Gender equality

No one should be exploited for someone else’s gain. The Government has therefore adopted a new action plan against exploitation in prostitution and human trafficking with a special focus on the vulnerability of children and young people in digital arenas.

Honour-based violence and oppression is a serious societal problem, and combating it effectively requires special knowledge and understanding. The Government is therefore adopting an action plan against honour-based violence and oppression for 2026–2028 with a view to stepping up action at all levels of society. The action plan contains measures in five strategic areas and stakes out a clear direction for the work going forward.

On 11–13 May, Minister for Health Care Elisabet Lann and Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson visited Kyiv and Lviv. The aim of their visit was to gain insight into Ukraine’s health and medical care and the situation for women during Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Statement at the Conference on ”Abolition in Action, 10th anniversary of French abolitionist law” in the French Parliament, Paris, 13 April 2026. Check against delivery.

On 13 April, the French and Swedish Ministers for Gender Equality Aurore Bergé and Nina Larsson met in Paris. They discussed their national experiences in preventing and combating sexual exploitation and reaffirmed their commitment to the French - Swedish joint strategy to combat human trafficking for sexual exploitation in Europe and globally.

The Swedish Government is presenting a new 10-year national strategy for combating men’s violence against women, domestic violence, exploitation in prostitution and human trafficking, and honour-based violence and oppression. In parallel, the Government has decided on two Government Commissions tasking several government agencies to take part in a national collaboration structure and to monitor progress in relation to the gender equality subgoals to combat violence, oppression and exploitation.

Statement by Ms Nina Larsson, Minister for Gender Equality at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, New York, 9 March 2026. Check against delivery.

The 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will take place on 9–19 March. Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson is attending the first week of the session. The session on women’s rights and gender equality is held annually and is the second largest in the UN system. Sweden’s participation is important, given the need for strong voices on gender equality in the world. For the first time, the Swedish Armed Forces will be part of the Swedish delegation.

Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson will lead the Swedish delegation attending the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York on 9–19 March, the world’s largest conference on women’s rights and gender equality. Ms Larsson will take part during the first week and will be advocating for stronger international alliances against online threats and hatred. The conference on women’s rights and gender equality is held annually and is the second largest in the UN system.

Speech by Sweden’s Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall. Delivered at the Sixty-fourth session of the Commission for Social Development, United Nations, New York. Check against delivery.

Joint Statement of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse on preventing and responding to Non-Consensual Intimate Image (NCII) abuse

The Swedish Government has introduced a new, seventh gender equality policy sub-goal: Honour-based violence and oppression must end. The aim is to give the issue greater visibility and improve knowledge, so that more people can live free from violence and oppression.

Speech by Sweden’s Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall. Delivered at the world social summit in Doha, November 5th 2025. Check against delivery.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard took part in an event that Sweden hosted together with UN Women during the UN General Assembly’s high-level week. The theme was women’s and girls’ empowerment. The aim of the event was to stress the importance of promoting gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment at a time when their rights are being called into question.

Speech by Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenegard. Delivered at the UN General Assembly in New York, September 22nd 2025. Check against delivery.

On 21–27 September, the 80th session of the UN General Assembly is being commemorated in New York. In conjunction with the session, a high-level debate and several high-level meetings will convene. His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen will participate during the high-level week. The Government will be represented by Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari and Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed.

In January, 2025, the Swedish Government decided on a new action plan for equal rights and opportunities for LGBTIQ persons. The action plan aims to further strengthen efforts to support rights and opportunities for LGBTIQ persons by consolidating, supplementing and mobilising these efforts.

This Strategy governs Sweden’s development cooperation for gender equality and women’s and girls’ freedom and empowerment from 2025 to 2028 with a total volume of SEK 800 million. Through Sida, Swedish support will contribute to four objectives that the Government particularly prioritises to strengthen gender equality and women’s and girls’ freedom and empowerment internationally.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard visited New York on 18–19 June. Ms Malmer Stenergard met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, addressed the UN Security Council and spoke at the annual session of the UN Women Executive Board.