2010

Speech United Nations, New York 03 March 2010 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Opening speech at the Swedish side event "Gender Equality and SRHR - a way to move forward on Millennium Development Goal 5". Check against delivery.

Mr/Madam Chair, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,

It is an honour for me to address the 54th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. This session marks the fifteenth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995. Sweden supports the statement made by Spain on behalf of the European Union.

Giving birth to a child should be one of the greatest moments in a person's life. When a mother dies in connection to child birth or pregnancy, it is an enormous tragedy. To fight maternal mortality and disability as a result of pregnancy and childbirth should be a priority for every country and government. Even though the international community have made commitments, in the past 20 years we have not come close to realising Millenium Development Goal 5, improved maternal health. You are familiar with the statistics. Half a million women and girls die each year as a result of pregnancy child birth. This equals that one women or girl dies every minute. Around 99 percent of this death occur in the least developing countries. What does this tell us, if not that these deaths could have been prevented. A significant part of the maternal deaths are due to lack of access to safe and legal abortions, especially in Africa. 70 000 women and girls die as a result of unsafe abortions and an unknown number die as a result of female genital mutilation. This is a serious human rights issue. Women and girls die because political leaders do not focus on women's health. Because resources are not provided. Because women are denied the right to their own bodies and sexuality. Furthermore negative norms associated with masculinity are also part of the problem which result in unsafe sex, unwanted pregnancies and potential unsafe abortions. The aim with this meeting is to discuss about what the key factors are that can lead to a realisation of MDG5 and what actions the various stakeholders should take in order to accelerate the process forward. I would like to use this moment to introduced the Swedish view on this issues. In June 2009, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a landmark resolution recognizing that maternal death and injury are preventable and unacceptable. I am very pleased that altogether 70 UN member states co-sponsored the resolution and thereby agreed to enhance their efforts at the national and international level to protect the lives of women and girls worldwide. This meeting takes place at the moment when we celebrate the agendas 15 years after Cairo and Beijing. It gives us the opportunity to agree on a more ambitious agenda for SRHR and gender equality. A comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) approach including maternal health and safe abortions has since long been a priority for Swedish international development cooperation. The total Swedish support to development cooperation in the health sector in general including HIV/AIDS and research amount to approximately 530 million USD. In 2009 Sweden decided to dedicate an additional 13 million USD as a special effort to tackle maternal mortality. The point of departure for the Swedish special effort is the need for both immediate and more long-term measures to improve maternal health and to reduce the persistently high maternal mortality in low income countries. Sweden prioritize interventions in the following four thematic fields: Strategic work to change national policies and legislation in relation to womens and girls' right to adequate maternal health care services. One example: Sweden has provided support to IPAS an international abortion organisation which has led to awareness raising among parliamentarians to partly legalise abortion in Ethiopia. Work to strengthen health systems regarding maternal health service delivery. One example: Sweden has extensive exchange between Swedish and Indian midwives. This has resulted in an increased number of midwives in India. Education and capacity building of maternal health personnel with a special emphasis on professional midwives. One example: International confederation of midwives met in Sweden 2008 where a large number of African midwives was trained. As a result of this training the African midwives made abortion an additional competence for midwives. Improved infrastructure for transportation and communication. Example: Sweden is supporting a number of programmes that effectively build up the infrastructure in order to support womens access to health care. To achieve best results the Swedish special effort is based on effective partnerships with civil society and the private sector, both in Sweden and in recipient countries. I am very pleased to have some of our partners at this side-event. Each one of us are stakeholders in a common commitment to put a stop to maternal mortality and I believe that the panel today may describe various approaches to this alarming problem. Thank you.

Speech UN Commission on the Status of Women, United Nations 02 March 2010 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Statement at the 54th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women Check against delivery.

Mr/Madam Chair, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,

It is an honour for me to address the 54th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. This session marks the fifteenth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995. Sweden supports the statement made by Spain on behalf of the European Union.

The 1995 adoption of the Beijing Platform was a unique accomplishment. It raised the bar for governments across the world. Gender equality now is a stronger part of the international legal framework and womens rights have been better implemented in state policies thanks to the Beijing platform. We are here to review how far we have come and how to move forward. There are many reasons to be proud. The gap between women and men in employment, education and research has narrowed. The number of women in professional jobs and in manager level is increasing. These accomplishments are worth celebrating. One important conclusion is that change is possible. Change happened because people had the vision, courage and the will to act. Despite all the progress, there are several areas of concern. In many places, women remain second-class citizens. Women are forced into trafficking, prostitution and under-age marriage. Women are discriminated, beaten, mutilated and killed. Women are denied opportunities to learn, study, work and enjoy their fundamental human rights. This is true for all continents, including Western countries. Why has oppression of women remained deep-rooted 50 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? There is no simple explanation. Different ideologies provide different answers. I would like to highlight the role of culture and religion. The major religions have, in different ways, been misused to portray women as inferior to men. Verses written thousands of years ago have served not only as spiritual guidelines, but as justification for the suppression of women. You can never excuse, accept or tolerate discrimination of women as part of a religious or cultural context. There is no clear-cut dividing-line between what is religion and what is culture, but the two affect each other. The end result is a structure that enables men to use pressure on women and girls, and ultimately punish perceived misbehavior. In Afghanistan, Taliban fighters burn down schools for girls. Hundreds of young brides are burnt to death every year in India because of dowry disputes. Female genital mutilation occurs to about 3 million girls a year in Africa alone. Remember Medine Memi, a 16-year old girl from Turkey that was found suffocated this December in a hole in the ground. She had been buried alive, with her hands tied behind her back. She was allegedly punished for meeting with boys. These examples are not simply crimes by one or two individuals: they are the end-result of traditions that reinforce the idea of the inferior status of women. States around the world have taken steps to fight these practices. All of us need to intensify our efforts. Mr/Madam Chair, I would like to bring up two areas of concern: The first concerns implementation of ethical guidelines during international missions. The UN is a symbol for human rights and this meeting illustrates the UN's commitment. In other parts of the world, it is the personnel deployed that represent the UNs founding values. The way UN personnel acts must therefore be consistent with UN ideals regarding gender equality. We need to strengthen the dialogue on ethical guidelines for personnel deployed on UN missions. All personnel should receive education in women's rights and there should be strict prohibitions against soliciting sex or pursuing sexual relations in the countries where peace keeping missions are deployed. Zero-tolerance isn't enough. We need pre-emptive measures and effective implementation. We need to ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted. Secondly, Women and girls have the right to decide over their own body and sexuality. Sweden will continue to strive for the rights of women and girls, and men and boys, to comprehensive sexuality education. We stress the right to sexual and reproductive health including access to safe and legal abortions. Women and men must have access to affordable primary health care and services, and access to a wide range of contraceptive methods. This includes condoms, which can prevent unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and AIDS. The 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women offers an opportunity to reaffirm our collective commitment to the Convention. Sweden reaffirms its commitment to the fulfillment of resolutions 1325 and 1820, and welcomes the recent adoption of Security Council resolutions 1888 and 1889. Protection for women and girls in armed conflict is a high priority issue for the Swedish Government. Perpetrators of gender-based violence must be held accountable and brought to justice. Mr/Madam Chair, General Assembly resolution 63/311 and the report of the Secretary-General "Comprehensive proposal for the composite entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women" are important steps towards the realisation of United Nations obligations to women around the world. We therefore hope that all Member States will wholeheartedly support this important proposal and there should be no further delays in the implementation of this reform.. Let us continue to work together to ensure the fulfillment of the commitments we made 15 years ago in Beijing, and let us recall that "the empowerment of women is the empowerment of all humanity!" Thank you!

Speech Athens 11 January 2010 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Second European Meeting of Roma Women Check against delivery.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

This year we celebrated that it was 20 years since the fall of the Berlin wall. The wall separated Europeans who lived with human rights and those without. Today the wall is gone, but many Europeans still live in fear, because their human rights are not protected.

