Feminist initiative advocates global justice and decolonization. We must challenge today's world order where the global north uses the global south. We want international cooperation to take place with mutual respect between equal parties and for the one percent target to be met without setting off costs for refugee reception in Sweden. It writes Jaime Gomez, Mats Ekenger and Maria Persson from the Feminist Initiative.
Feminist international cooperation is based on an analysis of the power of historical and current factors that have contributed to today's unequal international relations. to the north. It is expressed in the concentration of economic and political power at international, national and local levels. This system of power also recreates unequal representation in decision-making at all levels of society. Feminist international cooperation is therefore about historical restoration, equitable economic redistribution and active demands to decolonize the world politically, culturally and mentally.
Feminist initiative advocates global justice and decolonization. Our welfare should not be based on the exploitation of people and nature in other parts of the world. The world must be seen as a whole. International cooperation must take place with mutual respect between equal parties.
Human rights must take precedence over the interests of companies
We must challenge current economic, social and political power structures - not least in international institutions and banks. The right to health, clean water and to be able to cultivate one's own land must take precedence over the interests of multinational companies in low-income countries and their perceived right to rely on others in the name of the market economy. Globalization is diluting our false freedom to endlessly consume material products at the expense of children who are forced to work, women who are exploited and the planet that is getting hotter. Consumption takes place at the expense of future generations.
In our budget, we present proposals for international cooperation that support global justice and sustainable development, not least disarmament. The proposals include research on poverty and racism linked to neo-colonialism and globalization, as well as investigations and other efforts to switch from military to human security.
Solidarity cooperation shall be based on those affected
In accordance with Sweden's policy for global development (PGU), solidarity cooperation must be based on those affected - that is, the values, goals and abilities of people living in poverty. In addition, solidarity cooperation must be based on a rights perspective. The two perspectives must permeate all policy areas, because coherence is required if we are to be able to contribute to the goal of sustainable global development. There are major shortcomings here that are due to target contexts, including trade policy, arms exports and Sweden's actions in the EU and the World Trade Organization (WTO). In the last two years, the government has once again focused on PGU, which is positive. But much work remains to be done to clarify and act on the target contexts and to strengthen gender equality analyzes - especially in the light of a feminist foreign policy.
The implementation of Agenda 2030 must be a process that includes civil society and feminist movements, and the follow - up of the agenda must be permeated by gender aspects. Fundamental to the implementation of the goals is the financing, which unfortunately is still unclear, which is why it is important to have cooperation between states as well as the market and civil society. Agenda 2030 and PGU could, ideally, reinforce and complement each other. But it does not work because the guidelines in PGU - that human rights and sustainability must guide when there is a conflict of interest between policy areas - are not followed.
Feminist initiatives to ensure that all development policy is based on PGU and that target contexts around arms exports, trade policy and human rights are highlighted and handled transparently.
More money for SRHR
In large parts of the world, people have far from the same opportunities for identity creation and cohabitation as in Sweden, despite the fact that we have not reached the end either. Sexual rights therefore need continued priority in Swedish foreign policy. Feminist initiatives show solidarity with the human struggle worldwide for the right to free abortion, contraception and same-sex cohabitation, as well as the fight against rape as a means of war, child marriage, human trafficking and trafficking. We want to strengthen the voices of those groups that have less power at a structural and global level, whether due to gender, economy or geographical location.
Feminist initiative will work to make sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) a priority issue in Swedish involvement in international organizations and in solidarity cooperation. The needs for sexual education and family planning are very large and important for strengthening women's autonomy and therefore we want to invest more money in SRHR and earmark a total of SEK 350 million per year. Free abortion, contraception and safe births are central rights for uterine carriers' health and survival.
The settlements for refugee reception are inhumane
We want Sweden to meet the XNUMX% target outside settlement for costs in Sweden for refugee reception. The fact that costs for receiving benefits in Sweden are taken from the budget for international cooperation is an example of an inhumane approach which, even though it is permitted under OECD / DAC rules, should not be applied by Sweden. We support the demands made by several civil society organizations and put forward by CONCORD Sweden, which states that money for international cooperation should go to low-income countries and not be distributed on the basis of short-term security policy and migration policy interests.
It is important to support and show solidarity across borders with popular movements, women's organizations, civil society and human rights activists around the world. It is also important to make visible and conduct intersectional power analyzes to show why these processes are ongoing and what the alternatives are. Through solidarity cooperation, we want to give our support to work on human rights and democracy, and to civil society organizations that work globally to strengthen democracy and fight colonialism. It is a way to get to the root of the problem and seriously challenge the current world order where the global north exploits the global south.
This is a debate article. The author is responsible for analysis and opinions in the text.
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