UNDP

Due to the ongoing and unprecedented air traffic problems in Europe caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland, the Oslo Conference on Armed Violence: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals is cancelled and will not take place.

In its place, the organisers, the Government of Norway and UNDP, will organise an event on Armed Violence and Development in Geneva on Wednesday 12 May 2010 in order to facilitate an opportunity to present and endorse the Oslo Commitments as of the latest version sent out to all delegations 16 April 2010.

Tackling armed violence to accelerate progress on the Millennium Development Goals

Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre and UNDP Administrator Helen Clark will host a two-day conference in Oslo to garner international support for the Oslo Commitments on Armed Violence which aim to expand efforts on reducing armed violence, and to ensure that the issue is high on the global development agenda in the run up to the High-Level summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to be hosted by the United Nations Secretary General in New York, in September 2010. Ministers, Secretaries of State and high-level officials from more than 50 countries, as well as civil society organisations, will take part in the conference during 21 and 22 April 2010.

When: 21 – 22 April, 2010

Opening ceremony: 9:00 am, 21 April 2010
Press conference:  1:00 pm, 21 April 2010

Where: Holmenkollen Park Hotel, Oslo

Participants:  HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (UNDP Goodwill Ambassador), Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator and Jonas Gahr Støre, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway

Photo-op: Ministerial lunch, opening speech by guest of honor, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.

By endorsing the Oslo Commitments, states commit to include armed violence as a key issue in the 2010 MDGs review process. They also pledge to better monitor and record armed violence; support its victims through, for example, the provision of adequate care and rehabilitation; better integrate armed violence into development plans at all levels of government; and strengthen international cooperation and assistance to prevent and reduce armed violence.

All sessions are open to the press. Due to space limitations, speeches will also be broadcasted on screens in the press lounge. Please notify us if you need access to a location allowing photography.

For press accreditation, or to set up interviews, please contact:

UNDP: Kristian R. Andersen, +47 959 38 970, kristian.andersen@undp.org
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Bjørn Svennungsen, +47 480 45 122
Civil society representatives: Per-Ivar Nikolaisen, +47 926 88 389

More information on the conference: http://www.osloconferencearmedviolence.no/hjem.cfm

Relevant documents:

Facts about armed violence and its impact on development
List of confirmed participants