Week 37: Debaters want to put more pressure on the Iranian regime

It has been a year since Mahsa Jina Amini was murdered by the moral police in Iran. The murder was the starting point for furious protests against the mullahs' regime. On the anniversary of the murder, several Swedish debaters question whether Sweden and the EU have really put enough pressure on Iran. Pictured: A demonstration in Melbourne, Australia, in solidarity with the women of Iran a week after the assassination in 2022. Photo: Mark Hkrac. Source: Flickr.

Of: Agnes Durbeej-Hjalt

Last week was the anniversary of the murder mahsa Name Believe in Iran. At the same time, the Swedish EU official Johan Floderus has been imprisoned for over 500 days. Several debaters are now demanding that Sweden and the EU pursue a stricter policy towards Iran.

September 18, 2023, Current debate

Stop unpaid internships if you value diversity and inclusion

At the same time that actors in the aid and development industry want to promote justice in the world, the number of unpaid internships in the sector is increasing. This prevents people from economically marginalized backgrounds from accessing and benefiting from these opportunities. This is written by Ellinor Berglund, writer in FUF's non-profit editorial office and former intern at the Swedish Embassy in Maputo. Photo: Dean Calma/IAEA. Source: Flickr.

Of: Ellinor Berglund

With lots of new experiences and contacts, I went home from my internship in Moçambique. Five months of unpaid internship, however, stings the wallet. But I could afford to put this sought-after internship on my CV, which is a direct result of socio-economic privilege - and I think it needs to be noticed, writes Ellinor Berglund, former intern at the Swedish Embassy in Maputo.

August 24, 2023, Chronicle

Fast fashion: "Manufacturers should raise the price of clothes"

Fast fashion is often associated with large amounts of waste and negative impact on the environment. But there are several ideas for how the textile industry could become more sustainable. Photo: Bicanski. Source: Pixnio.

Of: Cecilia Bergh and Felizia Livskog

Fast fashion contributes to climate change, pollution and unfair working conditions for those who produce the clothes. Despite that, many people collect new clothes at a furious pace, while the old ones are not too rarely dumped in landfills in Africa or Asia. But with the EU's recently voted textile strategy, this is to change - and fashion companies take more responsibility for clothing production.

July 12, 2023, Report

Girls and women are hit hardest by humanitarian crises

The violence in the Central African Republic has caused large flows of refugees to Cameroon, among others. UN Women has worked to support the women affected by the crisis with financial and social assistance. Pictured: UN Women and their partner organizations' staff during a meeting for women in a refugee camp in Cameroon. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown. Source: Flickr.  

Of: Axel Selin

This year, more people than ever are affected by humanitarian crises. Women and girls are the ones most affected. With it, there are ways to support women and girls affected by crisis - for example through education and protection at the beginning of a crisis. 

July 12, 2023, Report

Split opinions on conditional aid

According to the Tidö Agreement, which was concluded between the government and the Sweden Democrats in October 2022, Swedish aid must be a tool to counter irregular migration. Pictured: Tidö Castle and Sweden Democrats party leader Jimmie Åkesson. Photo: Aplstedt/News Øresund. Source: Wikimedia municipality.

Of: Karin Myrdal

Dropped one percent target, withdrawn research funds for development studies and synergies between trade and aid. That's how it has sounded so far this year when the Tidö parties' reform agenda for Swedish aid policy has started to take shape. Critical voices have been raised both from civil society and from the political oppthe osition – not least that reaction to the proposal to use aid as a means of pressure to increase return migration from Sweden. 

July 12, 2023, Report

Trade and aid: "Returns don't always come in the form of money"

"Trade and aid are two sides of the same coin," says Aid and Foreign Trade Minister Johan Forssell (M) (right in picture). However, the Africa groups' secretary general Louise Lindfors (on the left in the picture) is worried that aid will become a subgroup of trade issues. Photo: FUF.

Of: Julia Lundén Azzeddine

Earlier this year, the government presented the changes to be made in aid policy - and a central part is to work more closely with trade and aid. This focus has väckt strong reactions, not least within civil societyället. - Man cannot believe that there will be a market economy model that seamlessly går to apply to development cooperation, sägst Louise Lindfors, general secretary at Athe free food groups.

July 12, 2023, Report

The EU agrees on a migration pact - under the Swedish presidency

Around 180 people sought to cross the sea to Europe in 000, according to the EU. The EU countries have now agreed on a common migration and asylum pact. Photo: islamicreliefusa. Source: Flickr.

Of: Nora Nattorp

In mid-June, one of the worst migration-related accidents ever occurred in Europe when a boat carrying hundreds of refugees sank in the Mediterranean Sea. About two weeks before the incident, negotiations on a new migration and asylum pact within the EU were completed. This pact has been one of the focus areas during Sweden's presidency of the EU Council of Ministers in 2023.

July 12, 2023, Report

Tightened climate policy in the EU puts pressure on Sweden's climate work

The EU is tightening its climate policy and reducing the scope for member states' emissions. At the same time, there are divided opinions about the effects of the Swedish government's climate work. Photo (left): Sara Kurfeß. Source: Unsplash. Photo (right): Maxim Tolchinskiy. Source: Unsplash.

Of: Charlee Salmelin

The EU's tightening climate policy demands that Sweden's climate policy direction be designed so that we reduce our emissions. The government has prioritized climate compensation to achieve the climate goals. But there are divided opinions on whether both the EU's and the government's policies actually lead to better climate effects.

July 12, 2023, Report

Carnival in Brazil raises questions about democracy and racism

Several events during the Brazilian Carnival touch on issues of democracy and racism. Ilú Obá De Min is a group of Afro-Brazilian women in São Paulo who, through their drum parade, want to maintain and spread Afro-Brazilian culture in a country where black people are often discriminated against. Photo: Carmel Kotzen and Vilma Ellemark.

Of: Vilma Ellemark

Carnival in Brazil is not just a place for partying and pickpocketing – as many associate it with. In samba parades and street parties, various social problems are raised in creative ways. - It's not just a street party. It is a force for self-expression and resistance, expresses the Afro-Brazilian organization Ilú Obá De Min in connection with its drum parade.

July 11, 2023, Report

More and more countries are building border walls - not stopping migrants

France is one of the countries that has built a border wall to prevent irregular migration and fight terrorism. Pictured: Demonstration against border controls in Calais. Photo: police62. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Vendela Permat's Hammarbäck

Several countries are tightening their border controls and building border walls to reduce the influx of refugees and migrants. France is one of the countries that has built a border wall for this reason. At the same time, a study shows that border walls do not stop migration. 

July 11, 2023, FUF-correspondents, Report