New policy for the introduction of newly arrived immigrants in Sweden
On 1 December a new reform to speed up the introduction of newly arrived immigrants into working and social life entered into force. A quicker introduction will be made possible by strengthening the personal incentives to both take up work and take an active part in employment preparatory activities for becoming jobready. Individual introduction plans will make better use of the skills of newly arrived immigrants, and a clearer and more distinct division of responsibilities between different stakeholders will create an effective introduction chain.
Government Offices at Pride
The Government offices host a tent in Pride Park at the annual Pride Festival, in Stockholm July 28 through July 31. The tent will provide information about national and international efforts to promote the rights of the LGBT community. This year the festival's theme is power. It highlights the positive and negative forms of power structures and how to respond when power is exercised in different ways. Also discriminatory structures in society will be highlighted as well as all people's ability to make a difference. Government Ministers and the Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs will be present in the tent.
Gender equality and political will crucial in reducing maternal mortality
Gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights are key factors in reducing maternal mortality in the world. Political will, adequate financing and men's responsibility are other vital elements in reducing the number of women who die during pregnancy, in childbirth and due to unsafe abortions. This was established at a seminar arranged by the Government during the UN meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women currently under way in New York.Photo: Koji Ishibashi
Sabunis speech in the UN
Tuesday 2 March, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality, Nyamko Sabuni, gave a speech at the 54th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
in the UN. The session marks the fifteenth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995.
Nyamko Sabuni at UN gender equality meeting
On Tuesday 2 March, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Nyamko Sabuni will speak at the meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York. This year's session will contain an evaluation of how states are living up to the commitments set out in the UN's action plan for gender equality, the Beijing Platform. Sweden will also be organising a special seminar on gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the context of Millennium Development Goal 5 on improved maternal health and reduced maternal mortality.Photo: Ken Opprann/Norway
European cooperation on indicators
The expert meeting on integration of new arrivals was the last conference organised by the Ministry of Integration and Gender Equality, during the Swedish precidency. State secretary Christer Hallerby reflects on the outcome of the meeting.
Making Rights a Reality for All
Nyamko Sabuni, Swedish Minister for Integration and Gender Equality, opened the Fundamental Rights Conference 2009, organised by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in cooperation with the Swedish Presidency of the EU.
A new minority rights strategy
In March 2009 the Swedish government presented a new minority rights strategy in the government bill From Recognition to Empowerment - the Government's Strategy for the National Minorities. The strategy contains a number of changes to strengthen the rights of national minorities and to raise the level of ambitions for the implementation of the minority rights policy. The government allocates 70 million Swedish crowns for the reform which is to take effect January 1, 2010. Read more in the fact sheet below.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Today, the 10th anniversary of the UN Resolution establishing the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is commemorated. In the European Parliament a debate on violence against women is held. At the Swedish Parliament, State Secretary Christer Hallerby talks on how Sweden combats violence against women in an international perspective. Sweden's work to combat men's violence against women, violence and oppression in the name of honour and violence in same-sex relationships, is also described in a new publication to be downloaded below.
- Information material: Against violence and oppression. Combating men's violence against women, violence and oppression in the name of honour and violence in same-sex relationships
- The article "Discussions on stronger cooperation in the EU to combat men's violence" at the website of the Swedish EU Presidency
The European Commission presents new survey on discrimination
On Monday the Commission presented a survey on the prevalence of discrimination in the EU member states. The survey - the Eurobarometer - shows that 16 per cent of Europeans experience discrimination and that 64 per cent are concerned that the recession will contribute to more age discrimination in the job market. The latest Eurobarometer results come ahead of this year's European Equality Summit, to be held in Stockholm on 16-17 November.