In Europe 2009 we have witnessed repeated killings and firebombs against an oppressed minority. In August a Roma woman was brutally shot dead in her home in Hungary. Her teenage daughter was badly wounded. In February a Roma father and his son were found inside a burnt down house, shot and killed. The boy was five years old and had been shot 18 times. These acts are almost too cruel to believe. But they happen again and again, despite all our conventions and declarations. Despite the United Nations and the European Union's treaties on human rights. We can no longer wait for implementation. Action speaks louder than words. The violence does not happen in a vacuum. It happens because attitudes and misconceptions are spread and not countered. We all know that the negative attitudes towards Roma are not only a concern for some countries - but for all of us. The EU agency for fundamental rights has concluded that the Roma are Europe's most discriminated minority. The social indicators on education, health, employment, housing and political participation for Roma serve as a call for action. In all Member States far-right parties are gaining influence; either in parliament and governments or in the media debate. For them intolerance is a badge of honour. They promote the politics of fear. Their common idea is to portray immigrants and other minorities as a threat. We need to make our voices heard in order to make sure that these parties don't dominate the debate. This conference gives us a chance to do so. The European Union must stand for more than economic cooperation; it should stand for values and ideas. The right to equal treatment and the right to live without fear of violence and discrimination must be protected by the governments. The Roma people's situation shows how much remains to be done. Ladies and gentlemen, what should we discuss in order to improve the situation for Roma women? First of all, we know that Roma women encounter a double challenge: On one hand discrimination for belonging to the Roma minority, and on the other hand discrimination as a woman. All over Europe women face barriers to influence and power. Even in Sweden, which is viewed as the most equal country in the world, women are still the second sex. The lack of equality is seen in violence against women, lower participation in the labour market, and fewer positions of power in the business world. Roma women face all these challenges, in addition to the discrimination for belonging to the Roma minority. As you know, the first conference for and with Roma women was held in Stockholm in 2007. One of the Roma women's goals was to make the conference an annual event hosted by the Council of Europe, together with a Member State. Therefore, I am honored to stand here at the Second International Meeting of Roma Women. I convey my gratitude to Greece for hosting this second meeting here in Athens. I am also very pleased that Finland and Spain have announced that they will host the following third and fourth conferences. Three challenges have been identified for our talks these two coming days: Roma women and media, harmful practices and entrepreneurship. I would like to focus on the second challenge - changing harmful practices. I believe harmful practices and harmful traditions are the largest challenge for equality between men and women. When I spoke at the Roma women's conference in Stockholm in 2007, I underlined the state's responsibility. Its responsibility to protect, preserve and develop minority cultures as part of the European cultural heritage. But let me be clear; the important work to protect and preserve minority cultures must go hand in hand with determined efforts to prevent traditions that harm the individual. It is time to agree upon and implement concrete actions that guarantee all women and girls their fundamental freedoms and rights. Even if this means going against traditional customs and practices. One such custom is underage marriages. A consequence of premature marriages is that girls are denied access to education. Access and quality of education are crucial elements for the inclusion of Roma as equal members of society. Access to high quality education can help break the vicious circle of exclusion from the labour market, poverty, poor housing, poor health and segregation. Education empowers individuals. That is why the state and the Roma community - side by side - must ensure that all girls and boys have both access to education and that they complete their studies. The success of Roma children in school depends on the support of their parents. Parents have to take responsibility for keeping both their daughters and sons in school. We will not reach this goal unless the tradition with underage marriages ends. I especially encourage all mothers and women to work forcefully to put an end to these practices. Special efforts are also needed to establish trust between the parents, schools and other authorities. One way to create confidence and trust between actors is by using the civil society. We find several examples in history of the important role of civil society in spreading democracy and human rights. One obvious example is the American civil rights movement. Martin Luther King and many more helped bring equal rights for African Americans. Another example is the important role grass roots movements played in making sure that women got the right to vote in, for example, Sweden. It is equally important to include non-governmental organisations and civil society in discussions on how to implement Roma people's human rights. Therefore it is important to remember the added value that civil society can bring to discussions on minority policy. Ladies and gentelemen, During the Swedish Presidency of the EU, which ended less than two weeks ago, the situation of the Roma was highlighted on a number of occasions. At the meeting of the Informal Contact Group of International Organisations and Institutions dealing with Roma, Sinti and Traveller, organised together with the Council of Europe, at the Second meeting of the European platform for Roma inclusion, organised together with the European Commission, at the 3rd Equality Summit held in Stockholm, and at the 2nd Fundamental Rights Conference organised in Stockholm by the Fundamental Rights Agency of the EU. One conclusion from these conferences was that we need to promote cooperation. Cooperation can empower. We should consider involving new partners that we don't involve normally. New partners can provide fresh ideas and bring our message to new arenas. At the Equality Summit an idea that came up from the Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Transgender movement, was to initiate cooperation between the LGBT- movement and the Roma movement. Today's conference gives opportunities to make new contacts and to find new partners for cooperation. One important actor is of course the media. The media can bring attention to the Roma people' situation, as well as put it on the political agenda. Hopefully, media also checks that local and state governments implement and follow treaties and conventions. The human rights of women include their right to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health. At the first conference of Romani women in Stockholm forced sterilisation of Romani women was discussed. The victims of sterilisation often feel shame. Since they are reluctant to talk about what has happened, they do not get the help and support they need. At the conference the meaning was to give voice to these women. In the 1990s Sweden spent several years coming to terms with the fact that women - many of them Romani - had been forcibly sterilised. A Commission was appointed to look into the responsibility of the politicians, authorities, researchers and medical professionals. Possible ways of giving economic compensation to the victims was also included. A bill was later presented to the Parliament. I am glad that the Czech government recently expressed regret over the illegal sterilisations of women that have been performed in the country. Sweden is certainly willing to be of assistance in the onward process. To conclude, an important reason for this gathering is to create an opportunity for Roma women to meet and exchange ideas. But equally important is to find ways for Roma women to look beyond the basic struggle for survival. We all know that for many women in the world the daily struggle for personal survival excludes them from active participation. We can not achieve human rights when people's basic needs are not satisfied. This conference is part of the important process towards giving women and girls better opportunities to shape their existence and exercise power over their lives. Thank you! 2009

Speech Malmö 15 December 2009 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Speech at the conference "Integration of New Arrivals - Incentives and Work in Focus" Check against delivery.

Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning and welcome to Malmö and to the Swedish Presidency's expert meeting on integration and the introduction of new arrivals.

