Authoritarian leaders use the corona crisis as an excuse to, among other things, restrict freedom of expression, writes Anders L Pettersson.
Of: Anders L Pettersson
Repressive regimes around the world see covid-19 as a free card for persecuting and imprisoning human rights defenders. At the same time, the outside world is distracted by the pandemic. Now we must defend democracy by supporting civil society and human rights defenders - not least in authoritarian states, writes Anders L Pettersson on Civil Rights Defenders.
June 8, 2020, Guest chronicle
When schools are closed around the world, the risk of girls being exposed to violence increases, Plan International writes in a debate article.
Of: Ina Carlsson
The corona virus is still a common thread in the media's opinion pages, but in the last week the debate has been less about the disease itself and more about how the measures affect democracy and human rights. Debaters have, among other things, warned of increased violence against girls and human rights defenders.
April 29, 2020, Current debate
In several countries, the police and military brutally beat down people who violate the curfew. Photo: Gerd Altmann / Pixabay
Of: Anna Stenwinkel
Increased police violence, censorship and attacks on the opposition. These are some of the effects of more and more authoritarian regimes around the world using the corona crisis to gain more power. The aid organization Forum Syd is now calling on the government to use the democracy initiative to protect democracy and human rights from the coronavirus.
April 27, 2020, Debate
Before the corona crisis, lots of women were out demonstrating for gender equality in Chile. Photo: Carlos Punto Pizarro
Of: Julia Spaton Goppers
One month ago, more than a million Chilean women gathered on the streets of the capital, Santiago. They demonstrated against sexual violence and for economic reforms in the country. But now the coronavirus has increased domestic violence - and the mobilization for gender equality has become more difficult.
April 9, 2020, News
Large parts of Western Sahara are occupied by Morocco. Jan Strömdahl thinks that Sweden should recognize Western Sahara as a country. Photo: YoTuT (CC BY 2.0 License) and private
Of: Jan Strömdahl
Despite the fact that Western Sahara is occupied in a similar way to Palestine, few in Sweden are aware of the situation there. Sweden should now recognize Western Sahara as a country, strengthen aid and boycott products from the occupied territory. It writes Jan Strömdahl from the Swedish Western Sahara Committee.
April 8, 2020, Debate
Under a new law, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán can govern the country entirely himself, without obtaining parliamentary approval. Photo: European People's Party (CC BY 2.0 License)
Of: Sarah Hyde
The corona pandemic has strengthened anti-democratic movements in several places. It is clearest in Hungary, where Viktor Orbán now controls himself for an indefinite future. The message from this week's debaters is unanimous: the EU must act vigorously against the dictatorship's Hungary.
April 2, 2020, Current debate
Cambodia is a major exporter of textile products and H&M is one of the largest buyers.
Of: Åsa Eriksson
In recent years, Cambodia has gone against a dictatorship. Independent media have been shut down, the opposition party has been banned and critics of the regime have been imprisoned. At the same time, we import clothes and other goods cheaply from the country. It is good that the EU is now changing its favorable trade agreement with Cambodia, writes the Social Democrats' trade policy spokesperson Åsa Eriksson.
March 23, 2020, Debate
The migrants who try to enter the EU stir up strong emotions on debate and leadership sides in Sweden. Photo: Freedom House
Of: Rine Mansouri
After Turkey opened its borders with Greece this weekend, there has been a debate about Sweden's responsibility to receive refugees and respect the right to asylum. Debate and leader pages have advocated everything from tougher boundaries to more solidarity with the people who are fleeing.
March 5, 2020, Current debate
Switching to large-scale and conventional agriculture is not the way we should go, the African groups write. Photo: Noelmcshane, Pexels
Of: Louise Lindfors
We are pleased that Professor Göran Hydén and the Expert Group for Aid Analysis raise issues of democracy in Africa. Unfortunately, we see several errors in the analysis of how we can promote democracy. It writes the Africa groups in a commentary on Göran Hydén's guest column.
January 20, 2020, Debate
Politics in Africa works differently than in Europe, writes Professor Göran Hydén. Here are election posters in Uganda ahead of the 2011 election. Photo: Gabriel White (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Of: Göran Hyden
Thirty years have passed since the waves of democracy swept across the earth. It was the third in the order and differed from previous waves by hitting all continents. There are reasons to review the results. Its influence remains strongest in Latin America and Eastern Europe, where military and communist dictatorships have given way and democracy, albeit threatened, is now […]
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January 9, 2020, Guest chronicle
