Sweden annually takes part in CSW, the UN women's summit, to be a clear and constructive voice for women's and girls' enjoyment of human rights, according to official sources. In her line speech, Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson stressed the importance of ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all women and men, girls and boys. The government stands against growing opposition to women's and girls' right to decide over their own bodies, attempts to undermine progress in gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and LGBTQI+ rights, the government stated.
Sweden sponsored about thirty side events and organized several of its own, raising central issues for national and international gender equality work, official sources said. At a side event on digital norms and values online, Larsson emphasized that democratic values must guide AI development and that a fair and digital future requires global cooperation. The minister also spoke at a side event on tech-facilitated gender-based violence organized by Australia together with Sweden and several other countries.
CSW provides space for important and constructive conversations between countries. The international exchange is crucial to be able to meet the global challenges that women and girls face.
Gender equality, power, and civil preparedness were in focus for another side event that Sweden organized with Ukraine and Poland. Larsson highlighted how women and girls are disproportionately affected by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including through sexual violence used as a weapon of war, and emphasized that gender equality is therefore also a matter of defense and security. The Swedish Armed Forces also participated, with Gender Equality Strategist Anna Sjölander speaking about gender equality and resilience as part of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Sweden co-organized a side event on men's violence against women, sexual and reproductive health and rights, the right to abortion, child marriage, and other issues. The government is determined to fulfill its commitment to combat all forms of gender-related violence, including gender-related murders, intimate partner violence, and honor-related violence, as well as to stop prostitution and human trafficking for sexual purposes.