There are two ways to describe migration and integration processes in Europe. The first paints a picture of immigration that has contributed to European development - to diversity and competitiveness. Immigration that has brought extra pairs of hands in health care - extra pairs of hands looking after our children and elderly people. Immigration that has injected ideas that are the basis of some of Europe's successful companies. Without migration, we would be poorer both economically and socially. The second paints a picture of high levels of unemployment among immigrants. Inadequate language skills. The clash of cultures and traditions. Crime and general widespread exclusion. We all remember the summer of 2001, when bloody riots broke out in several British cities, with reports of damage to the tune of EUR 10 million and hundreds of injured police officers. We remember the violent confrontations between suburban youths and police in Paris in the autumn of 2005. Over a period of three weeks, more than 10 000 cars and 300 houses were set on fire. In our cold Swedish climes, too, we have seen similar phenomena. In recent years, young people have set fire to cars and thrown stones at police officers, firefighters and paramedics. Exclusion is obviously an explanation for these events. Methods and measures to overcome exclusion are the reason why we are here today - to look at what works and what does not. A new programme for freedom, security and justice, known as the Stockholm Programme, has now been negotiated and adopted. This programme lays the foundation for a common EU asylum and migration policy, but also for more structured cooperation in the area of integration. The conditions for integration vary from country to country, depending on whether new arrivals regularly speak the language used by the majority in society or not. Depending on whether they have a knowledge of the prevailing culture or not. Depending on whether they come as labour migrants or as refugees. Integration policy must therefore primarily be a matter for the Member States - a matter of national competence. But at the same time, we realise the need for cooperation in the form of experience exchange, comparable statistics and, not least, a system of indicators that enables us to measure the impact of different initiatives. There is no one country that can be considered to have the perfect model for integration, but there are good examples from which to draw inspiration. Mentorship activities in France and Germany, for example, have produced positive results. Performance-based compensation is used with positive results in Danish language centres.Portugal has become well known for its "one-stop shops", with all necessary services for newly arrived immigrants available under one roof. The maintenance requirement for immigration of family members has had proven effects on labour market integration in the Netherlands. Naturally, we cannot simply copy other Member States' policies. But we can draw inspiration in order to find solutions that suit our own country. Over the last year, cooperation in the EU in the area of integration has primarily focused on producing proposals for indicators in a number of core areas: work, education, social inclusion and active citizenship, to name a few. The results so far will be presented during tomorrow's session. The conference organised by Germany in June this year made an important contribution to this work. And after Sweden, Spain will take the work forward. The theme for today is incentives and motivators as tools to improve the successful introduction of new arrivals into the labour market. In Sweden, less than 30 per cent of all new arrivals have a job after three years in the country. The median time from receiving a residence permit to finding a job is seven years. That means that fifty per cent succeed in finding a job within seven years, and the other fifty per cent not until at least seven years have passed. I don't know how bad the situation is in the countries you represent, but I do know that this situation is not sustainable. This trend must be broken. Two weeks ago, the Swedish Government adopted a bill for a reform to improve opportunities for new arrivals to find work more rapidly. The reform is based throughout on inbuilt incentives, with a focus on motivators for the individual and other actors to do their part from the very start. The reform involves the introduction of a uniform national system. The system is based on the needs and abilities of the individual, not what the municipality can offer in the form of support and measures. We are introducing a benefit system that requires active participation on the part of the individual. Our statistics show that women are on the receiving end of fewer actions, and that these are undertaken later than those for men. This has led to women entering the labour market much later. With this reform, we will promote gender equality. To give new arrivals professional support in their introduction activities, and thus to accelerate entry into the labour market, a new actor - an "introduction guide" - will be introduced. Compensation to guides will be based on how successful they are in their task. Social networks are necessary to the individual's introduction into the labour market. The majority of jobs are found not through the Public Employment Service, but through contacts. By including civil society organisations and introducing a mentorship programme, we hope to speed up the introduction process. In times of economic difficulty, there is always the risk that the crisis is used as an argument for reduced openness and mobility. Xenophobia increases and extreme parties throughout Europe make inroads into parliaments and governments. The strategy employed by these parties to win votes is to paint immigration and immigrants as a threat. The arguments seldom make sense. One day it's all about people who come here and take our jobs; the next day it's people who come over and live off our taxpayers' money. And the solution is always the same: throw them out and close the borders. But let us consider the following: at present, every 100 Europeans aged 15 to 64 are responsible for supporting 46 people, that is, children and elderly people. In 40 years' time, in 2050, the number that those 100 will be responsible for will have risen to 73, according to UN estimates. Birth rates in Europe are low, and the average life expectancy is increasing. European is facing a demographic challenge to which we must find a solution. And in my view, there are two clear ways in which to resolve it. The first is to increase women's participation in the labour market. Currently, only 60 per cent of Europe's women work. Despite the fact that women now have a higher level of education than men, there are not as many women as men in the labour market. And this is because there are still impediments to women's participation in working life - particularly difficulties combining work and family life. At the same time, we can observe that women's increased activity rate over the last two decades has been the single most important driving force behind GDP growth in the richer parts of the world. Women's increased participation in the labour market has been more significant for growth in the world than new technologies and the tiger economies of China and India combined. The other solution to Europe's demographic challenges is immigration. But in this area we must become better at combining immigration with effective labour market integration. Above and beyond its own selfish and economic reasons, Europe also has a moral duty to receive refugees - to offer protection and a life in safety for those who need it. Just a stone's throw away from here, the UN Climate Conference is taking place. Many see the results of this conference as decisive for our future security and that of the generations to come. We are accustomed to using polar bears and their situation as a symbol of climate change. But maybe it is about time to start using a poor woman cooking on wood and coal and dependent on the weather for her harvest as a symbol of climate change. While migration today is predominantly about people being forced to leave their own countries due to war and oppression, it is likely that in the future environmental disasters will be one of the major reasons forcing people to leave their own countries. Climate change will affect future migration. Integration is a dynamic and multi-faceted process. In order to succeed, efforts must be made by many more actors than just governments and EU institutions. An active role for civil society and its organisations is required. But it is also about a shift of perspective and a change of attitude towards new arrivals in Europe. People who have packed their bags and left their own countries to seek a better future in a new country have already demonstrated enormous determination and drive. They would like nothing better than to work, to contribute, to do their part. Essentially, they have exactly the same needs as all of the rest of us who live and work in Europe. It was President Roosevelt who said those familiar words: "This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in if it is not a reasonably good place for all of us to live in." This sentiment should guide our policy. Our policy must be about fighting for the forgotten people - the most vulnerable people! Those who, more than any others, need respect and solidarity. I am deeply concerned about the rise of exclusion. About the divide between those who contribute and feel needed, and those who could contribute but live on benefits. I am concerned about the divisions between people who are proud of a life in which their strengths are utilised, and people who are degraded by a life in which this is denied to them. I am concerned about the difference between those who are tired after a long day at work and those who are tired of not having a job to go to. The EU Member States must make it possible for new arrivals to realise their dreams in life too. Let us make sure that these coming days are fruitful and interesting, so as to contribute to the future work for better integration in the EU. Thank you.

Speech Conference "Making rights a reality for all", Stockholm 10 December 2009 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Speech at the conference "Making rights a reality for all" Check against delivery.

Ladies and gentlemen, a few weeks ago, we celebrated a special day in the struggle for human rights. It's was the day, 20 years after the Berlin wall fell.

That day, people broke the wall that separated them, not only from their neighbours and countrymen, but also from their basic freedom and rights. The Berlin wall did not crumble by itself. Thousands of women and men risked their lives by smuggling books that were banned by the police. By protecting political refugees and by promoting democratic reforms. Those who fought for human rights made a difference then, and they are stil making a difference today. The spreading of democracy and the defence of human rights are cornerstones of the EU. We have much to be grateful for - but much remains to be done. Still - there are people in Europe who live without equal rights, afraid of discrimination and abuse, because of their sexual orientation or ethnic background. The struggle against oppression continues in new forms. The EU is about more than the internal market. It must be about values and freedom of the individual. We all have an obligation to raise our voices against intolerance. In all Member States, far-right parties are gaining influence; either in parliament and governments or in the media debate. For them intolerance is a badge of honour. They promote the politics of fear. Their common idea is to portray immigrants and other minorities as a threat. But it's not only the far right parties that concern me. Also the actions of the Member States need to be carefully followed up. Human rights are universal and belong to everyone, independent of which government currently holds power. Governments must be made accountable. And the question is; how do we act when a Member State violates fundamental human rights? There are plenty of documents that call for upholding human rights. Just to mention a few: we have international conventions, EU directives, recommendations from different international treaty bodies, judgements from the European Court of Human Rights and national legislation. But the problems they were created to solve, remain. The situation for two groups concern me in particular, the Roma and LGBT-people. For centuries, the Roma have lived on the outskirts of society, with threats and harassment as part of their daily lives. According to the EU-MIDIS report, the Roma reported the highest overall levels of discrimination across all the areas surveyed: every other Roma respondent was discriminated against at least once in the previous 12 months. 66-92% of Roma (depending on the country) did not report their most recent experience of discrimination to any competent authority. The main reason given was that "nothing would happen or change" When asked, whether they could name an organisation that could assist them if they had been discriminated against, 86% of Roma failed to do this 65-100% of the Roma-respondents felt they lacked confidence in law- enforcement and justice-structures. These are alarming figures. They highlight the urgency of acting for change. The social indicators on education, health, employment, housing and political participation for Roma serve as a call for action. Another group at risk is the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Discrimination and hate crimes against the LGBT-persons are still a reality in many European countries. Some member states put restrictions on the freedom of assembly for LGBT-associations. Guy Pride festivals are banned or attacked. People are protesting against other individuals right to choose whom to love and go public with it. Human rights concern everybody. They need to be visible, or even tangible, for everyone. The key to this is implementation. Successful implemantation requires knowledge how to make the necessary changes. This is why I am happy that so many of you have come here today. So that we can share experiences and best practices. Help each other to develop policies and strategies that are adapted to our different needs. To live a life free from discrimination is part of the core of the universal declaration for human rights. In the Lisbon Treaty, the protection of human rights has been enforced. The EUs charter of fundamental rights is part of the treaty and therefore also legally binding. Any citizen will consequently be able to use the Charter to challenge the decisions taken by the EU. Furthermore, the EU is now a legal entity that is bound by judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. The legal base for enforcing human rights in the EU is better now than it was some weeks ago. But in order to really improve the protection of rights, we need to make sure that the words are transformed into action. Let's be clear! EU should never be tolerant of intolerans. It is time to make rights a reality for all.

