State Secretary Anne Stenhammer

Nora’s sisters

The Library of Alexandria 30 October 2006

Ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of the Norwegian Government, I would like to thank the Library of Alexandria for hosting this seminar. I look forward to fruitful discussions on Ibsen both as a writer and as a champion of freedom of expression, and on women and gender issues in the light of Ibsen’s work.

Today’s seminar is the first in a series of seminars entitled Nora’s sisters. The Library originally suggested including Freedom of Expression in the seminar title, and I cannot think of a more appropriate heading for today’s event. Freedom of expression is an integral part of gender issues today.

It is women who must solve humanity’s dilemmas, Henrik Ibsen once wrote.

Ibsen believed in women’s freedom to make their own choices, good or bad, and in their right to define their own values and to decide how they want to live.

Ibsen’s plays are about human beings, about their everyday lives. They raise intriguing questions, such as:

Where did Nora go?

Why did Hedda have to shoot herself?

Why did Solveig wait all her life for Peer? and,

Why did MsAlvinghide the truth?

Even today, 100 years after Henrik Ibsen’s death, we have not found solutions or answers to many of the human dilemmas and problems that he highlighted in his works. Ibsen did not address government policy or suggest specific measures that should be taken. Instead, he offered thoughts and ideas on social justice, equality and the dilemmas women face in interacting with society at large.

Although Henrik Ibsen was a Norwegian, today he belongs to the whole world. And people all over the world continue to be moved by his works.

The Ibsen Year 2006 has been filled with many activities. In fact, “Nora’s sisters” will continue beyond the Ibsen Year, well into 2007. The series is beginning here today, and will continue in India and Mozambique in November. Its purpose is to promote discussion of women and gender issues.

Who are Nora’s sisters today? Are they you and me? Are they women working in the fields, at home, in offices or at universities?

Or are Nora’s sisters women who are not allowed, or not given the opportunity, to speak out? We must give them a voice and help them to live their lives in freedom.

Freedom of expression also involves responsibility. We need to be aware of the effect that our utterances can have on others. This is the subject of much current debate. We need to be able to communicate freely, but we must do so with respect and compassion.

The Egyptian Embassy in Oslo proposed that Norway and Egypt should start a dialogue on gender equality in connection with the ongoing human rights dialogue between our two countries. More specifically, the Embassy suggested that Norway should facilitate an exchange of ideas between the Egyptian National Council for Women and a Norwegian women’s organisation on possibilities for cooperation. We therefore have with us today two representatives from the Norwegian Society of Rural Women. We believe that Norwegian and Egyptian women can learn a lot from each other when it comes to women’s issues and gender equality.

I would now like to present our gift to the Library. The most appropriate thing to give a library is, of course, books. And this is a selection of literature and scientific reports related to gender studies.

I now have the pleasure to introduce Ms Ida Hjelde from the Research Council of Norway, who will tell you more about the books.

I wish you all an inspiring seminar.

Thank you.