Uganda is just the beginning of the LGBTQI resistance's mobilization

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has approved a law making it illegal to be gay. But what is happening in Uganda is not happening by chance. It is a result of the ongoing mobilization of the so-called anti-gender movement, writes Levi Karvonen, international communicator at RFSL. Photo: Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office/Anete Lusina. Source: Flickr/Pexels.

Of: Levi Karvonen

One of the harshest anti-LGBTQ bills the world has seen in a long time has now passed in Uganda. This is part of a global anti-gender movement, which is growing stronger across the African continent. At the same time that the anti-gender movement mobilizes politicians and legislators against human rights, they receive publicly funded aid from countries in the global north. This is written by Levi Karvonen, international communicator at RFSL.

June 1, 2023, Debate

Actionable action is required to counter the illegal international arms flow

In order to regain security on our streets in Sweden, and a more peaceful world globally, it is more urgent than ever to both prevent and stop the illegal flow of weapons. This is written by Olle Thorell (S) and Magdalena Thuresson (M), members of parliament for the foreign affairs committee, as well as Karin Olofsson, secretary general of the Parliamentary Forum for light weapons issues. Photo: St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Karin Olofsson, Magdalena Thuresson and Olle Thorell

The violence resulting from illegal weapons have devastating consequences worldwider – human, social and economic. For sustainable development and peace force is required to stop the illegal flow of weapons. Wednesday, December 14 special attention is paid to the issue in riksdagen when parliamentarians, civil society, experts and other representatives gather for the Parliamentarian Forum for Light Weapons-of questions (The Forum's) 20th anniversary seminar. 

December 14, 2022, Debate

Why including women in discussions about water resources is important

Water related challenges constitute some of the biggest challenges the world is facing today, and the global water crisis is not gender neutral. But water diplomacy, defined as cooperation over the management and safeguarding of shared water resources, has the potential to contribute to an equitable, peaceful and sustainable solution, states LM International in a debate article. Photo from Niamey, Niger. Photographer: Torleif Svensson.

Of: Florien van Weerelt and Isabella Olsson

Access to safe water and sanitation has been recognized as both a human rights under international law and an important objective for the international community through its inclusion in the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Equitable access to water contributes to the achievement of key objectives, including gender equality, climate resilience, and peace and security.

December 1, 2022, Debate, English

COP27: Meaningful participation and lost opportunities

Future COPs, as well as climate conferences and UN conferences in general, must address the gap between policy and people on the ground, according to Melanie Ridout, who works as Global Sustainable Innovation Manager and Climate Resilience Lead at Läkarmissionen. Photo of Doctors for Extinction Rebellion during COP26 protests. Photo by: Melanie Ridout.

Of: Melanie Rideout

Climate change is the inevitable culmination of the bad decisions we have made as a collective community. To address these challenges, we need to fundamentally change the architecture of our current system. That starts with ensuring meaningful participation, from the bottom-up, writes Melanie Rideout, Global Sustainable Innovation Manager and Climate Resilience Lead at Läkarmissionen (LM).

November 3, 2022, Debate, English

The Christian Democrats: Women's rights in focus in development aid policy

The fact that the Social Democratic government in this situation has decided that parts of the development assistance should be used in Sweden gives completely wrong signals about what international solidarity means. All this risks making an insecure world even more insecure. It writes Gudrun Brunegård, development policy spokesperson (KD). Photo: Bernard Gagnon. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Gudrun Brunegård

Standing up for the one percent goal, women's education and poverty reduction are some of several attributes that characterize the Christian Democrats' development aid policy. With democracy as the highest guarantor of peace, values ​​such as human rights must be defended in the world through Swedish development assistance. It writes Gudrun Brunegård, bdevelopment policy spokesperson within the Christian Democrats.  

July 2, 2022, Debate

The Social Democrats: Sweden's development aid model works well

The government has announced that a certain part of the aid funds will be used to help the refugees who come to Sweden from Ukraine. But the fact that Sweden is one of the world's largest donors remains. It is written by Kenneth G Forslund, chairman of the Riksdag's Foreign Affairs Committee (S), and Anders Östberg, Member of the Riksdag and head of development policy (S). Photo: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine / Nathalie Beser / Swedish Parliament. Source: Wikimedia Commons / Socialdemokraterna / Sveriges riksdag.

Of: Anders Österberg and Kenneth G Forslund

We Social Democrats know that a world with great inequality, hunger and more conflicts is a more insecure world for all. Not least the covid-19 pandemic and Russia's war of aggression have shown this. The world is connected and when it burns in your neighbor's house, it also concerns you, whether it happens in Ukraine, Yemen or Sudan - therefore is development aid policy important and we Social Democrats see it as part of security policy. It is written by Kenneth G Forslund, chairman of the Riksdag's Foreign Affairs Committee (S), and Anders Östberg, Member of the Riksdag and head of development policy (S).

June 30, 2022, Debate

Left Party: One percent floor instead of settlements

Among other things, the Left Party wants to make the one percent goal a one percent floor that development cooperation must not be less than, and introduce a new climate aid that will be used to counteract the consequences of climate change. It writes the Left Party's aid policy spokesperson Yasmine Posio. Photo: Takver, Left Party. Source: Wikimedia Commons, Flickr.

Of: Yasmine Posio

With an acute climateödlägive and a serious humaniteär situation ivärlden it is not enough to as the government reduce areåthe end through the extensive avräthe knowledge one has now chosen to giveöra. Sweden has all möopportunities to be a sanctuary förmäpeople fleeing war and föpressure and at the same time stå up för and areånd policy värd the name. It writes the Left Party's aid policy spokesperson Yasmine Posio. 

June 13, 2022, Debate

Green Party: Do not reduce aid when needs increase!

An overwhelming majority of the world's poor live in rural areas and subsist on agriculture. Despite this, today only a small part of international aid goes to agricultural development and food production. The Green Party wants to change this, among other things by raising Swedish development assistance to 1,25 percent of GNI. Photo: Binoy Anthony / Green Party. Source: Pexels / Flickr.

Of: Maria Ferm

International aid is under threat. Despite the fact that we live in a time where development assistance is more important than ever, several parties in the Riksdag want to reduce it in various ways. Instead, the Green Party wants to both increase international aid to at least 1% of GNI and stand up for a humane refugee reception. It writes Maria Ferm, foreign policy spokesperson within the Green Party. 

June 3, 2022, Debate

Liberals: Democracy aid must be a priority

The Liberals want Sweden to set aside at least one percent of GNI for development assistance. In addition, the party believes that sometimes the additions require assistance - for example, to Ukraine right now. It writes the Liberals' foreign policy spokesman Joar Forssell. Photo: manhhai. Source: Flickr.

Of: Joar Forssell

For the Liberals, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights are the most important goals of aid. Swedish development assistance money should never go to finance those who oppress or counteract a democratic development. Free people in free societies build prosperity. In all contexts, it must be clear which side Sweden is on, namely those who are free. It writes Joar Forssell, foreign policy spokesman for the Liberals. 

June 3, 2022, Debate

Let us not forget the world's biggest humanitarian crisis

For more than seven years, there has been an armed conflict in Yemen and millions of people in the country are in need of humanitarian aid. Today, the fighting is primarily a struggle between the Huthi movement and the country's authorities. Photo: Ibrahim Qasim. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Alva Westlund

While much of the world's attention has been turned to new conflicts and other humanitarian crises, the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen is still a fact and far too serious to be forgotten. It writes Alva Westlund, regional administrator for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Committee of the Red Cross.

May 3, 2022, Debate