FUF magazine: theme Power

Of: Sophia Triana Flores

Writing about the concept of "power" can be tricky. The self-perceived oppression of power can differ significantly depending on the different conditions we live with. But writing about the difficult-to-define concept of "power" is also about highlighting the privileges that we may not consciously think of. This may be about the balance of power between producers and consumers, people […]

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March 27, 2018, Chronicle

Swedish arms trade makes it more difficult for civil societies

Of: Annie Matundu Mbambi, Annika Forests, Ayo Ayoola-Amale, Edwick Madzimure, Micheline Muzaneza, Pascasie Barampama and Sylvie N'dongmo

Democratic space is shrinking and voices are being silenced. Around the world, freedom of expression has become increasingly threatened. Now Sweden must take its responsibility and stop exporting weapons to countries that imprison human rights activists and restrict freedom of assembly, writes the International Women's Union for Peace and Freedom.

June 20, 2017, Debate

Invest more in education about natural disasters in the world's schools

Of: Agnes Björn and Marianne Eriksson

Children must be involved in the work of building communities that can stand up to natural disasters. The countries of the world agreed on this in Sendai in 2015. If we want this to become a reality, we must increase aid to civil society and work with disaster risk reduction in the world's schools, writes Plan International Sweden.

May 23, 2017, Debate

Reply: Development efficiency and business collaboration go together

Of: Ulrika Modéer

Business collaboration in development assistance is about taking advantage of the knowledge, experience and resources that the business community has at its disposal and to catalyze more, better and faster change. Penny Davies, Diakonia, is concerned that important principles for aid effectiveness will be thwarted when the OCED DAC now reviews which private sector instruments should be counted as aid. Sweden is working with full force to prevent this from happening, writes State Secretary Ulrika Modéer.

April 3, 2017, Debate

Women's organizations key to gender equality in Burma

Of: Jenny Hedstrom and Johanna Kvist

In recent years, Burma has opened up to the outside world, but women are still excluded from political contexts. It is crucial for the country's continued democratic development to strengthen the rights of girls and women. Sweden should therefore increase support for the local women's organizations whose gender equality work has already led to real change, write Jenny Hedström and Johanna Kvist from the Swedish Burma Committee.

March 16, 2017, Debate

New reforms in development assistance behind closed doors

Of: Penny Davies

Discussions are currently underway within the OECD's Development Assistance Committee DAC on what can be counted as development assistance. Today, 9 March, the Committee will take a position on new types of instruments aimed at increasing private sector participation in development assistance. This reform can have very major consequences for development aid and therefore requires in-depth discussion. Otherwise, there is a risk that the reform thumbs up on important principles for aid effectiveness, writes Penny Davies, policy adviser in development financing at Diakonia.

March 9, 2017, Debate

Sweden - back up political will with SRHR money!

Of: Anneli Rogeman, Annika Schabbauer, Annika Forests, Birgitta Göranson-Iliste, Bo Forsberg, Cecilia Chatterjee-Martinsen, Erik Lysén, Gabi Björsson, Kristina Henschen, Lisa Sjöblom, Lotta Sjöström Becker, Luis Lineo, Maria Andersson and Marianne Eriksson

President Donald Trump's reintroduction of the Global Gag Rule means that much of America's maternal health assistance is frozen - something that will affect those living in poverty the most. It risks significantly increasing the number of unwanted pregnancies and leading to the deaths of thousands of girls and women around the world. Now Sweden and the outside world must cover for the reduced aid. Therefore, 14 organizations in CONCORD Sweden's gender equality working group call on the government and the Riksdag to add new money to the spring budget.

February 23, 2017, Debate

All development assistance expenditure must be traceable

Of: Alina Östling

A new report from the organization Open Government Partnership shows that Sweden has made progress in terms of transparency in development assistance, but that there are still a number of shortcomings. In particular, better information is needed on when, to whom and why development assistance funds have been paid out. The government must also allocate sufficient resources to ensure transparency in the implementation and follow-up of the policy for global development (PGU), writes the report's author Alina Östling.

January 25, 2017, Debate