Meld. St. 10 (2014–2015) Report to the Storting (white paper) Opportunities for All: Human Rights in Norway’s Foreign Policy and Development Cooperation Many of the illustrations in this white paper are from the design project “Poster for Tomorrow”. The project is run by 4 Tomorrow, an independent organisation that works to inspire designers and others to debate human rights through poster art. Cover illustration: Bjørn Sæthren, 07 Media AS. The illustration is based on the universal human rights logo, which was chosen as a symbol through a competition announced on the World Press Freedom Day in 2011. The symbol was among 15 300 proposals from 190 countries that were chosen through a poll on the internet and by an international jury. The logo is available for anyone who wants to use it to promote international human rights (http://www.humanrightslogo.net/). Meld. St. 10 (2014–2015) Report to the Storting (white paper) Opportunities for All: Human Rights in Norway’s Foreign Policy and Development Cooperation Translation from Norwegian. For information only. Contents 1 Summary ....................................... 7 4.2 Peace, humanitarian efforts and combating serious international 2 Introduction ................................. 12 crimes .............................................. 48 4.2.1 Human rights in the context of 3 Thematic priorities in peace efforts .................................... 48 Norway’s international human 4.2.2 Combating impunity for war crimes, rights policy .................................. 17 crimes against humanity and 3.1 Three priority areas ....................... 17 genocide .......................................... 49 3.2 Individual freedom and public 4.2.3 Human rights in the context of participation .................................... 18 humanitarian efforts ....................... 50 3.2.1 Freedom of expression .................. 19 4.3 Poverty reduction and sustainable 3.2.2 Freedom of the press and development ................................... 51 independent media ........................ 20 4.3.1 Human rights and climate and 3.2.3 Freedom of assembly and environmental policy ...................... 51 association ...................................... 21 4.3.2 Human rights in the post-2015 3.2.4 Protection of human rights development agenda ...................... 53 defenders ........................................ 22 4.4 Development cooperation ............. 53 3.2.5 Freedom of religion or belief ........ 25 4.4.1 Human rights-based development 3.2.6 The right to education ................... 26 cooperation ..................................... 54 3.3 The rule of law and legal 4.4.2 The impact of negative safeguards ...................................... 27 developments in individual 3.3.1 Reinforcing the rule of law ............ 27 countries on development 3.3.2 Combating torture and abolishing cooperation ..................................... 55 the death penalty ............................ 28 4.4.3 Priority partner countries .............. 55 3.3.3 Combating corruption ................... 29 4.4.4 Human rights in the multilateral 3.3.4 Protection of privacy ...................... 31 financial institutions ....................... 56 3.3.5 The right to own property ............. 32 4.5 An active and responsible 3.4 Equality and equal opportunities .. 33 business sector ............................... 57 3.4.1 Gender equality and women’s 4.5.1 The UN Guiding Principles on empowerment ................................ 35 Business and Human Rights ......... 57 3.4.2 Children .......................................... 36 4.5.2 Know-how and dialogue ................ 59 3.4.3 Persons with disabilities ............... 37 4.5.3 Enterprises that are partly or 3.4.4 Indigenous peoples ........................ 38 fully state-owned ............................. 60 3.4.5 Sexual orientation and gender identity ............................................ 39 5 Efforts to promote human 3.4.6 The right to health and the right rights through the UN ............... 62 to food ............................................. 40 5.1 The UN’s normative role ............... 63 3.4.7 Workers’ rights and the right 5.2 From norms to reality: Increasing to decent work ................................ 42 the effectiveness of the UN ........... 63 5.3 The UN Security Council .............. 64 4 Policy coherence for human 5.4 The UN General Assembly and rights .............................................. 44 the Human Rights Council ............ 65 4.1 Key human rights issues in 5.5 The UN Universal Periodic security policy ................................ 44 Review ............................................. 68 4.1.1 Terrorism, organised crime and 5.6 The UN High Commissioner cyber threats .................................. 