Uppsala Nya Tidning published an op-ed titled “Sverige måste bidra till kvinnors och flickors rättigheter globalt” on 22 January 2025, written by leading experts in this field. The article emphasizes the urgent need for Sweden to strengthen its support for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) globally.
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Uppsala Nya Tidning published an op-ed titled “Sverige måste bidra till kvinnors och flickors rättigheter globalt” on 22 January 2025, written by leading experts in this field. The article emphasizes the urgent need for Sweden to strengthen its support for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) globally. Among the contributors is Jesper Sundewall, Chairperson of SweDev, alongside other prominent advocates and researchers. The debate article is summarized below.
The article highlights the growing resistance to abortion rights and gender equality worldwide, fuelled by policies such as the U.S. “Global Gag Rule.” This policy blocks funding for organizations that provide abortion-related services, even in countries where abortion is legal. The consequences are severe: increasing maternal mortality, restricted access to contraception, and rising HIV cases. The authors warn that these measures disproportionately harm women and girls in low- and middle-income countries, where healthcare access is already limited.
While Sweden has taken positive steps, such as launching a new SRHR-focused aid strategy with a budget of 4.3 billion SEK over five years, the authors argue that these efforts must be expanded. The authors stress the need to counteract well-organized global opposition from conservative movements and address widespread disinformation about sexual education, contraception, and abortion.
The op-ed urges Sweden to:
- Boldly advocate for SRHR as fundamental human rights in international forums.
- Increase international aid for SRHR to fill funding gaps caused by reduced U.S. support.
- Support grassroots organizations fighting for women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, which often face significant risks.
- Invest in research and evidence-based strategies to combat disinformation and promote equality.
The authors argue that restricting women’s rights undermines global development and security. With its strong tradition of human rights advocacy, Sweden has both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead efforts toward a fairer, healthier world.
Signatories:
Ingela Holmertz, generalsekreterare Riksförbundet för sexuell upplysning, RFSU
Marianne Eriksson, generalsekreterare, Plan International Sverige
Petra Tötterman Andorff, generalsekreterare, Kvinna till Kvinna
Jesper Sundewall, docent i globala hälsosystem, Lunds universitet
Anna Kågesten, docent i global hälsa, Karolinska Institutet
Elin C Larsson, docent i global hälsa, Karolinska Institutet
Kristina Gemzell Danielsson, professor, överläkare i obstetrik och gynekologi, Karolinska Institutet
Wendy Anderson, medgrundare, The Case for Her
Cristina Ljungberg, medgrundare, The Case for Her