Speech Riga 15 May 2009 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Speech at Baltic Pride in Riga (Check against delivery.)

Dear friends,

I have been looking forward to be here at the Baltic Pride in Riga for years. And it truly feels good to be here.

I believe it was three years ago when I first met Linda Freimane. Linda who is chairwoman of Mozaika and one of the driving forces behind this event. We met at the annual Gay Gala in Stockholm. Since then we have met few times and I always enjoy your striking enthusiasm for equal rights and the concept of Pride. Linda convinced me that I had to find the time to come - and now I am happy to finally be here! Why is it special for me to participate in Baltic Pride in Riga? I will mention two reasons. First of all, the city of Riga reminds us of Latvians struggle against totalitarian rule. Twenty years ago, citizens in half of Europe lacked the right to free speech, the right to elect leaders, the right to freedom. Twenty years ago, we could never imagine a unified Europe, with 500 million citizens living together in democratic states. You, Latvians, should feel pride in your country's journey from oppression and occupation to democracy and European cooperation. Still - there are people in Europe who live without equal rights, afraid of discrimination and abuse because of sexual orientation. The struggle against oppression continues in new forms. Now we have to make sure that the EU is really about more than the internal market, it must be about values and freedom of the individual. I am proud to join you in the continued fight for freedom and LGBT-rights. The second reason for me to be here, can be found outside these doors. Why are they protesting? Why are people protesting? Are they protesting against poverty? Climate change? Are they protesting against war? No, they are protesting against right for people to choose who they love. We all have an obligation to raise our voices against intolerance. Let's never be tolerant of intolerance! And of course, another important reason is that, walking in the Pride Parade is so much fun! Ladies and gentlemen, Yesterday I received the news that the permit for tomorrow's parade has been cancelled. Should the parade actually be stopped, it would be an embarrassing setback for Latvia as a country, and the EU as a whole. Why does the thought of love between two men, or between two women, threaten public morality? Is there a limited amount of love in Riga that will run out if we accept gay rights? I believe what Riga, Stockholm and Europe needs is more love - not less! I walked in the Pride Parade in Stockholm last year, and the year before. All party leaders have walked the parade. The Swedish Prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has attended pride festivities. To walk in the Pride Parade is an act of solidarity with the LGBT-movement. I urge my Latvian and Baltic colleagues to make sure that Pride Parades are approved in your cities. In fact, I was hoping to see my Latvian colleges here to day. The Pride festival is a symbol of the fact that the universal declaration includes all people, no matter sexual orientation. Having the Pride Parade represents what it means to be a tolerant, European democracy. My home country Sweden is far from perfect. A few years ago the parade was attacked and people were beaten. Hate crimes against LGBT-people happens in Sweden and is totally unaccepted. Yet I am proud that Sweden has come a long way. It hasn't been easy, it has been a gradual process. In Sweden, as here in Latvia, the LGBT movement plays a central role. I remember when I witnessed my friend Sören Juvas, the chair man of RFSL, enter partnership with his husband. To day, two years later, gay couples can not only enter partnership but also get married. This would never had happened without the struggle and efforts from the LGBT movement. Last week, the same person, Sören Juvas, visited the Moldova Pride festival. In the evening he was arrested by the police and after he was released he was seriously beaten. The police should always protect the citizens. When the police play a role in harassing and attacking people because of their sexual orientation it is awful. This is both illegal and a fundamental violation of modern democracy. A crime is a crime! Even if the police are responsible. In just a few months, Sweden assumes the EU presidency. I would like to share with you some examples on how we will work during the upcoming months to promote LGBT-rights. We will work together, within EU, to highlight LGBT-issues within the human rights discussion of the UN. We will continue to work in the Council of Europe to strengthen and further develop their work on LGBT-rights. We welcome the fact that there is now a working group on LGBT-issues in the Council of Europe. And we are proud that it is led by the Swedish expert Mr. Hans Ytterberg. We will arrange a summit in November that focuses on how we can strengthen the EU:s antidiscrimination laws and make them more effective. Too little attention has been paid to the fact that discrimination of LGBT people leads to serious health problems. I would like to conclude with some words about why we gather here at Baltic Pride. We share a common vision for the future and every Pride is an important step. I am a strong supporter of European integration. But I want to feel a stronger pride in my heart. I want to be proud of a Europe that puts LGBT rights high on the international agenda. I want to be proud of a Europe where every country and every city can arrange Pride Parades. And let these parades be parades of freedom! I want to be proud of a Europe where same-sex couples and their children are considered as families in every country. We need more love - not less! I wish you all a fantastic Pride to morrow YOU make me proud! 2008

Speech Stockholm 06 November 2008 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Opening speech by Ms Nyamko Sabuni at "Rights Work!" - Systematic Work for Human Rights Ladies and Gentlemen!

It is a great honour to welcome you all to Stockholm. Today's Conference - "Rights Work!" - is one of the main activities of the Swedish Chairmanship of the Ministerial Committee of the Council of Europe. "Rights Work!" is organised in close cooperation with the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human rights, Mr Thomas Hammarberg.

Respect for human rights is fundamental to a well functioning democracy. Some times we do take this for granted, while we at the same time know that in many countries around the world this respect is non-exiting. Related I know what it means to live in a country lacking respect for the human rights. I know how it is to face the fears Read more about Rights from warfare. I know what happens to a human being having undergone serious violation of human rights. I Work! also know the importance of our continued struggle for a better world, a world in which the human rights are respected. Human rights may never be taken for granted! The topic of this conference is of great importance and central for the Swedish government. My hopes are that we here today and tomorrow will seize all opportunities to better understand processes and also learn how to improve our work towards the common goal - full respect of human rights! Since the signing of the universal declaration on human rights, we can see that the world has undergone remarkable changes. Today sixty years later several countries are considered to be democratic. Today fewer people live in poverty. Today men and women are more equal. Still though, we have a worrying gap between human rights proclaimed and how human rights are respected in every day life. Daily violations are registered around the world. Political tensions, disputes and armed conflicts are tragic grounds for confrontation of human rights. Human rights violations unfortunately also take place during times of peace and under good living conditions. Within public administration maybe more attention should be given to practical problems in the daily work concerning issues of human rights. Lack of knowledge and limited understanding in servicing individual needs may lead to personal infringement. One-way of strengthening the work with human rights within public administration is to establish national human rights action plans. Human Rights Conference in Vienna in 1993 was an important starting point for the international discussion on systematic work for the implementation of human rights. The Conference recommended that - I quote; "each State consider the desirability of drawing up a national action plan identifying steps whereby that State would improve the promotion and protection of human rights". This may sound tedious, but it is when states are forced to sit down and study their conditions on human rights that things start to happen! The Swedish Government has so far adopted two national human rights action plans. We are in the midst of the second, covering the years 2006-2009. We have noticed that the process of drafting and implementing them has had a great value of its own. Different human rights issues started discussions at many different levels of society. Another positive effect is increased knowledge. The need for increased human rights education cannot be sufficiently stressed. In Sweden our municipalities play an important role in ensuring human rights while providing social services. These authorities are responsible for education, housing, health care, disability services etc. It is in the individual's contact with these local authorities that his or her human rights will be put to test. Increased knowledge within our municipalities is essential and therefore we 2006 saw the need to establish a delegation for human rights. The Delegation will support the long-term work to ensure full respect for human rights. The mandate is to support government agencies, municipalities and county councils in their work. Looking at areas close to my own responsibilities as a minister I see a number of cases where local governments should be at the forefront in securing human rights for people in desperate need. Too many women, also in this country, are almost daily facing violence and threats that require instant protection and shelter. Roma children, also in this country, are repeatedly facing ignorance and neglect resulting in poor or non-existing schooling. Disabled men and women, also in this country, are facing obstacles in attending services that the rest of us take for granted. In all these examples local governments have a direct duty to secure equal rights and make them real. Participation from civil societies is important. They function as communicators for groups and individuals as they often at an early stage discover and identify insufficient services in society. This conference will now look into different methods of systematic work. We will have four workshops covering 1. National human rights action plans and baseline studies 2. Methods for mainstreaming and following up systematic work for human rights 3. Systematic work for human rights at the local and regional level 4. The role of national human rights institutions and civil society in systematic work for human rights Ladies and Gentlemen, I strongly believe that systematic work for human rights contributes to a better implementation of human rights standards. It is first and foremost a question of trying to find effective methods to avoid mistakes harming rights and interests of individuals. Since human rights are undividable and inter-reliant, they should be considered, protected and promoted in a comprehensive way. As I earlier said, this year it is sixty years since the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A declaration that establishes a set of common basic values, both with regard to the view of human beings and to the relationship between the state and the individual. The Declaration also sets standards for human rights, which take precedence over political, economic, cultural and religious differences. The vision of the drafters of the universal declaration has inspired many human rights defenders struggling to make that vision a reality. But the struggle is far from over. It is therefore with great pleasure, on behalf of the Swedish government; I again welcome you all to this conference! We have questions in search of answers, and we all have answers to contribute. I am sure our two days of good discussions will lead to constructive recommendations and conclusions. I hope this conference will stimulate other countries and actors to work with human rights issues in a more systematic way. I have high expectations and hope that the outcome of the conference can serve as an inspiration for our future systematic work with human rights! With these words I now yield the floor to the Commissioner for Human rights, Mr Thomas Hammarberg. Welcome to my hometown Stockholm!

