Of: Malin Nilsson
On Sunday, we woke up to the news that North Korea had tested another hydrogen bomb, ten times more powerful than the bombs dropped by the United States on Japan in 1945. The rising tensions call for counter-strategies. A first step is for Sweden to sign the UN agreement on a ban on nuclear weapons, writes Malin Nilsson at the International Women's Union for Peace and Freedom.
September 7, 2017, Debate
Of: Agnes Björn, Diana Trimino, Marianne Eriksson and Melanie Ward
Teenage girls are an extra vulnerable group in conflicts and natural disasters. They risk getting married and being abused or trafficked. Yet they are often forgotten in humanitarian aid. The International Rescue Committee and Plan International Sweden therefore call on the Swedish government to make specific initiatives for teenage girls in crisis and conflict.
July 6, 2017, Debate
Of: Pernille Fenger
This week, Foreign Minister Margot Wallström visited Ukraine - a country where one in four women is exposed to gender-based violence, according to our survey from 2014. Now there is a unique chance to reverse the trend of increased violence against women and girls, writes the UN Population Fund UNFPA.
June 16, 2017, Debate
Of: Daphne Jayasinghe
Today's global challenges require us to reconsider humanitarian aid. Instead of giving buckets and blankets, cash grants to poor women and girls can increase autonomy and reduce the risk of being exposed to violence, writes Daphne Jayasinghe at the International Rescue Committee.
May 19, 2017, Debate
Of: Alexander Gabelic and Megan Burke
More than 6 people were injured or killed by mines in 000. This is an increase of 2015 percent compared with the previous year. The alarming figures should make the world countries gather forces to get rid of the mining problem, but instead Sweden has halved its support since 75. The negative trend of recent years must reverse, writes Megan Burke, International Campaign against Landmines (ICBL), and Aleksander Gabelic, Swedish UN Federation.
April 4, 2017, Debate
Of: Gabriella Irsten
At the same time as the new regulations on arms exports have been delayed for several years, Sweden increased its exports of munitions by 45 percent in 2016. Swedish arms exports are not compatible with a feminist foreign policy and a majority of parliamentary parties say they want to stop arms exports to dictatorships. Now it's time to move on from words to action, writes Gabriella Irsten, International Women's Association for Peace and Freedom (IKFF).
March 13, 2017, Debate
Of: Linda Åkerström
Sweden exports weapons to countries that oppress women and LGBTQ people; countries that seriously violate human rights. Why do we trust these governments enough to supply them with munitions? It is time to put an end to arms exports that undermine the pursuit of freedom and democracy, writes Linda Åkerström from the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Association.
January 9, 2017, Debate
Of: Anders Oljelund
"Without security no development and without development no security" is stated in political speeches. But what does that mean in practice? Synergies between security efforts and aid efforts can be found, but it is very complicated and requires careful coordination. Anders Oljelund writes this on the occasion of the ongoing Afghanistan investigation.
June 9, 2016, Debate
Of: Maddie Maxwell Hart
The Syrian refugees in Lebanon must be included in the development agenda and not just helped with humanitarian efforts. Peace and integration are a prerequisite for long-term development, writes Maddi Maxwell Hart from a Lebanese youth organization.
January 20, 2016, Debate
Of: ANITA KLUM, Annika Schabbauer, Eva Zetterberg, Frida Wallander and Stina Larsson
Today, half of the world's population is excluded from peace processes. Women are excluded from both mediation and decisions on peace and security. To achieve lasting peace, women need to be included and have power in peace processes, write five representatives of Operation 1325.
December 15, 2015, Debate