Gender equality

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde and Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, issued the following joint statement:

The Govern­ment has presented a bill to the Riksdag contain­ing pro­posals for equitable and inclusive rules con­cerning parent­hood in inter­national situations.

Eva Nordmark. Minister for Employment and Gender Equality. Commission on the Status of Women. New York. 15 March 2022. Check against delivery.

On 14–17 March, Minister for Employment and Gender Equality Eva Nordmark will take part in a session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66). The theme is achieving gender equality in the context of climate change.

Heads of state and government from the EU and the African Union (AU) will meet in Brussels on 17–18 February. It is the seventh time the EU and AU leaders will meet. The aim is to establish foundations for a renewed and deepened partnership between the two unions. The leaders are expected to adopt a joint declaration on closer cooperation in a range of areas. Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson will represent Sweden.

Minister for Employment and Gender Equality Eva Nordmark took part in a digital meeting with other EU gender equality ministers on Monday 31 January. At the meeting, Ms Nordmark presented the priorities of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2023 in this area.

This material provides an overview of main areas of the Government policy on gender equality. It describes current political goals and strategies and gives a brief historical background to important reforms. It also identifies further remaining challenges and explains how the feminist Government is addressing these and what measures are taken in order to initiate change.

The leaders of the EU Member States and the Eastern Partnership countries will meet for the sixth Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels on 15 December. Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson will represent Sweden.

Since the early 2000s, Sweden’s Government has worked with gender budgeting. Gender budgeting means that prioritisations, choices of direction and resources in the budget should promote gender equality as far as possible. BUDGe is a Swedish budgeting tool that comprises gender equality, surveying, analysis and conclusions.

During the autumn, Sweden intends to present a draft Ministerial Council decision on women’s economic empowerment in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). If all 57 OSCE participating States can reach consensus on the decision, it will help to highlight the link between women’s economic empowerment and security.

Men’s violence against women must stop. This is a priority issue for the Government. In the Budget Bill for 2022, the Government proposes a range of measures to prevent and combat men’s violence against women and honour-based violence and oppression. This involves permanent funds and government grants, and a sheltered housing reform for adults and children who are subjected to violence.

There are currently several cases before the European Court of Human Rights against the French law banning sexual purchases. This is due to the legislation the country introduced in 2016 which included a ban on the purchase of sexual services. Sweden has requested and been granted the right to take part in the cases as a third party.

At Generation Equality Forum in Paris. Check against delivery.

Men’s violence against women must end. The Government is today presenting a package of measures for future work to prevent and combat men’s violence against women. The package includes measures to prevent the use of violence, support and protection to those affected and stricter legislation regarding prosecuting those who subject their partner or former partner to violence.

Opinion piece by Swedish Minister for Gender Equality and Housing Märta Stenevi, together with 20 other European politicians. Published in Swedish newspaper ETC along with other European newspapers on 11 May 2021.

On 11 May 2021, the Swedish Government will join the international celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of the Istanbul Convention. The Istanbul Convention is the informal name of the Council of Europe’s Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.

The Government has proposed gender equality initiatives in the Spring Budget for 2021. The proposal is based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

Digital UN Commission on the Status of Women. 18 March 2021. Check against delivery.

On 15–19 March, Minister for Gender Equality Märta Stenevi will take part digitally in the sixty-fifth session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW65). The priority theme is women’s opportunities for participation and decision-making in public life, and the elimination of violence against women.