Speech Vichy, France 04 November 2008 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Address by Ms Nyamko Sabuni at European ministerial conference on integration Mr Chairman, Ministers, Distinguished colleagues,

Thank you for this opportunity to share with you some of Sweden's experiences and to address our common challenges.

This conference is a continuation of the Groningen and the Potsdam conferences. We are grateful to the French EU Presidency for taking this cooperation further into more concrete action. We also welcome the Commission's valuable work to support our efforts. The declaration prepared for Vichy is part of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum. I believe it is important to distinguish integration policy as a national competence from immigration policy, and that the conclusions of this conference must be implemented in the light of that. Across Europe there is intensive search for new ways to achieve the core objectives of integration; equal rights, equal opportunities and obligations for all. The very future of Europes welfare and competitiveness may well depend on the success of these efforts. While we have experienced increased immigration to Sweden over the past decades, we have also experienced growing exclusion. Not least have immigrants and young people been heavily affected by exclusion. We have half a million of people living in areas where the majority of the people are unemployed and where many of the children do not graduate from school. The overall goal of the Swedish government is therefore to combat exclusion, with a particular focus on employment, education and security. Access to employment is the most important key factor to successful integration. In comparison with other European countries Sweden has a high degree of unemployment among third country immigrants. This low degree of employment has several causes. Some of them are related to the general level of supply and demand of labour. Others have to do with the language skills, education and the ability of the educational system to meet individual needs. And of course Discrimination is another important factor that cannot be overlooked. Our educational system is now undergoing changes in order to better meet individual and labour market needs. A new anti-discrimination act will enter into force in January. This act will apply to most areas of society, such as working life, education, housing, goods and services and so on. Most important with this new act is that it will cost to discriminate. It is fundamental that supply and demand of labour balances. How do we achieve this? Well taxes for one thing. In Sweden it is a tradition to use taxes in order to change peoples behaviour in a positive way. We use high taxes to motivate people to drink or smoke less. Having high taxation on labour force probably automatically will lead to a decreased supply of job opportunities. Therefore our government has decided that reducing taxes on labour is an effective way of also reducing unemployment in general and among newcomers in particular. Besides lowering taxes on the labour market in general, the government has launched specific measures in order to employ people who have been unemployed for long periods. Most of them are immigrants. Employers are exempted from payroll taxes and social security contributions during a period corresponding to the period a person has been unemployed. Another measure involves high subsidies of payroll costs for employers that hires newly arrived immigrants. The employers need only to pay 25 percent of the payroll cost during a period of two years. One condition is that the employer allows the employee to participate in language education during working hours. For those hiring young people less than 26 years of age need only to pay half of the payroll taxes. 145 000 new jobs were created last year in Sweden, and 45 percent of them went to immigrants. But despite an increase in the number of employees among people born abroad, their employment rate is lagging in relation to the native population. So we believe more needs to be done. That's why the government recently presented a comprehensive strategy for integration for the years 2008 to 2010. A number of important areas of general policies have been identified. I will mention a few of these where key factors are education and employment. One thing we need to establish is: - A more effective system of reception and introduction of new arrivals. We are preparing a bill on the introduction of newly arrived immigrants. Years of previous experiences of a "care-taking" approach have resulted in a backlash. The median-time from asylum to working life is as long as seven years. We need to improve our skills when it comes to recognising foreign diplomas, correctly evaluate merits and improve access to complementary education. We need to reinforce the incentives for both individuals and government agencies to work for a speedy entry of the newly arrived into the labour market. Incentives to work will be the subject of a high-level expert meeting during the Swedish EU Presidency next autumn (2009). Not only employment but also entrepreneurship is at focus. A second thing we need to establish is: - Better educational performance. Statistics show that children born in Sweden by immigrated parents do well at school and are on the same level as the majority of children. But children having arrived at an age of four or five are having difficulties in school. Many of them are leaving primary school without having passed their exams. Measures are prepared to support this group. A third thing to establish will be: - Better language education for adults. Apart from all this I believe that one general key factor is our common shared values that we need to identify and strengthen. Democratic values, human rights and gender equality must play more vital roles. Various European identities based on shared history, one religion or one culture have lesser and lesser importance. Today, we have over nine million people living in Sweden. Since 1980, immigration to Sweden has increased by three percent annually. In a few years, the rate of immigration is expected to double in comparison to the birth rate. In meeting our future demographic challenges as a result of an aging population, immigration to Sweden will play a central role. Irrespective of recent financial crisis we will soon have a shortage of labour force. Migration means great potential and holds opportunities for our countries. Migration also creates challenges. As ministers in charge of integration, it is our responsibility to see the potential of and work for a successful integration. Migration without an effective integration policy is not only harmful for the state's economy; it is also a waste of human potential. I would claim that successful integration is a crucial factor - not least concerning the Lisbon-strategy - making the European Union the most competitive, dynamic and knowledge-based economy. We can tell that our measures have had a positive effect on integration. But we still have a long way to go to fundamentally reduce exclusion. Society can provide the necessary tools for integration, such as language courses, complementary education, counselling and employment service. But the efforts and responsibilities to integrate also rest on the individual. We are shifting our focus from treating immigrants as passive welfare recipients to empowered individuals playing an active role in shaping their own future. We encourage individuals to take initiatives, make efforts and become responsible for their own lives through early employment or self-employed. Sweden needs its immigrants, as so does the rest of Europe.

Speech EuroMeSCo conference 2008, Amman 17 October 2008 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Speech by Nyamko Sabuni at EuroMeSCo conference in Amman Your excellencies Ladies and gentlemen

I would like to express my particular thanks to the organisers of this conference and for my invitation.

