About FOKUS
FOKUS – Forum for Women and Development – is a knowledge and resource centre on international gender issues. It is an umbrella organization for about 50 organizations in Norway. The overall objective is to promote women’s human rights and gender equality globally. This necessitates strengthening women’s access to rights, resources and power, which FOKUS seeks to achieve through advocacy and international development cooperation.
FOKUS was established in 1995. Today the organization consists of more than 50 Norwegian women’s organizations, groups and forums in political parties, trade unions, and solidarity and aid organizations.
FOKUS’ vision is a world based on gender equality and equity, where women’s human rights are respected and protected and everybody has equal access to participation regardless of gender.
From 2017-to 2021, FOKUS specifically work on the following issues:
- Women’s right to control their bodies: To reduce the prevalence of violence against women and girls and to strengthen the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls.
- Women’s economic rights and participation: Laws, norms and traditions limit women’s economic participation worldwide. Women’s equal rights to financial services, inheritance and property must be promoted. Business investments and operations must not infringe on women’s human rights.
- Women in conflict and crisis: Both women and men are victims of conflicts and crises, but they are differently impacted. Women must be able to participate in peace negotiations. Women’s experiences and priorities must be taken into account.
- Norway’s development policy and gender equality: Gender equality must be prioritized within the framework of Norwegian foreign policy, international development policy and aid