Feminist foreign policy
Equality between women and men is a fundamental aim of Swedish foreign policy. Ensuring that women and girls can enjoy their fundamental human rights is both an obligation within the framework of our international commitments, and a prerequisite for reaching Sweden’s broader foreign policy goals on peace, and security and sustainable development.
- Responsible ministers
- Peter Eriksson
- Ann Linde
- Responsible ministries
- Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Feminist foreign policy
Handbook on feminist foreign policy
Sweden is the first country in the world to formulate and pursue a feminist foreign policy, and this handbook is the first of its kind. The handbook includes methods and experiences, and is intended as a resource in international work for gender equality and all women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights.
Sweden hosted Stockholm Forum on Gender Equality
The Stockholm Forum on Gender Equality on 15–17 April brought together over 500 participants from more than 100 countries, from grassroots to ministerial level. They included politicians and representatives of academia, business and civil society. The purpose of the Forum was to advance work on global gender equality through alliance-building and exchange of methods and results.
The Government’s Statement of Foreign Policy 2019
"An important part of our democracy drive is to continue our efforts to ensure that women enjoy the same rights, resources and representation as men. The Government will continue to pursue a feminist foreign policy – wholeheartedly, throughout the world."
The Swedish Foreign Service action plan for feminist foreign policy 2019–2022
This action plan sets the direction of feminist foreign policy action to be taken by the Foreign Service, guided by six long-term objectives. These are broad objectives to match broad challenges, cover the entire global agenda and bring the whole gamut of foreign policy tools into play.
Women’s participation helps ensure that peace is more sustainable
Fifteen years ago, 31 October 2000, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. But far too often, women are still excluded, which poses a threat to peace and security and sustainable development in several parts of the world. Sweden is therefore working actively to promote the agenda for women, peace and security.
SEK 1 billion to Government’s first global gender equality strategy
Funds totalling SEK 1 billion will be used to enhance gender equality for women and girls around the world. This was decided by the Government at its meeting on 12 April. It is the first time that Sweden’s Government has adopted a global thematic strategy for gender equality.
Related:
A Feminist Government
Sweden has the first feminist government in the world. This means that gender equality is central to the Government’s priorities – in decision-making and resource allocation. A feminist government ensures that a gender equality perspective is brought into policy-making on a broad front, both nationally and internationally. Women and men must have the same power to shape society and their own lives. This is a human right and a matter of democracy and justice. Gender equality is also part of the solution to society’s challenges and a matter of course in a modern welfare state – for justice and economic development. The Government’s most important tool for implementing feminist policy is gender mainstreaming, of which gender-responsive budgeting is an important component.
Sweden is mustering its forces to increase gender equality on the internet through #WikiGap
WikiGap is an initiative to increase women’s representation on the internet. A gender-equal internet contributes to a gender-equal world.
Swedish Foreign Policy News
News about gender equality at Swedish Foreign Policy News.
Content about Feminist foreign policy
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Strategy for Sweden’s cooperation with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) 2020–2023
This strategy will underpin Sweden’s cooperation with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) for 2020–2023. The strategy establishes the priorities and forms of collaboration for Sweden’s membership of, and partnership with, the WFP at global, regional and national level.
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Strategy for Sweden’s cooperation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) 2020–2023
This strategy will underpin Sweden’s cooperation with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) during the period 2020–2023. The strategy establishes the priorities and forms of collaboration for Sweden’s partnership with UNRWA at global, regional and national level.
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Feminist Trade Policy
Sweden has the first feminist government in the world. This means that gender equality is central to the Government’s priorities – in decision-making and resource allocation. Women and men must have the same power to shape society and their own lives; this is a human right and a matter of democracy and justice. There is also overwhelming evidence that gender equality boosts economic growth. Despite this, trade policy today benefits men more than women. With this in mind, the Swedish government’s feminist trade policy includes six focus areas where we will step up efforts to ensure that trade policy and trade promotion activities benefit women and men equally. We must begin to see gender as a market access issue and give priority in trade negotiations to sectors, products and services that have positive implications for women. We will also take a range of measures and initiatives to improve the gender balance in Sweden’s promotion activities.
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Presentation of the new updated Trade and Investment Strategy for more jobs throughout the country
More people than ever before are now employed in exporting companies in Sweden. Exports drive the Swedish economy and keep around 1.5 million people in employment. To continue to strengthen Swedish exports, on Friday 13 December the Government launched an updated Trade and Investment Strategy to create jobs and growth throughout the country.
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Strategy for Sweden’s cooperation with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria 2019–2023
This strategy will underpin Sweden’s cooperation with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for the period 2019–2023. The strategy determines priorities and forms of cooperation for Sweden’s membership of and partnership with the Global Fund.
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Ministry for Foreign Affairs – a brief presentation
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) is responsible for Sweden’s relations with other countries and international organisations, and for development cooperation policy and international trade policy. The MFA together with more than 100 missions abroad make up the Swedish Foreign Service. A mission abroad may be be an embassy, consulate-general, delegation or representation. The MFA is part of the Government Offices and is the largest ministry.
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Sweden appointed Chair of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2021
Sweden was today appointed Chair of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2021. The decision was taken unanimously by the OSCE’s 57 participating States at the organisation’s Ministerial Council in Bratislava, Slovakia, on Thursday.
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Drive for Democracy takes shape
Strengthened engagement for democracy was announced in the 2019 Statement of Foreign Policy and in the Swedish Foreign Service’s strategic vision for the electoral period. Sweden will stand up for democratic principles and support democracy in all contexts. On 21 November 2019, the Drive for Democracy was presented to the Riksdag Committee on Foreign Affairs by Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde and Minister for International Development Cooperation Peter Eriksson.
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#GirlsTakeover – a global initiative to promote girls’ rights and highlight their agency
Within the context of Sweden’s feminist foreign policy, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is taking part in the global #GirlsTakeover campaign. Through this campaign – an initiative of Plan International – girls all over the world will step into a leadership role on 11 October in connection with International Day of the Girl Child.
