Week 47: Debater on the scrapping of the one percent target: "Spiritless"

Dropping the one percent target is still the subject of debate on Swedish opinion pages. Photo: Frankie Fouganthin. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Fredrik Govenius

The dropping of Sweden's one percent target for aid has been debated in several Swedish media over the past week. The protests in Iran have continued to be the subject of debate, for example when Ardalan Shekarabi (S) said that Sweden's government should tighten the sanctions against the country.

November 29, 2022, Current debate

The real debate about aid has been forgotten

Sweden, like other countries in the global north, has an obligation to take responsibility for global issues, says FUF's non-profit writer Karin Sjöstrand. Photo tv: micheile dot com. Source: Unsplash. Photo th: Janwikifoto. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Karin Sjöstrand

Before the election, I felt that global issues have been absent from the political debate in Sweden. The climate debate was more about nuclear power plants than about the consequences of climate change and now Sweden's one percent goal has been scrapped.

November 14, 2022, Chronicle

Week 44: Debaters criticize the government on several points

Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M) received sharp criticism during last week's debate - among other things for having called Turkey a democracy. Photo: Reinis Inkēns, Saeima's Administration. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Elianne Kjellman and Ella Sjöbeck

Foreign Minister Tobias Billström's (M) statements about Turkey have stirred emotions during the past week's debate. The new government's aid and climate policy has also been debated. 

November 7, 2022, Current debate

Eight years of feminist foreign policy - now it is being scrapped

The purpose of the feminist foreign policy has been to raise the ambition for the global work with women's rights. Now Sweden's new government chooses to drop the term feminist foreign policy. Image from Hingoli, India. Photo: Amol Sonar. Source: Unsplash.

Of: Ella Sjöbeck

In October 2014, Sweden became the first country in the world to present a feminist foreign policy. Eight years later, the concept will be abolished. It confirms that newly appointed Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M). But what has feminist foreign policy really meant? What results has it produced so far? And what happens to foreign policy now? The development magazine clears up your doubts. 

November 2, 2022, Development magazine explains

Week 43: Debaters encourage the Foreign Minister to take up the fight for equality

Several debaters urge the new foreign minister Tobias Billström (M) that Sweden should continue to lead the way for global equality. In the picture, he can be seen at Almedal Week 2018. Photo: Politikerveckan Almedalen. Source: Flickr.

Of: Agnes Durbeej-Hjalt and Sidra Amir

The new government's foreign and aid policy continues to create debate. China's increasingly authoritarian rule and Great Britain's new prime minister have also sparked reactions on Swedish debate and editorial pages. 

October 31, 2022, Current debate

Week 41: New government proposal agreed to reduce aid and five years since the start of #metoo

"Without yes it's no" - a placard from a demonstration in Montréal, Canada on June 19, 2020. Photo: Mélodie Descoubes. Source: Unsplash.

Of: Fredrik Govenius and Jonathan Lamy

The new government with Ulf Kristersson as prime minister will drop the one percent target and work to reduce Sweden's aid. The proposal arouses criticism from humanitarian organizations but is encouraged by some bourgeois leaders. Meanwhile, it's been five years since #metoo took the world by storm. 

October 17, 2022, Current debate

Week 38: Debaters demand support for Iranian women's freedom struggle

Protests have spread across Iran, and also elsewhere in the world, since 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died after being beaten by Iran's so-called morality police for wearing her veil "the wrong way". The protests have been a central topic on Swedish debate and editorial pages during the past week. Pictured: Protest in London against the compulsion for women to wear the veil in Iran. Photo: Gary Knight. Source: Flickr.

Of: Elianne Kjellman and Ella Sjöbeck

The wave of protests in Iran, which erupted after the 22-year-old mahsa Aminis death that occurred in connection with her arrest by the Iranian morality police, has characterized the past week's debate and editorial pages. Several debaters are now calling on governments, organizations and individuals to support Iranian women's fight for freedom. Concerns about the consequences of cuts in Swedish aid has also been debated.

September 26, 2022, Current debate

Sexual violence in conflict: “psychological warfare”

Sexual violence in conflict is a serious problem in several countries around the world. The African groups' partner Ondjango Feministas raises awareness of women's rights in Angola. Photo: Sheila Nangue. Source: Ondjango Feministas.

Of: Alice Eriksson

Sexual violence increases in connection with conflict and natural disasters in the world, says Ylva Jonsson Strömberg from the Swedish Red Cross. Several civil society organizations point to the importance of development aid to break the negative trend in the world. 

August 11, 2022, Almedalen - article, Report

The organizations about development aid settlements: "The outside world is losing confidence in Sweden"

The umbrella organization CONCORD organized a breakfast mingling during the Almedal week to run the campaign #RäddaBiståndet on the streets of Visby together with various member organizations. Photo: Christina Wassholm, CONCORD Sweden.

Of: Hibo Yusuf Ahmed

Sweden's settlements on aid meant 40 percent cut annual budgets for several civil society organizations and their partner operations. Utvecklingsmagasinet has interviewed five organizations that warn that their partner organizations are losing confidence in Sweden and finding it difficult to maintain their work against, among other things, child marriage and female genital mutilation.

July 21, 2022, Almedalen - article, Report

One year after the Taliban took power: "Do not forget Afghanistan"

Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to repression under the Taliban regime, something Elham Kohistani, an activist, and Najiba Sanjar, a crisis coordinator and consultant, said at a seminar during Almedalen Week. Photo: Julia Lundén Azzeddine.

Of: Julia Lundén Azzeddine

One year after the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, the country is hard hit by poverty, famine, unemployment and dismantled health care. During Almedalen Week, several people discussed the crisis situation in the country. 

July 20, 2022, Almedalen - article, Report