Gap between ambition and budget for sustainable peace

Of: Karin Olofsson and Maria Andersson Willner

During the autumn, the government presented a strategy for sustainable peace, which emphasizes that the uncontrolled proliferation of small and light weapons is a threat to global security and an obstacle to sustainable development. The ambition to invest in reducing the spread of these weapons in development cooperation is very positive and must now be clearly reflected in the budget, states Karin Olofsson and Maria Andersson Willner from the Parliamentary Forum for Light Weapons issues.

November 29, 2017, Debate

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

New regulations must mean an absolute ban on arms exports to dictatorships

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

Necessary to ban arms exports to dictatorships

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

Improve transparency in arms exports and refugee costs

Of: Alina Östling

A new report from the organization Open Government Partership shows that Sweden has made great progress in terms of transparency in development assistance. At the same time, there is a lack of sufficient transparency in arms exports, refugee costs and tax-financed development assistance projects carried out by the business community, writes researcher Alina Östling.

April 14, 2016, Debate

We must limit the availability of weapons to build peace

Of: Christer Winbäck and Karin Olofsson

Small and light weapons kill 1368 people every day. It is high time to highlight the importance of weapons in fueling conflict and violence. And it is time to strengthen the preventive work against armed violence in development cooperation, write Karin Olofsson and Christer Winbäck from the Parliamentary Forum for small and light weapons issues.

November 26, 2015, Debate

Swedish arms exports - an obstacle to feminist foreign policy

Of: Gabriella Irsten

Sweden must stop patting itself on the shoulder and become more self-critical. It is time to see the problems that Swedish arms exports create, not least for women around the world. Make feminist foreign policy a reality and abolish Swedish arms exports, writes Gabriella Irsten, an expert on disarmament and security issues.

October 20, 2015, Debate

The Saudi deal shows the need for a new coordinated global policy

Of: Jesper Bengtsson

The debate has been heated about Sweden's arms agreement with Saudi Arabia. Many have questioned whether Swedish exports should be subject to human rights requirements. Now we must ask ourselves in what way trade can be part of a coordinated policy for global development, writes journalist Jesper Bengtsson.

March 12, 2015, Debate