Today's programme focuses on future challenges for the Barcelona process. The challenges as well as the opportunities of the Barcelona process are plenty. However, I would like to limit my speech to discussing how the forces of globalisation and migration are fundamental for a prosperous future. I agree with former UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan when he says that the main losers in today's unequal world are not those exposed to globalisation, but those who are left out. As the Swedish minister responsible for integration, gender equality, youth questions, democracy and human rights, I will focus on these particular issues. Apart from free trade, these are also the issues to which the Swedish government is giving highest priority in Euro-Med cooperation. During periods of economic downturn - like the one we are presently facing - the immediate effect we then see, is that priority no longer is given to policies concerning integration, gender equality and not least concerning the conditions for the young ones. Governments need to look beyond short-term gains when making its priorities - if not we will risk major future social costs. Investments in better integration, gender equality and youth are investments for the future. Europe is currently facing huge demographic changes. Our populations are getting older. We have a growing proportion of retirements in the post- war baby-boom generation combined with low fertility levels. We have rising life expectancy and a declining working-age population. These changes poses a serious challenge to our ability to maintain our present pension and social security systems. Europe cannot cope with global competition as well as demographic changes without considerable labour migration and increased female participation in the labour force. This is probably true also for countries in the Mediterranean region. I disagree with those who advocate a "Fortress Europe". For the welfare and prosperity of our countries, we need to welcome immigrants who can contribute, as well as we need to take responsibility for people escaping brutal oppression. In Sweden for instance, we have a working population of a little more than four million people. 15 percent of them are born in foreign countries. The influx of people is a guarantee for our welfare. Also the Mediterranean countries need to attract labour, even when it arrives in the form of refugees. Migrants provide links between countries, links that promotes trade. Migration, if handled correctly, leads to economic development. The so called "brain-drain" need not be negative. Brain drain can easily turn into brain gain if sender and receiver countries cooperate. There are two misconceptions about migration to Europe. The first is that migration taking place is described as an "exodus". Last year media made a great fuss about the arrival of 900 migrants every day to the Canary Islands. The impression was that we were facing an enormous emigration from Africa to Europe. The EU has almost 500 million inhabitants. A few hundred emigrants in Europe on one single day is not a revolution in a continent with 500 million citizens. We decide ourselves if we want to se migration as a threat or possibility. My answer is clear: migration is absolutely necessary for any country to prosper in the twenty-first century. The other misconception concerns the fear that Europeans feel, that hungry immigrants overflow our labour market and takes our jobs. It is the same concern that existed in Sweden before women were admitted to the labour market. Opponents then believed that all the men would lose their jobs. A million women entered the workforce, however, we did not end up with a million unemployed men. The mistake people make is to see the labour market and unemployment as a zero-sum game. Equality between women and men is an obligation for a society that strives for democracy, but it is also necessary for economic development. An important UNDP report, the Arab Human Development report from 2005, concludes that empowerment of women is one of the most important factors for economic and social development. In fact, they have identified gender inequality as one of the most significant obstacles to human development in the Arab region. Regular meetings of departmental ministers are held within the framework of the Barcelona process. And in 2006 we had a ministerial conference in Istanbul on "Strengthening the Role of Women in Society". The Conference was held in accordance with the Barcelona Declaration of 1995 and the Five Year Work Programme agreed upon during the 10th anniversary Euro-Mediterranean Summit in Barcelona in 2005. The ministerial conference in Istanbul and the agreement on a Framework for "Strengthening the Role of Women in Society" provided a platform for ensuring that women's rights would be addressed and recognised as an integral element in political and socio-economic development. It is important to acknowledge the profound changes that have taken place in the Euro-Mediterranean area over the last few years as regards political, social and economic reform and the strengthening of women's role in society. The annual revisions of the Istanbul Framework for Action show that activities have been undertaken to promote women's representation in decision-making and leadership posts. Comprehensive national plans to address gender-based violence have been put in place, and measures have been taken to provide a better work-life balance for both women and men. Despite all the progress, gender inequality is still a fact in all our countries. Despite the fact that more and more women participate in the labour force, few women holds the powerful positions in society. Despite the fact that most countries have legal systems, domestic violence exist in every society. Despite the fact that 193 countries have ratified the Convention on the Rights of Children, the lives of girls are still severely restricted due to so called honour traditions. Sustainable change can only be achieved by long-term strategic endeavours to integrate a gender perspective in policies. This calls for political commitment and accountability, as well as instruments and methods for effective assessment and monitoring. The next ministerial meeting will be organised in Morocco in 2009 to review progress. And I hope that all partner countries will have a lot to report on achievements in the field of women's rights and gender equality. As one priority, the countries in the region should fully and effectively implement the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). We need to be clear that, the basic principle is that all people are of equal value and must be able to enjoy the same human rights, responsibilities and opportunities in all areas of society. No matter if you live in Copenhagen, Cairo or Calcutta, every individual is entitled to the basic human rights. And still we have not arrived there yet. Today, there are 60 million women around the world between the ages of 20-24 who were forced to marry under the age of 18. This is not acceptable. The core values of the Euro-Med partnership are human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy. However, respecting human rights, strengthening fundamental freedoms and practicing democracy is not just a matter of legal standards and their enforcement. It is just as much a matter of comprehension and commitment. Sweden believes that the active involvement of the young in the struggle for our core values is crucial. Without the innovative and stimulating force of civil society - and particularly the youth organisations - we will not be able to successfully face the challenges lying ahead. This is why youth policy must remain high on the national agendas of the countries in the region. Youth policy is a cross-sectorial domain. It concerns every aspect of the lives of children and young people. Gender equality, cultural diversity, social inclusion, health, education, housing, employment and more, must be brought into focus. Therefore youth policy cannot be conducted in isolation from other areas. On the contrary, we need more attention to youth aspects in other policy fields; we need to "mainstream". I can assure you that our countries will not enjoy sustainable development without our young generations' commitment to our shared future and the values that inspire us. The core values of the Euro-Med partnership can and should never be taken for granted. Therefore the Swedish government has initiated a broad, grass-roots dialogue regarding the values we hold in common. This initiative is related to the Inter-cultural dialogue that is taking place within the framework of both the European Union and the Council of Europe. The focus of the Swedish dialogue is not, however, on cultural or other differences, but on what Swedes have in common, values based on democracy, fundamental freedoms and human rights. Surveys show that an overwhelming majority want a dialog with other people, but that less than one third ever talk to people who hold different opinions. Our common values need to be debated, developed and reflected upon. The Euro-Med partnership represents a unique opportunity to exchange experiences and ideas, to learn from each other and to develop our cooperation. And with these words I yield the floor to the experts. The next words are yours, thank you!

Speech Strasbourg 10 June 2008 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Address by Ms Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality, Sweden, at the Closing Conference of the Council of Europe Campaign to Combat Violence against Women Mr Secretary General, Your Excellencies, Mr Chair, ladies and gentlemen,

The Council of Europe's core objective is to promote and protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law. All activities and work within the Council of Europe must be focused to contribute in reaching these fundamental objectives.

Since the beginning of last month Sweden holds the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The Swedish Chairmanship will focus its work on promoting realization of the Council of Europe's core objective - making Rights become real.

This of course includes the very important work to combat violence against women. Men's violence against women exist in all our countries as a widespread problem affecting the whole community. All individuals must be able to live their lives free from fear of violence and abuse. Ultimately this is a question of gender equality and women's right to fully enjoy their human rights, to which all individuals are entitled.

I'm honoured to be here today at this Closing Conference of the Council of Europe Campaign to Combat Violence against Women, including domestic violence. But let us make this Conference the end of the beginning. The decision to launch the Campaign was a manifestation of political will. The conclusion from this is crystal-clear: Men's violence against women is unacceptable. And men's violence against women can be stopped. A Task Force was set up. The mission was to evaluate progress at national level and establish instruments for quantifying developments at pan- European level. The task force also had the important mission to propose concrete measures for our future work. The three basic aims of the Campaign have been: First; to raise awareness of violence against women as a human right's issue and encourage every citizen to challenge it; Second; to urge member states to demonstrate political will with a view to delivering concrete results in ending violence against women; and

Third; to promote the implementation of the effective measures contained in the Council of Europe Recommendation on the protection of women against violence. All member states were invited to make significant progress under four thematic areas: legal and policy measures, support and protection for victims, data collection and awareness raising. As you will hear during these days, the campaign has lead to a lot of actions and activities in our countries. Almost all member states have participated. Different levels of society, national governments, parliaments and local and regional decision-makers, have been involved. More than 40 governments have submitted their final report on their national Campaigns to prevent and combat violence against women. In Sweden a national action plan has been adopted. I will have the opportunity to elaborate on this later today. I'm really looking forward to share different experiences on how to combat violence against women. I'm sure that we all will get some more inspiration on how to continue our work. The Task Force, are expected to present their proposals for future action to prevent and combat violence against women.

Based on the information received from different member states, the Committee of Ministers will decide on possible future action by the Council of Europe in this field. Already next week our ambassadors in the Committee of Ministers will receive the oral report from this conference. They will then have a first discussion on the follow up. On behalf of the Swedish Government, I hope we can make use of the political momentum that the Council of Europe Campaign has created. I encourage the Council of Europe to start the preparation of the first European human rights treaty to prevent and combat violence against women. I know this is the end of the beginning. Thank you for listening!

Speech Strasbourg 10 June 2008 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Speech by the Swedish Minister for Gender Equality Ms Nyamko Sabuni, at the Closing Conference of the Council of Europe Campaign to Combat Violence against Women, including Domestic Violence Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

"When needs are greatest, help is closest at hand," as the Swedish saying goes. But this is not always true in reality. All those who are in urgent need of protection and support do not always have their needs seen or addressed.