45 for Human Rights ........................... 69 4.1.2 Human rights, security sector 5.7 The UN treaty bodies ..................... 70 reform and peace operations ........ 47 5.8 Human rights in the UN 4.1.3 Human rights and the export of development system ...................... 71 strategic goods, services and technology ...................................... 47 6 Efforts to promote human 7.1.1 The human rights situation in the rights at the regional level ....... 73 country ............................................ 87 6.1 Europe and Eurasia ....................... 73 7.1.2 Overall country specific knowledge 87 6.1.1 The Council of Europe .................. 74 7.1.3 Norway’s latitude to act ................. 88 6.1.2 The European Court of Human 7.1.4 Relevant instruments and tools ..... 88 Rights .............................................. 75 7.1.5 Evaluation ....................................... 89 6.1.3 The European Union ..................... 76 7.2 Instruments and tools for 6.1.4 The EEA and Norway Grants ....... 77 promoting human rights at the 6.1.5 The Organization for Security country level ................................... 90 and Co-operation in Europe .......... 78 7.2.1 Comprehensive approach .............. 90 6.2 North America and Latin 7.2.2 Cooperation and support ............... 90 America ........................................... 79 7.2.3 Criticism and sanctions ................. 91 6.3 The Middle East and North Africa 80 7.2.4 Clear responses to serious 6.4 Sub-Saharan Africa ........................ 82 violations of human rights ............. 91 6.5 South and East Asia ....................... 84 7.3 Selected country cases .................. 92 7.4 Considerations and dilemmas ....... 99 7 Efforts to promote human rights in individual countries .. 86 Appendix 7.1 Systematic approach ...................... 86 1 Abbreviations .................................. 102 List of boxes Box 2.1 Militant jihadist groups ................. 13 Box 3.15 Child marriage and forced Box 2.2 The UN core international marriage .......................................... 36 human rights instruments ............ 14 Box 3.16 Developments for LGBTI people Box 2.3 International human rights in Nepal ........................................... 41 protection ........................................ 15 Box 3.17 The ILO standards supervisory Box 3.1 Digital diplomacy ........................... 17 system ............................................. 42 Box 3.2 An independent cultural sector .... 17 Box 4.1 Preventing radicalisation and Box 3.3 The importance of a strong civil violent extremism ........................... 46 society ............................................. 18 Box 4.2 Combating human trafficking ....... 46 Box 3.4 Freedom of expression and freedom Box 4.3 How should the results of of the press under pressure .......... 19 development cooperation be Box 3.5 A free and open internet ................ 21 measured? ....................................... 54 Box 3.6 Support for democratic Box 4.4 Industry dialogue on freedom of development ................................... 22 expression and privacy .................. 59 Box 3.7 UN resolution on women human Box 4.5 Due diligence in state enterprises 60 rights defenders ............................. 23 Box 5.1 Syria: An example of international Box 3.8 The Ministry’s guidelines on paralysis ........................................... 65 human rights work ........................ 25 Box 5.2 Responsibility to protect ................ 66 Box 3.9 National human rights institutions 29 Box 5.3 Special Procedures ......................... 66 Box 3.10 Norwegian support for the rule of Box 5.4 Membership of the Human law in the Western Balkans .......... 30 Rights Council ................................ 67 Box 3.11 Initiatives to increase Box 5.5 The Human Rights Council’s transparency and cooperation consideration of serious human with civil society ............................. 31 rights situations .............................. 68 Box 3.12 Clarification of property rights in Box 5.6 The UPR process as a framework the wake of conflicts and crises .... 33 for dialogue and coordination ....... 69 Box 3.13 Discrimination based on caste ..... 34 Box 5.7 Human rights in UN funds, Box 3.14 Female genital mutilation ............. 35 programmes and specialised agencies ........................................... 72 Box 6.1 The Council of Europe 2014 Box 7.3 Strengthening Norwegian status report ................................... 74 capacity and expertise .................... 89 Box 6.2 Suspension and withdrawal of Box 7.4 Acute situations .............................. 89 funding under the EEA and Box 7.5 Financial support entails