United Nations Day 2023. Did you know that the Nordic countries have been a solid partner of the United Nation as one of the biggest funding partners of the UN humanitarian agencies since the foundation of the organization after World War II in 1945?
Here are 10 facts about how the Nordic countries have played a vital part in UN missions and UN agencies through time and still continue to contribute to future peace and prosperity in today’s global society.
Did you know that…
- Norway is the biggest financial contributor per capita to the UN
Norway is one of the leading voluntary donors to various UN organizations, funds, and programs. Norway is the sixth-largest contributor to UN development activities in 2017 and contributed with 1.6 billion Norwegian kroner to the UN Green Climate Fund from 2015 to 2018, making it the third-largest contributor. However, Norway’s contributions vary in size and purpose, with some as core contributions and others as voluntary donations.
Photo: Benjamin Suomela / Norden.org
2. Finland is a pioneer in gender equality
In 1906 it became the first country in the world to give women both the right to vote and stand for election. As a longstanding champion of gender equality, Finland was a key advocate, among Member States, for the establishment of UN Women and remains a key partner financially and politically.
The National Committee for UN Women in Finland was the first in the world, founded in 1981 at the initiative of Ms. Helvi Sipilä, who was the first woman to hold the post of Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations.
3. The first Secretary-General was Norwegian, the second was Swedish.
The first Secretary-General Trygve Lie from Norway was one of the key figures in the establishment of the United Nations. He played as Norwegian Foreign Minister a prominent role at the San Francisco Conference in 1945, where the UN Charter was drafted.
The second was Dag Hammarskjöld, a Swedish diplomat who served from 1953 until his death in a plane crash in 1961.
1961 – Dag Hammarskjöld, Second Secretary-General of the United Nations | United Nations
4. The Economic and Social Council chamber at UN HQ was donated by Sweden
4The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) chamber serves as the United Nations’ central platform for deliberation, discussion, and innovative exploration of sustainable development. Originally conceived by Swedish architect Sven Markelius as a gift from Sweden, it was renovated in 2013, and its Chamber now showcases the striking new curtain ‘Diaologos’ by Swedish artist Ann Edholm.
The public gallery ceiling intentionally remains ‘unfinished’ to symbolize the perpetual nature of the United Nations’ mission. The deliberate decision to leave pipes and ducts exposed stands as a symbolic reminder of the fundamental support and structure underpinning the UN’s unending efforts.
5. Eradicating global hunger with support from Denmark
World Food Program (WFP) is the UNs agency that provide food to people across the world, especially in developing countries who suffer from hunger and in missions during humanitarian crises. Denmark is one of the biggest funding partners to the WFP. The country’s funding program and its flexibility are crucial for WFP to distribute funds unevenly as sudden humanitarian crises arise and to act on SDG 2 Stop Hunger. Denmark’s strong advocacy for food security reflects in their foreign policy as well. For instance, in 2017 the Danish state donated 300 mio DKK (46 mio USD) to end hunger in East Africa through NGOs’ missions, like WFP.
Find better source: https://www.altinget.dk/artikel/danmark-giver-300-millioner-kroner-til-hungersnoed
6. Norway Designed the Security Council Chamber at the UN headquarters in New York
The Security Council plays a central role in global diplomacy. Its meeting chamber was designed by Norwegian architect Arnstein Arneberg. It features a circular design symbolizing equality among its 15 member states. The chamber also showcases a mural depicting the UN Charter’s drafting, emphasizing the organization’s foundational principles. It remains a place of historic significance, where vital decisions on global peace and security are made.
Security Council Chamber | United Nations
7. UNDP and its Nordic Goodwill ambassadors.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network that promotes the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). The UNDP has employed four Nordic goodwill ambassadors that serve as public advocates for promoting the SDGs globally.
HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway was appointed as UNDP goodwill ambassador in 2003 to promote the fight against of global poverty.
In 2023 HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden was appointed and will play a key role in increasing awareness and engagement for the SDGs.
HBO Game of Thrones royalty, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has been an UNDP Goodwill ambassador since 2016 and focus on gender equality and female empowerment.
Finally, the famous Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson has been promoting renewable energy and CO2-emission reduction as a UNDP goodwill ambassador since 2019.
https://www.undp.org/goodwill-ambassadors/crown_prince_haakonmagnusofnorway
https://www.undp.org/goodwill-ambassadors/nikolaj-coster-waldau
https://www.undp.org/goodwill-ambassadors/her-royal-highness-crown-princess-victoria-sweden
https://www.undp.org/goodwill-ambassadors/Olafur-Eliasson
8. Strong Icelandic support for UNRWA missions
Iceland has recently signed a multi-year framework agreement for 2024-2028 in support of Palestinian refugees during the 78. UN General Assembly in New York. Iceland substantially increased its annual contribution to UNRWA from ISK 25 million (approximately US$ 184,000) to ISK 110 million (approximately US$ 810,000). This multi-year agreement has provided predictability for UNRWA’s services, including education for over half a million students and primary health care for nearly two million Palestine Refugees.
https://unric.org/en/iceland-increases-support-for-unrwa-in-a-five-year-agreement/
In Glasgow, Scotland, people take part in a demonstration for climate action
9. Strong Nordic ties to UNICEF
In Copenhagen, UNICEF’s three football field-sized World Warehouse host an eight-story facility with the capacity to store 36,000 pallets containing over 850 different UNICEF emergency relief products. This makes UNICEF the world’s foremost distributor of emergency aid. A 2021 UNICEF report ranked nations based on childcare and parental leave policies. Nordic countries like Iceland, Sweden, and Norway were ranked as leading in childcare provisions. All three countries offer both affordability and quality in organized childcare, along with generous parental leave for parents.
https://www.unicef.dk/om-os/verdenslageret-i-koebenhavn/
https://unric.org/en/unicef-child-care-iceland-norway-and-sweden-rank-highest/
10. Danish women in international peace keeping
In 1991 Denmark employed the first all-female military peace keeping force to the UN mission in Namibia, today formally known as Republic of Namibia. This initiative was part of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG), and it marked a significant milestone in promoting gender
