Sweden won gender equality award

Updated

Minister for Children, the Elderly and Gender Equality Åsa Regnér accepted a gender equality award in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 23 March. Attention was focused on Sweden for its gender equality policies at the international Women in Parliaments Global Forum Summit.

According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report, Sweden ranked fourth out of 142 countries in 2014, based on a weighted average of four different indicators.
"As the representative of a feminist government, I feel both grateful and honoured to receive this award, which is a recognition of the efforts that the political parties in Sweden are making to achieve a better gender balance in our national parliament."

Men's role in gender equality efforts

Ms Regnér spoke about the importance of men's involvement in advancing gender equality. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, all male ministers of the Swedish Government will take part in the UN Women HeForShe campaign, making the Swedish Government the first government in the world to get involved collectively in HeForShe.

"Other men and boys should follow their example and protest against the violence and discrimination that women and girls are subjected to," said Ms Regnér.

Åsa Regnér spoke about conditions for gender equality

Ms Regnér also participated in a panel discussion on women's health and visited a women's shelter that Sweden supports. She also met representatives of the Ethiopian ministry responsible for gender equality and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. She also took part in a discussion with regional cooperation organisations on important factors for advancing gender equality in Africa.


 

Indicators measuring gender equality

Since 2006, the World Economic Forum has ranked the countries of the world using the Global Gender Gap Index to measure the advancement of gender equality over time, and within and between countries. The index is based on four indicators, which in turn are comprised of a number of variables. The four indicators are: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.