Arrest warrants against Myanmar military leaders shed light on ongoing human rights crisis

Myanmar's junta leader Min Aung Hlaing in June 2017. "The military forces young people into the battlefield as human shields in order to advance," says Veronica Sällemark to Utvecklingsmagasinet. Photo: Vadim Savitsky, mil.ru/ Wikimedia Commons

Of: Agnes Fältman

The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague (ICC) suspects Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing of human rights violations against the Rohingya minority group. The decision highlights the crisis the country has been in since the military coup in 2021.    - There are extensive reports of human rights violations such as torture, murder and rape, says Veronica Sällemark at the Olof Palme International Center.  

December 16, 2024, Interview

Moral police to be introduced in Libya

Women at a stall selling veils near Tripoli. Archive image. Photo: David Stanley/Flickr

Of: Agnes Fältman

Libya's Minister of the Interior doesn't that, among other things, compulsory veiling for girls from the age of nine and a ban on "inappropriate" hairstyles and clothing should be introduced. Moral policeen shall ensure that the new rules and the country's "social values" afteris followed. Amnesty International criticizes the decision and believes that it worsens discrimination against women and girls. 

November 13, 2024, News

Ten years since the recognition of Palestine, COP16 meeting and support for Ukraine and Georgia

Former Foreign Minister Margot Wallström answers questions after a meeting in 2016. The fact that it has been 10 years since the Stefan Lövfen government recognized Palestine has been the subject of debate this week. Photo: Anna Palmehag/News Øresund.

Of: Agnes Fältman

Exactly ten years ago, Sweden recognized Palestine as an independent state, which has been debated this past week. Sweden's Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari's presence at the UN summit on biodiversity in Colombia is criticized, at the same time as voices are raised against Russia's war in Ukraine and the influence on the election in Georgia. 

November 4, 2024, Current debate

FPÖ's election win in Austria a victory for Vladimir Putin

Herbert Kickl's party was founded by Nazis in the 1950s. Now it is the largest in Austria. Photo: Michael Lucan. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Agnes Fältman

The right-wing nationalist party Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) won the Austrian parliamentary election for the first time in the country's history. Despite the recent devastating floods, the climate-denying and pro-Russia party won the most votes. Now possibly a darker future awaits the EU's support for Ukraine, because the FPÖ wants to completely abolish it, writes Agnes Fältman.

October 14, 2024, Chronicle

Week 37: New ministers and debate about Sweden's role in the world

The new foreign minister has previously been migration minister in Ulf Kristersson's government. Opinions on the editorial pages differ on which parts of the world Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) should focus on in her new role. Photo: News Øresund, Henrik Smångs. Source: Flickr.

Of: Agnes Fältman

Maria Malmer Stenergard succeeds Tobias Billström as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Johan Forssell becomes the new Minister of Migration and Benjamin Dousa, former CEO of Företagarna and think tank Timbro, takes over as Minister of Aid and Foreign Trade. The ministerial changes have sparked a great deal of debate about the government's foreign and aid policy and what role Sweden should play in the international arena.

September 16, 2024, Current debate

Great challenge with gender equality in German-speaking Europe

Women's negative special position on the labor market is often connected to the fact that they have children and are on parental leave. This is, for example, the case in Austria and the cultural neighbors Germany and Switzerland. "There is an unspoken expectation for women to do the unpaid work in the home," says Austrian social anthropologist and preschool teacher Hannah Büchel to Utvecklingsmagasinet. Photo: Agnes Fältman.

Of: Agnes Fältman

In a part of Europe where a woman's role has long meant being a housewife, a new old structure has emerged: female part-time work in combination with unpaid work in the home. As a result, the German-speaking countries have among the largest wage differences between women and men in all of Europe. But today's young people increasingly question status quo and want to see a change. 

June 24, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Reportage

The assassination attempt on Robert Fico shakes up an already polarized Slovakia ahead of the EU elections

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico survived an assassination attempt on May 15 and is struggling to recover. Since he took office in October 2023, political tensions in Slovakia have increased, as his government implemented a series of controversial reforms that, according to the European Commission, threaten the rule of law in the country. Photo: European Council. Source: Flickr.

Of: Agnes Fältman

The assassination attempt against the pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico has already left a deep mark and has become political dynamite in polarized Slovakia. With the upcoming EU elections, it is eagerly awaited what the recovering leader's next step will be - continued radicalization, or increased humility and tolerance towards dissenters?

May 27, 2024, Analysis, FUF-correspondents

Thousands protest that right-wing populist party may win the election in Austria

"Firewall against right-wing extremism". Since January, thousands of protesters regularly gather and march through central Vienna. Photo: Agnes Fältman.

Of: Agnes Fältman

On the streets of Austria, there are demonstrations against right-wing extremism and scandals EU-critical party Freiheitliche Party Austria (FPÖ). With 30 percent of voter support is FPÖ according to opinion polls the largest party ahead of the country's upcoming parliamentary elections. About FPÖ comes to power, it could mean major changes for Austria, the EU and European aid to Ukraine - which the party wants to stop. 

April 8, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Reportage

Young and highly educated people are leaving Hungary – as a result of Orbán's policies

Since 2022, Hungary can no longer be considered a full-fledged democracy. The political and economic development in the country has meant that many young and highly educated people choose to leave. Photo: Agnes Fältman.

Of: Agnes Fältman

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Fidesz, the nationalist ruling party, has over the past decade systematically dismantled the country's democratic institutions. In an increasingly harsh economic and political climate many young and highly educated Hungarians choose to move abroad. What can attract them back? Can liberal winds blowing across former nationalist ally Poland bring hope for change? 

February 26, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Reportage

Austria's dependence on Russia divides public opinion

Austria still has strong economic ties to Russia - about which Austrians and Ukrainians in the country have divided opinions. Pictured: Valeriia Ventskovska at the Universität Wien campus/Parliament of Austria in Vienna. Photo: Agnes Fältman.

Of: Agnes Fältman

Få länder within the EU still has så strong financial relationships to Russia as Österrich. The country's imports of Russian gas and många företag's continued operations in Russia after the war of aggression against Ukraine divides opinion among ömore sterile as well that newänth Ukrainians. Some believe that gas imports partially finance the war in Ukraine, others believes that the humanitära hjälpen ÖAustria gives to the waräruled the land bör stå in focus.  

December 18, 2023, FUF-correspondents, Reportage