Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025 -
Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025 - Multistakeholder Plenary 2, 04.06.2026
Leave no one behind: Realizing the guiding principles of the Sendai Framework
Statement delivered by Ms Stine Håheim Deputy Minister,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Check against delivery
4 June 2025
Chair, thank you for this opportunity to speak to key aspects of Norwegian DRR policies.
The Planning and Building Act in Norway emphasises public involvement in societal planning processes. Norwegian municipalities also conduct mandatory, regular comprehensive risk and vulnerability assessments, which include input from various community stakeholders and NGOs.
The Norwegian national alert system aims to ensure that all residents receive critical information during emergencies. The government and local authorities work with community organisations to ensure that marginalised groups are aware of the alert system and know how to use it.
This inclusive approach ensures that the needs and vulnerabilities of different groups are considered in disaster planning and response strategies. Such inclusiveness is also crucial to maintain a high level of trust, a fundamental feature of a resilient society.
For Norwegian ODA, leaving no one behind is a fundamental principle.
We know disasters disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, exposing and worsening existing inequalities for women, people with non-binary gender identities, older persons, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalised communities.
That is why our DRR financing is targeted towards reaching these groups.
I want to give two examples of this. Firstly, several of the projects Norway supports through our partners target women leaders and women groups in the local communities directly to transmit warnings. Furthermore, through our support to the BBC Media Action, they target users that are not easily reachable, by issuing warnings in local and minority languages.
I now want to give the rest of my time to our youth delegate, Maria Mjaaland.
The Sendai Framework's guiding principle to integrate gender, age, disability, and cultural perspectives into all DRR policies has also informed Norway's national DRR priorities.
They include specific measures to protect vulnerable groups during disasters, such as ensuring accessible shelters and targeted communication strategies. This has improved resilience and reduced the impact of disasters on marginalised communities.
For instance, the Norwegian Youth Council is represented in the National Council of the Norwegian Home Guard. This participation serves as a concrete example of our commitment to incorporating diverse perspectives.
Lastly, when it comes to the use of disaggregated data, Norway has made progress in using disaggregated datasets to inform decision-making for prevention and preparedness. There is, however, still room for improvement both in the collection of data, and in involving marginalised groups in analysis and assessments.