More ambitious governance needed
In the past year, the government has reduced its active control of how government authorities and other actors should implement gender equality policy. The Swedish Gender Equality Authority is concerned that that gender equality is given a lower priority and that progress therefore is curtailed.
The Swedish Gender Equality Agency has analysed the governance of the gender equality
policy, the previous year's ambitions, priorities and measures, as well as a selection of results achieved in relation to the gender equality policy goals.
"We know that many parts of the state need to save and prioritise heavily among their resources. But as the government's main strategy for implementing gender equality policy gender mainstreaming needs to be visible in regulatory letters or special assignments. We now see that significantly fewer authorities get such assignments, and fear reduced ambitions in terms of gender equality", says Peter Vikström, head of analysis at the Swedish Gender Equality Agency.
The last few years have been characterised by multiple crises globally, all of which impact
society and thus also gender equality. Recession, increased inflation, increased economic
inequality and conflicts in the region impact opportunities for conducting long-term gender
equality work.
The Swedish Gender Equality Agency sees a risk that weaker governance may
lead to government authorities deprioritising gender mainstreaming work. In combination
with a more limited scope of political measures within gender equality these risks curtailing progress or even leading to a regression of the gender equality achieved so far.
Publication date: 23 April 2024
Last updated: 23 April 2024