Ministry of Employment

At the initiative of Minister for Gender Equality Åsa Lindhagen, an EU ministerial meeting on gender equality – The STHLM Initiative – took place in Stockholm on 3–4 December. Ms Lindhagen invited Finland, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and the other EU Member States that will hold the Presidency in the coming years.

Sweden has the world's first feminist government. In practice, this means a commitment to building a society in which women and men, girls and boys can live their lives to their full potential. Gender equality is a matter of human rights, of democracy and of justice. It is also an engine driving social development and creating genuine change in society and in people's lives.

As part of the third cycle of the UN’s Universal Periodic Review process (UPR), Sweden has on 14 October submitted a national report to the UN regarding the following up of the recommendations made to Sweden at the most recent review in January 2015.

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council that involves a periodic review of the human rights situation in all UN Member States. It is now time for Sweden to be reviewed within the framework of the third cycle of the UPR.

On 16 and 17 September the Ministry of Employment and the European Commission hosted a seminar on violence prevention with a focus on men, boys and masculine norms. Representatives from 15 EU countries took part. Participants visited Botkyrka municipality, where they received information on the joint efforts by social services, police and schools to prevent violence.

In the Budget Bill for 2020, the Government presents a package to get more people into work. In all, it is proposed that almost SEK 1.3 billion be allocated to help equip more people for work and for better integration, continued expansion of the Adult Education Initiative and an active business policy. These proposals are based on an agreement between the Government, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

The Government has previously planned SEK 290 million for the implementation of gender equality policy in 2020, of which the majority will go to measures to prevent and combat men’s violence against women and honour-related violence and oppression. The Government is now proposing an extra SEK 155 million. The investment is part of an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

The Government is making several investments to combat racism and strengthen the rights of LGBTI people. The Government is strengthening the national plan to combat racism and hate crime with SEK 10 million per year from 2020. At the same time, the work to strengthen the rights of LGBTI people will receive SEK 14 million per year from 2020, and temporary additional funds of SEK 10 million per year are planned for 2021 and 2022. It is the biggest ever investment in the area by any government.

On Tuesday 10 September, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven presented changes within the Government.

The Government has decided to nominate Ylva Johansson, Minister for Employment and one of Sweden’s most experienced ministers, as the new Swedish European Commissioner.