Paulina Brandberg

On 26 October, the Government submitted its thematic report to the Council of Europe on how Sweden is implementing the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention). Civil society organisations can submit shadow reports on their view of Sweden’s implementation of the Convention.

Yesterday evening, the Government received the alarming news that two Swedes were killed in a terrorist attack in Brussels. The attack appears to have been aimed at Sweden and Swedish interests. Our thoughts are with the deceased and their relatives.

On 16 October, Minister for Gender Equality Working Life and Deputy Minister for Employment Paulina Brandberg, Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand and Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed met with representatives of Jewish civil society. The meeting focused on how events in Israel are affecting Jews in Sweden, current challenges and future efforts to combat antisemitism and support Jewish life.

The Government’s Budget Bill for 2024 proposes initiatives to combat and prevent honour-based violence and oppression, and racism and discrimination. The Government also intends to take measures to combat wage guarantee abuse. The proposals are based on an agreement between the Government and the Sweden Democrats. On 20 September, the Government presented the Budget Bill for 2024 to the Riksdag.

Genève, 8 June 2023. Check against delivery.

The European Commission and the Swedish Presidency will jointly review the progress of the Commission’s Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021–2027 at the Occupational safety and health summit in Stockholm on 15–16 May. The themes include mental health at work, the ‘vision zero’ approach to work-related deaths, and the impact of climate change on occupational safety and health (OSH).

On 3–4 May, the EU social affairs and labour market ministers will gather in Stockholm for an informal meeting hosted by Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson and Minister for Older People and Social Security Anna Tenje. Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life Paulina Brandberg will also take part.

On 20–21 April, the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) will hold a conference in Lund, focusing on institutional protection of human rights in times of crisis.

On 12 April, participants from throughout the EU will gather to jointly identify and share experiences from their work promoting LGBTIQ people’s rights and opportunities. It will also serve as a springboard for continued work on the EU strategy for LGBTIQ people’s equal rights.

National Statement delivered by H.E. Ms. Paulina Brandberg, Minister for Gender Equality and Deputy Minister of Employment of Sweden at the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, New York, 8 March 2023. Check against delivery.

On 6–9 March, Sweden’s Minister for Gender Equality and Deputy Minister for Employment, Paulina Brandberg, will participate in the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) in New York. Ms Brandberg will deliver two keynote speeches – on behalf of Sweden and of the EU.

There is a need to further explore the connections between economic empowerment and preventing men’s violence against women, including economic violence. The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union will therefore arrange a conference on this theme on 1–2 February. Sweden’s Minister for Gender Equality and Deputy Minister for Employment Paulina Brandberg will open the conference. In addition, European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli and Carlien Scheele, European Institute for Gender Equality Director will participate.

The Government will soon begin work on a new action plan to counter and combat men’s violence against women. The action plan will contain concrete measures to ensure that effective steps to combat men's violence against women are taken.