Women's rights and development

Lack of resources and opportunities combined with discrimination prevent women from fulfilling their human rights. Norwegian Church Aid therefore believes that women’s concerns and gender equality must be given priority in all forms of development cooperation.

Gender-based violence

Gender-based violence constitutes a gross violation of human rights and threatens the basic security of women and girls. Gender-based violence is currently on the increase. The effort to prevent gender-based violence and to promote the rights of women also needs to encompass targeted and long-term efforts to change the behaviour and attitudes of men. Even churches and religious organisations and institutions have been known to commit, and continue to contribute to, assaults on and oppression of women.

Women and children constitute the majority of the world’s refugee population. Protection of children and women who have become displaced or who are refugees from assault, sexual violence and contagion by HIV and AIDS is a particularly important issue. UN Security Council Resolution no. 1325 ensures such protection, and also requires that women should be included on an equal footing with men in efforts to establish peace.
 
Norwegian Church Aid's work to promote women's rights in the development context includes:

1. Combating gender-based violence in war and conflict situations 
2. Combating human trafficking
3. Combating harmful traditional practices, like genital mutilation
4. Promoting sexual and reproductive rights
5. Promoting women’s rights and gender equality
6. Promoting funding for gender equality and aid effectiveness

Norwegian Church Aid strives to ensure that our own network and the Norwegian authorities take gender-based violence seriously and undertake efforts to make development aid fairer for women.

Read more about Norwegian Church Aid's gender-based violence projects here.