Women, Peace and Security" in the UN Security Council: Norwegian Efforts and Status-building

When Norway left the UN Security Council on 31 December 2022, observers described Norway's two years on the Council as a "diplomatic feat". Despite the pandemic and a very hostile diplomatic climate between the veto powers, Norway, together with other elected members, managed to build alliances, negotiate and maneuver. Within the UN system and in the diplomatic community in New York, Norway was acknowledged in particular for initiating a number of measures to strengthen the UN Security Council's work on "Women, Peace and Security" (WPS). By working systematically and targeted, Norway contributed, among other things, to increasing the number of women briefers to the Council, and to strengthening the operationalization of previous commitments on WPS in the UN's operational activities. Not only did the Norwegian way of operating help streamline the UN Security Council's work on WPS, it also contributed to strengthen Norway's international status as a leading country in this thematic area.