Norway to contribute some US$20 million to UNESCO and host debate on women’s issues

Norway has announced that it will give UNESCO about $20 million (108.8 million Norwegian kroner) to support the Organization’s programmes. Priority will be given to education, safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, protecting oceans and coastal zones, and media development with a focus on freedom of expression and the development of free and independent media.

The Programme Cooperation Agreement will be signed by Norway’s Deputy Minister for International Development, Arvinn Eikeland Gadgil, and UNESCO’s Director-General, Irina Bokova, on 11 October at UNESCO Headquarters (5 p.m.).



Norway’s extra budgetary contribution will be given over the next two years. It stipulates that UNESCO will support national development plans and contribute to coordination among development partners, particularly within the United Nations.



Following the signing ceremony, Norway’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO will host a debate, “Nora’s Sisters, Women Worldwide: Challenges of Freedom” at the Paris Institut du Monde Arabe (6.30 p.m.). Held under the patronage of UNESCO, the event will begin with a theatre performance of the last scene of Henrik Ibsen’s play “A Doll’s House”. The debate will be opened by Irina Bokova, Mona Khazindar, Director-General of the Institut du Monde Arabe; and Arvinn Eikeland Gadgil.



Seven-people will be on the debating panel: Manal al-Sharif, Women’s rights activist, Saudi-Arabia; Agnete Haaland, President of the International Federation of Actors and Artistic Director of Den Nationale Scene, Norway; Mariam Katagum, Ambassador of Nigeria to UNESCO; Bariza Khiari, Vice-President of the French Senate; Milagros Palma, French-Nicaraguan anthropologist; Blandine Pélissier, French actress and spokesperson of H/F; and Bunker Roy, Indian social activist, entrepreneur and educator.