Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Norway is a staunch defender of human rights, including the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons (LGBT). We will have the courage to speak out when others are silent, say the new guidelines for the Norwegian Foreign Service.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide, and Jerry Matjila from South Africa at the LGBT conference in Oslo. (Photo: Marta B. Haga, MFA)

Norway is a staunch supporter of the rights of all human beings, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. Norway works to protect the human rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender – LGBT - persons in the United Nations Human Rights Council, the United Nations General Assembly and at country level.

This is a sensitive issue in many countries. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry has therefore developed guidelines for the foreign missions’ work for LGBT persons. The guidelines are developed in collaboration with Norway’s foreign missions in Guatemala, Nepal, Kenya and Uganda.

To learn more about the Norwegian missions’ work to promote and protect the rights of LGBT persons internationally you can download the guidelines here.