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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#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.
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Address by Ms Ann Linde, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden, at the 74th Session of the General Assembly of the UN
28 September, 2019 Check against delivery.
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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.
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100 million page views of articles on women through the MFA’s WikiGap initiative
On Thursday 15 August, some 80 volunteers from more than 30 countries are invited to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to celebrate the impact made by the MFA’s and Wikimedia Sweden’s international initiative, WikiGap. The initiative has gained a foothold in more than 60 countries and has so far resulted in 32 000 new or edited articles about women on Wikipedia. These articles have now been viewed more than 100 million times.
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Minister for Foreign Trade Ann Linde to discuss feminist trade policy at Fashion Week Trade
On 15 August at Fashion Week Trade, Minister for Foreign Trade Ann Linde will be taking part in a round-table discussion on feminist trade policy and its relevance for the fashion industry. With more than 700 footwear, clothing, underwear, accessories and childrenswear collections, Fashion Week Trade is Sweden’s largest fashion event, including for fashion buyers.
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The Swedish Foreign Service action plan for feminist foreign policy 2019–2022, including direction and measures for 2019
Gender equality is still a vision, not a reality. Sweden's feminist government wants to make this vision a reality. Gender equality is a goal in itself. But it is also essential for the achievement of the Government's other overall objectives, such as peace, security and sustainable development. Sweden is the first country in the world to pursue a feminist foreign policy.
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Speech by Margot Wallström at Tunis Forum on Gender Equality
Tunis 24 April 2019 Check against delivery
