Norway is providing support to gender equality and HIV and AIDS through "the Global fund for HIV and AIDS, Malaria and TB", GAVI, UN organisations, World Bank and other partners on a global level. The Embassy's engagement in gender and HIV and AIDS includes support to UNFPA’s Generaçao Biz Programme. This aims to increase young people’s access to health services in connection to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including HIV and AIDS. The programme will be handed over to the Government during the next few years. Support from the Embassy will be given in this transitional phase.
In addition, the Embassy is funding Fórum Mulher’s process of establishing and finalising it's cooperation policy and strategic plan for 2009-2013. Fórum Mulher is a network of local organisations that is promoting women’s rights and gender equality. It has member organisations through out Mozambique. Fórum Mulher defines itself as a feminist organisation which primarily will coordinate and implement activities throughout the country in the areas of 1) gender based violence, 2) gender and economy (access to water, land, natural recourses, labour etc.), 3) sexual and reproductive rights (including HIV and AIDS as well as safe abortion), 4) women and political participation, and 5) capacity building and training.
When it comes to women’s access to land the Embassy is also supporting FAO. The overall goal of the FAO programme is to allow women full security and use of their land and natural resources, and be able to participate in new economic opportunities. This will be done by making communities and leaderships aware of the rights of women, adapting local norms and practices accordingly, making women and associations aware of how to use legal and judicial system and also, making women engage in new activities made possible by having more secure rights. Finally, the programme will ensure the participation of staff from organisations working with women with a specific HIV-AIDS focus.
As Mozambique is a country of origin for human trafficking the Embassy is collaborating with Save the Children Mozambique to escalate the efforts against trafficking of women and child in Mozambique. The level and extent of the problem in Southern Africa is not known, as trafficking is mixed with voluntary migration and sex work. Human trafficking involves violations of human rights and is the second-largest source of income in international organised crime. Norway is giving particular emphasis on activities to prevent the recruitment of new victims in countries of origin. The cooperation with Save the Children Mozambique and relevant national organizations for prevention of violence, sexual abuse, prostitution and trafficking is continued in a re-structured shape with direct support from the Embassy. The Embassy is, together with other relevant Norwegian Embassies and organizations, assessing the possibilities for a closer regional cooperation on combating human trafficking.
For further information please contact programme officer Nina Strøm (nis@mfa.no).