As Minister, I cannot and may not talk about individual cases. However, nothing can forbid me from feeling concerned and angry. We must remember that behind every statistical figure, there is an individual. Last year in Sweden, over 26 000 cases of abuse against women were reported. Every year, an average of 17 women are murdered by a man with whom they have or have had a close relationship to. The cases of violence reported to the police account for just 20-25 per cent of all violence that is committed. Almost half of all women in Sweden have after the age of 15 been subjected to violence by a man. The right not to be subjected to violence is a question of democracy and human rights. A woman who is subjected to violence is denied her human rights and she loses the opportunity to exercise her own powers to live her life. Our societies have a duty to protect these women. Violence against women is also a problem for democracy. For those who are subjected to this kind of serious violations, there is no scope for becoming politically active and work for change. Despite the fact that Sweden has come a long way in terms of gender equality developments, violence against women remains a widespread social problem and a serious type of crime. Mr Chairman, In November last year the Swedish government adopted a national action plan to combat men's violence against women, violence and oppression in the name of honour and violence in same-sex relationships. Over 80 million euros are allocated to implement 56 concrete measures during the period of three years. The measures lay the foundation for raising the level of ambition at national, regional and local level in the fight against this kind of violence. The action plan has a comprehensive approach. Measures to help and support women subjected to violence as well as measures targeting the violent men are developed and quality assured. Special attention is given to children who witness violence. Individuals in vulnerable situations, such as women with disabilities, women with migrant background and women in drug abuse are highlighted in the action plan. The UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women is the ground that the Swedish action plan against men's violence against women builds upon. Another starting point is the perspectives and needs of the individuals who are subjected to such violence. The experiences of authorities and NGOs working against this violence have also been important in the elaboration of the action plan. The action plan can be summarised in six established points: One: people subjected to violence need better protection and support. All victims of crime must be treated in a professional manner, regardless of who they are or which part of the country they live in. The local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that victims of crime receive the help and support they need. Support and protection must be given throughout the entire process, from the first point of contact, through legal proceedings, and afterwards. Two: we need to work more preventively. Preventive work that is broad in scope and that is directed at both women and men, also those who are not directly affected in their everyday lives. Children and young people are important target groups. It is important to introduce early measures in schools and other places where girls and boys spend their time. Three: we must ensure enhanced competence, quality and efficiency in the legal system. The justice and law enforcement-chain must function efficiently so that crimes are investigated and perpetrators prosecuted in a timely manner. Society's reaction and punishments must clearly reflect the seriousness of the violation that this kind of crime represents for the victims. Four: we must develop measures directed at the perpetrators of violence. If we are to put an end to violence against women, the men who hit women must stop this behavior. All men convicted of this type of crime must be requested to take part in an appropriate treatment programme. Measures directed at men who use violence must be evaluated, developed and quality-assured. Five: we must have increased cooperation between various actors. Increased cooperation within and between agencies and other actors is of vital importance if we are to ensure that women get the help they need. Regulations and routines must not hinder increased cooperation. And Six: we need more knowledge. A new research programme will help to increase and deepen our knowledge in this area. And through awareness- raising measures and training we will develop skills at agencies and NGOs that comes in contact with people subjected to violence and the perpetrators of violence. It is in within these six areas that measures are taken and implemented. We know that if we are ever going to put an end to men's violence against women it will require comprehensive, systematic and long-term work. Cooperation at the international level is vital. The international exchange of experiences is an important driving force and source of knowledge. I believe this campaign has shown this and it is obvious that the Council of Europe can play a crucial role in combating violence against women.

Speech New York 26 February 2008 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Side Event on men's violence against women, CSW52 in New York Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to be hosting this Side Event together with my Nordic colleagues, and I hope to be able to contribute to a fruitful discussion on an issue that unfortunately never ceases to be important.

Men's violence against women, is a serious obstacle that prevents women from realising their potential and aspirations. Not only does this violence violate women's physical integrity, it also severely damages and hinders women's enjoyment of their human rights. Related Publication: Action plan Combating this violence is a high priority issue for the Swedish Government. November last year the for combating men's government presented the first Swedish action plan to combat men's violence against women, violence and violence against women, oppression in the name of honour and violence in same-sex relations. The measures contained in this action violence and oppression in plan lay the foundation for raising the level of ambition in fighting against men's violence against women. With the name of honour and investment in 56 specific measures expected to amount of 80 million euros, this action plan is a historic show violence in same-sex of joint resolve against violence. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a bit about what the action relationships plan contains. In drawing up the action plan, the Swedish Government took the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women as its point of departure. Another important point of departure was the perspectives and needs of the individuals who are subjected to such violence. The experiences of authorities and NGOs that work against this violence have also been important in the making of the action plan. The action plan can be summarised in six established points: 1) People subjected to violence need better protection and support. All victims of crime must be treated in a professional manner, regardless of who they are or which part of the country they live in. The local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that victims of crime receive the help and support they need. Support and protection must be given throughout the entire process, from the first point of contact, through legal proceedings, and afterwards. 2) We need to work more preventively. Preventive work that is broad in scope and that is directed at both women and men, also at people who are not directly affected in their everyday lives. Children and young people are important target groups for preventive work. This is why it is important to introduce early measures in schools and other places where children and young people spend their time. The establishment of a virtual youth center on the Internet for young people is one example of what we do in this area. 3) We must ensure enhanced competence, quality and efficiency in the legal system. The justice and law enforcement chain must function efficiently so that crimes are investigated and perpetrators prosecuted in a timely manner. Society's reaction and punishments must clearly reflect the seriousness of the violation that this kind of crime represents for the victims. Improving police capability to prevent and investigate men's violence against women by enhancing competence at every police authority will be done. 4) We must develop measures directed at the perpetrators of violence. If we are to put an end to violence against women, the men who hit women must stop this behavior. All men convicted of this type of crime must be requested to take part in an appropriate treatment programme. Measures directed at men who use violence must be evaluated, developed and quality-assured. 5) We must have greater cooperation between various actors. Greater cooperation within and between agencies and other actors who come into contact with people who have been subjected to violence is crucial in ensuring that vulnerable people get the help they need. Regulations and familiar routines must not hinder deeper cooperation. 6) We need more knowledge. A new research programme will help to increase knowledge in this area. And through awareness-raising measures and training we will develop skills at agencies and NGOs that comes in contact with people subjected to violence and the perpetrators of violence. These are just some of the measures that the Swedish Government is implementing during this electoral period. We hope that our action plan will be able to serve as an example of steps that can be taken by governments to combat men's violence against women. We have also been inspired by other countries' work when creating our action plan, not least by the action plans that our Nordic neighbours have implemented. The international exchange of experiences is an important driving force and source of knowledge. At the moment, the Swedish government is preparing another action plan focusing on combating prostitution and human trafficking for sexual exploitation. We know that if we are ever going to put a stop to men's violence against women, nationally as well as globally, this will require comprehensive, systematic and long-term work. Our action plan is an important step on the long path towards ensuring women's and girls' safety, security and freedom from violence. Thank you for your attention.

Speech UN Commission, New York 25 February 2008 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Speech held in the UN Mr/Madam Chairperson, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,

I am honoured to be speaking here at the 52nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, and I would like to commend the Commission on its important work. Sweden aligns itself with the statement made by Slovenia on behalf of the European Union.

Mr/Madam Chairperson, The opportunities for the world's countries to work for gender equality and women's empowerment have Related never been better. Press release: Swedish Minister for Integration There have never been so many democracies in the world. Never have so many women been able to vote in and Gender Equality Ms elections or run for political office. Economic development has been rapid. Fewer people live in poverty. At Nyamko Sabuni to make a the same time, a gap between rich and poor countries still persists. speech in the UN Publication: Action plan Globalisation is contributing to prosperity and well being. I agree with former UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi for combating men's Annan when he says that the main losers in today's unequal world are not those exposed to globalisation, but violence against women, those who are left out. violence and oppression in the name of honour and Mr/Madam Chairperson, violence in same-sex Despite all the progress, gender inequality is still a fact. relationships

It is time that the world's countries ensure that women and men, girls and boys, benefit equally from the rich harvest of global development. Respect must be given to the human rights and fundamental freedoms of every person. Sweden urges the world's countries to support and implement more forcefully the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The same applies to the other international human rights instruments. The UN has a key role in moving forward international efforts to promote gender equality. Progress in UN reform in terms of strengthening the gender architecture and improving the UN's work on gender equality and gender mainstreaming is a matter of urgency. The basic principle is simply that all people - regardless of sex, ethnic origin, age, religion, sexual orientation or disability - are of equal value and must be able to enjoy the same human rights, responsibilities and opportunities in all areas of society. Sweden will continue to uphold the rights of girls and women and their access to sexual and reproductive health care, including contraception and safe and legal abortion. Sweden is deeply concerned with the difficulty in fulfilling the UN Millennium Development Goal to halve maternal mortality in the world. In many parts of the world, developments are at a standstill or losing ground; women are still dying during pregnancy and childbirth, or from unsafe abortions. Without being able to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights, and without access to adequate sexual and reproductive health services, women stand little chance of having the same opportunities as men. Investments in these areas are investments in sustainable social and economic development and in the protection and promotion of human rights.

