanism that con- universal membership gives it a unique position tinues and enhances the influence of the tradi- among international organisations. tional major powers. Furthermore, the UN is fac- Norway’s work in the UN has a long-term per- ing greater competition. New, informal groups spective. By building alliances, adopting a strate- like the G20, regional organisations, civil society gic approach and being willing to contribute finan- and also private actors are becoming increasingly cial support, we have generally succeeded in gain- prominent in the international arena. There is a ing acceptance for our interests and priorities. growing gap between global challenges, the mem- This applies particularly to areas where we have ber states’ willingness to seek solutions and col- experience that is in demand in the UN and its lectively finance new and existing measures and member states. institutions, and the UN system’s capacity and ability to address the challenges. The UN agenda and its framework conditions are influenced by a number of global trends such 6 Meld. St. 33 (2011–2012) Report to the Storting (white paper) 2011–2012 Norway and the United Nations: Common Future, Common Solutions as population growth, urbanisation, growing dis- these efforts there are three bottlenecks