Ministry of Culture

The Riksdag has decided that the current radio and television licence fee, which is paid by all households that have a television, will be replaced by an individual public service fee. The fee will be collected via the tax system. The fees will be administered in a closed system that is handled separately from other funds in the central government budget.

Minister for Culture and Democracy Alice Bah Kuhnke will chair the meeting of the Nordic Council of Ministers for Culture in Oslo on 31 October. The meeting is being held in connection with the annual session of the Nordic Council, where the Nordic Council prizes are also awarded. Sweden holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2018.

The Government Offices will take part in Stockholm Pride for the 14th time. Advancing equal rights and opportunities for LGBTI people is a priority for the Government. Taking part in Pride is one way of increasing awareness about the Government’s work.

The formal rights for LGBT persons in Sweden have been strengthened through various reforms. This has involved changes in the law, including the introduction of a principle of non-discrimination, enhanced rights in family law and anti-hate crime initiatives. What follows is a chronological overview of several reforms put in place to strengthen and promote equal rights for LGBT persons.

In recent years, a number of reforms have been introduced in order to secure equal rights for LGBT persons. There has also been a positive societal development regarding these issues which has helped to ensure a better situation for LGBT persons in Sweden. However, LGBT persons, in particular transgender persons, still face difficulties in Sweden. The government is therefore taking further measures for equal rights for LGBT persons. You can find out more about these measures in the leaflet in the link on the righthand side of this article.

Stockholm, 29 May 2017. Check against delivery.

Berlin, 16 May 2018. Check against delivery.

The Government is commencing a more systematic effort to safeguard – and thereby strengthen - the democratic discourse against threats and hatred. The work conducted by the judicial authorities is of importance, but not enough to protect the democratic discourse. This action plan, issued by the Swedish Government, is specifically intended to safeguard politically elected representatives, journalists and artists as a part of the infrastructure of the democratic discourse. These actors are particularly exposed due to the functions they have in society.

Agenda item 4: Implementation of the six mandated areas of the Permanent Forum with reference to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Monday April 16th 2018 Nordic statement Delivered by: Alice Bah Kuhnke, Minister for Culture and Democracy of Sweden Check against delivery.

National statement delivered by Her Excellency Ms. Alice Bah Kuhnke, Minister for Culture and Democracy, on behalf of Sweden at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security: Preventing sexual violence in conflict through empowerment, gender equality and access to justice, 16 April 2018, New York.