The Embassy visits HIV/AIDS project in Anseba Region

The Norwegian Embassy conducted a visit to the Sustainable Land Management project in Serejeka on May 19th. The pilot project’s objective is to create an enabling environment for adoption of Sustainable Land Management practices and alleviate environmental degradation while improving livelihoods of the farming communities of the Central Highland Zone.

“The peace process in Sudan is in a decisive and critical phase. We can already see that this will be a key issue on the international agenda the next 12 months,” commented Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre, who started a visit to Sudan today.

The Norwegian Embassy was delighted to participate in and support the 9th Eritrean Book Fair, held in Asmara March 19-28 2010. The yearly book fair has become an important event for promoting reading skills in Eritrea.

The world famous play ‘A Dolls House’ by Henrik Ibsen has been performed several times in Eritrea since December 2009. The play is in Tigrinya and the project is a cooperation between the Norwegian government and PFDJ.

Yesterday, the UN Human Rights Council unanimously adopted a Norwegian proposal on strengthening protection of human rights defenders all over the world.

The Norwegian Embassy in Asmara has participated in the preparations for the resettlement of 41 Somali refugees in Norway (transfer refugees). It is the first time Somali refugees are resettled from Eritrea to Norway. The Somali refugees have been in Eritrea for a considerable time, and cannot return to their country of origin, according to how their situation has been assessed by UNHCR and Nor...

Norway has decided to increase emergency relief to Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia because of the drought. At the same time it is important to increase food security.

Norway will provide NOK 40 million (USD 7 million) to UN efforts to combat female genital mutilation and violence against women in developing countries. At the same time, Norway will contribute NOK 20 million (USD 3.5 million) to the new UN Fund for Gender Equality.