National Statement at the 70th Session of the Commission on Status of Women

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Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Members of Civil Society, 

Sweden is committed to ensure equal rights and opportunities for all women and men, girls and boys. 

The full and equal enjoyment of human rights for all must be defended. They apply to everyone, regardless of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, age, or other status. 

My government stands firm against the ongoing mobilization to restrict women’s and girls’ right to freely decide over their own bodies, including the right to safe abortions - and to roll back previous advancements in gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and LGBTIQ persons’ rights. 

The actors driving this backlash often focus on the family and its role in society. Sweden has one of the most progressive rights-based family policies in the world. We know from experience that gender equality enables families – in all their diversity – to thrive. 

Madame chair,

Access to justice for all women and girls, across their life course, is fundamental for the achievement of gender equality. 

Justice systems must reflect and respond to the lived realities and needs of all women and girls, including discriminatory laws and practices, implementation gaps and other structural barriers affecting the realization of rights in law and in practice. Effective access to formal justice systems for all is crucial.

We all know that sexual and gender-based violence is widespread, it is a horrific pandemic that shatters millions of lives. Sweden is committed to combat all forms of gender-based violence, including gender-related killings, intimate partner violence, and honour-based violence - and stop the exploitation of individuals in prostitution and trafficking for sexual purposes. 

Men and boys must engage in this work – as agents of change as well as beneficiaries of gender equality. 

Madame chair

The Swedish government welcomes the UN Secretary-General’s reform initiative, UN80. 

It is a priority for Sweden to ensure that the normative mandates of the UN – gender equality; women’s empowerment; women, peace and security; and sexual and reproductive health and rights – are not infringed upon.

Gender equality is a Swedish core value and a priority area for Sweden in the UN.

We are proud to have supported UN Women in its vital mission to advance global gender equality during Sweden’s Presidency of the UN Women Executive Board last year. 

Madame chair

My government’s top foreign policy priority is to support Ukraine. This includes holding Russia accountable for its crimes in and against Ukraine, and supporting the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

Globally, Sweden’s work supports women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Women’s economic empowerment plays a central role in development, and gender equality contributes to economic growth. 

In this digital era, we must act fast to ensure that technology advance gender equality and that big tech supports an inclusive digital transformation for all, rather than the opposite.

We will continue to build alliances across borders, cooperate with the private sector and support a strong civil society, including women’s rights organisations and women human rights defenders.

Let me assure you, Sweden stands up for gender equality, protects the advancements made, and will keep pushing for progress. As long as women and girls are denied full enjoyment of human rights, we will continue to pursue gender transformative solutions.

Thank you!