There are worrying reports of deadly violence and a difficult situation from our partner organizations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Sweden should be a clear voice in the world community for a comprehensive strategy that can contribute to security and faith in the future in the war-torn DR Congo, write five organizations with partners in the country.
March 28, 2018, Debate
Norway signed the ILO Convention 169 as early as 1990. The picture shows the Sami Parliament's plenary hall in Karasjok in Norway. Photo: Sámediggi Sami Parliament / Denis Caviglia.
Of: Kristin Blomdin and Andréa Hamdan
Sweden has not signed the Convention on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The knowledge about the Sami exists, but it does not reach society. It turns out that the responsibility for the dissemination of knowledge has fallen on the Sami themselves, but the question is whether that is enough. It has been almost a month since the Sami National Day and we are discussing what we really know about […]
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March 27, 2018, Report
Of: Deborah Solomon
In February 2016, H&M launched a project to improve the textile industry in Ethiopia as part of a project with Sida (the state agency for international development), Swedfund (a state venture capital company) and the ILO (International Labor Organization). Three months later, it was announced that H&M was opening a new textile factory for sustainable production. This applies to environmental awareness and to improving the living conditions of […]
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March 27, 2018, News
Of: Lennart Wohlgemuth
When Sweden conducts development cooperation with undemocratic countries, we must choose whether we should cooperate with the state or not. If we are to be able to influence the development of another country in the long term, the only alternative is for us to have a close dialogue with the country, writes Professor Lennart Wohlgemuth.
January 16, 2018, Debate
Of: Aung Khan Ming and Khin Ohmar
The Rohingya minority group is being subjected to brutal abuses in Burma, but the human rights commission that is supposed to protect them is making the situation worse instead. Sweden, which has previously provided financial support to the Commission, can make a difference by supporting civil society instead. It writes two human rights activists from the Swedish Burma Committee's partner organization Progressive Voice.
December 13, 2017, Debate
Of: Hans Fridlund
Human rights institutions are tasked with ensuring that states comply with national and international human rights conventions. However, Sweden belongs to the countries that do not have such an institution, which has led to criticism from the UN. The establishment of a Swedish human rights institution would not only serve a domestic policy purpose, but also contribute to increasing Swedish credibility in international human rights issues, writes Hans Fridlund, UPR Info.
July 31, 2017, Debate
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
Of: Karin Ericsson, Torgny Östling and Zarah Östman Pitulaga
Take almost any country in the world and it is the people in the countryside who are exposed to the most human rights violations. Since 2012, the UN has wanted to produce a declaration that would enable the drafting of specific and necessary laws to protect this group. This week, the UN gathers again, but Sweden is still passive, several debaters write.
May 16, 2017, Debate
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
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