The Swedish election and its consequences on women’s rights globally

Today the results of the Swedish election have been finalised, and it now stands clear that the far-right Swedish Democrat party has become the second largest party in Swedish politics and that a right-wing government is likely to be formed with their support. This would mean that a far-right party for the first time ever will have a significant influence on government policies in Sweden and The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation fear that women’s rights will suffer, both in domestic and foreign policy.

In terms of foreign policy, Sweden’s ground-breaking Feminist Foreign Policy, which has been copied by several countries around the world since its launch in 2014, could now be dropped. A future right-wing government is also expected to drop its longstanding commitment to giving 1 percent of BNI in foreign aid and make big and permanent cuts to its international aid budget. If Sweden steps down from being a global champion on both international development cooperation and Feminist Foreign Policy, Kvinna till Kvinna expect to see far reaching consequences for women and girl’s that are relying on Sweden’s support around the world and for the global fight for gender equality and women’s right.

We hope that a future government will consider the far-reaching consequences for women’s rights and for Sweden’s global standing on gender equality and reconsider its positions in these policy-areas.

Regardless of what happens Kvinna till Kvinna will keep its fight for women’s rights and gender equality around the world!

—Petra Tötterman Andorff, Secretary-General