The Swedish Government is convinced that we gain a better and more just society when women and men share power and influence in all sectors. In order to achieve gender equality, two strategies are needed. Firstly, a gender equality perspective must be mainstreamed into all policies and all areas of political decision- making. Sustainable change can only be achieved by long-term strategic work to integrate a gender perspective in policies. We must measure the effects for women and men, girls and boys, when preparing, outlining and implementing policies at local, national and global level. Therefore, statistics must be disaggregated by sex and analysis done from a gender equality and women's empowerment perspective. This calls for political commitment and accountability, as well as practical instruments and methods for civil servants. Secondly, gender mainstreaming efforts can be supplemented by special measures in areas where urgent action is needed. Therefore, the Swedish Government has dramatically increased the national budget for gender equality policy - from 4 to 40 million Euros. Let me give you some examples of how these resources have been used:

1. A national action plan to combat men's violence against women was adopted by the Government in November last year. It was developed in close cooperation with other ministries and involved public consultations with NGOs. 2. A research programme was launched to promote research on women's health. 3.The Government finances a comprehensive programme to promote gender mainstreaming in local and regional authorities. Municipalities play a crucial role, since they are responsible for a major part of the basic services that influence people's everyday lives, such as schooling, child care and health care. In light of the strong focus on combating men's violence against women in Sweden, I welcome the UN campaign to end violence against women that was announced earlier this morning by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. Mr/Madam Chairperson, One starting point for this session's follow-up theme should be Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Sweden was one of the first countries to adopt a national action plan for the implementation of this Resolution. Women and girls are victims of violence, rape and other abuse in conflict situations. However, women are also important actors in conflict prevention, management and conflict resolution. Women's knowledge and experiences are invaluable for sustainable post-conflict peacebuilding. Sweden takes a very serious view of the reports that UN staff on peace-keeping missions have been involved in sexual exploitation and other abuses of women and girls. It is unacceptable and must stop! Therefore, we welcome efforts within the UN system to investigate the occurrence of such abuse, and to prosecute perpetrators. Mr/Madam Chairperson, Investments in gender equality are investments in hope and in the future. Globally, we have a range of legal and policy instruments for the effective promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. The moment has come to implement them. It is our responsibility to allocate resources, to set clear targets and to take action. Together, we can make the world a better and more equal place for both women and men to live in. Let us begin today! Thank you!

Speech Riffi's International Women's Conference, Stockholm 07 February 2008 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Riffi's International Women's Conference "Equality and Integration" The last 20 years one has experienced an increased escape from extreme poverty. Borderlines in Europe disappear. New countries are included in the Union. Economy is in full swing; unemployment is decreasing especially among the young people and those born abroad. This is only natural since unemployment is highest within these groups.

Alongside this idyll, there are a billion people in the world living on less than a dollar a day. Employers in Sweden have difficulty in finding labour whereas there are children who have never seen their parents go to work. Young women from neighbouring countries are enticed to come to this country by being promised the moon. Next, they find themselves prisoners in some apartment where they are sold and repeatedly abused. Should we listen carefully, we could hear the humble cries for help at the clinics that treat eating disorders. Should we find the time to look, we could see more and more girls undress in front of the cameras in the hope that someone will look at them with love. We remember cars being burnt in Paris; we remember the minors in Rosengård. Abandonment and isolation in the exposed areas tend to become permanent. The living conditions in many of the exposed areas are preposterous, punctuated by high unemployment and overcrowding. Only about half of the pupils in these areas manage to get qualified to senior high school. This can be compared to 90% in the whole country. Integration is one of the greatest challenges in most European countries. Last autumn, at a conference in Leeds, one could point at a "third- generation-unemployed" neighbourhood. Our problems are not so serious yet. However, we risk getting there unless we initiate a conscious politics that includes people socially and economically. Irrespective of their birthplace, one cannot find one's purpose in a country that keeps them outside the labour market by means of subsidy. This gives birth to disrespect, frustration and conflicts. One can only respect a land that encourages them to take an active part in their life and supports them in their attempts to succeed. One might consider that three factors are important to a successful integration of the newcomers: the reception system, the access to the labour market and to education. We have had a distorted national reception system in which a handful of municipalities had to take a great responsibility for our newly arrived, thus creating a breach of solidarity among the municipalities. Significantly, the reorganisation of the system and the shifting of responsibility for the reception to the county level have already given results. More municipalities have got the opportunity for co-operation thus offering access to lodging, education and work. This process needs to be made easier with the help of a compensation system that will encourage better co-operation. The government has appointed a commission that will investigate the reception system in future. Notably, the best way for introduction is at work. It has been proved that self-supporting can lead to confidence and dignity, to the feeling of belonging to the new country. Long periods of adaptation, in which society provides, seem to be destructive and encourage one to passivity. It is important to combine the study of the Swedish language with occupational training/work practice. The introduction jobs for the newcomers, which enable the employers to get a serious subvention, should get better effect. Newly coined jobs have been more successful. A third of them has gone to people with a foreign background. A vital issue regards the education policy that stresses the importance of knowledge and creates a motivation for learning in the suburbs as well. All the Swedes, both natives and newly arrived, have the right to first-rate education for their children, focus being laid on the Swedish language for the children with another mother tongue. We must invest more on helping the pupils with different subjects in their mother tongue. The role of the mother tongue teachers should be redefined. As part of the teaching core, the mother tongue teacher must be aware of the whole education process in the school. Education, accompanied by knowledge is the guarantee that exclusion will not happen. Significantly, we will fight all forms of discrimination. We continue to believe in the ideas of Martin Luther King, the great fighter for human rights: each individual must be defined in accordance to their accomplishments and not after their ethnical, religious or political affiliation. We are going to continue fighting for this dream. Last week we forwarded a motion about a new law against discrimination, including discrimination based on gender and age. We need a more effective and powerful authority that will facilitate things for the individual who risks to be discriminated. The responsibility to find out the cause of the discrimination should be shifted from the individual to the juridical experts. A single authority, instead of four, can constitute a stronger defence against discrimination. The question about the content and meaning of the multicultural society has been swept away for years on end. This has resulted in an unconditional acceptance of multiplicity as well as blindness in front of the need for solidarity and shared values. The Government initiated some time ago a debate on a stronger mutual values. My issue is that there is more that unites us than social justice. It is our constitutional law that is based on democracy, openness and human rights. These values are universal but not uncontroversial. These rights are violated every day in our country. Sweden is considered to be the best country in the world in terms of equal opportunities. We live in a land where women and men have the same right to education, work and sexual and reproductive inclination. Much to be proud of. But let me tell you about the world's most equal country. In this country, women and men do not have the same pay for the same performance. In the country with the most equal terms in the world, the women get 80% of the parent allowance. In the country with the most equal opportunities in the world, the women may risk to get worse ward than men do. At the same time, women's free enterprise equals a third of men's. Last year there were reported 25,412 cases of abuse and 4,189 rapes. According to the Council against Delinquency, BRÅ, this dark picture is alarming. BRÅ estimates that violent deeds reported to the police constitute 20-25% of the actual ones. Nearly half of the women in this country, 46%, have been exposed to violence. Almost every third woman before she is 15 has the same fate. From an international perspective, every third woman in the world has been exposed to violence or sexual assault.

Furthermore, an issue on democracy and human rights is the right not to be exposed to gender related violence. One of the Government's equality goals is that men's violence against women should come to an end. Women and men, girls and boys should have the same right to body integrity. This demand includes all forms of violence and menace. The men's violence against women is a priority for the Government. As for me, personally, it is the most acute equality issue and I have given it priority in the plan of action presented during my first year as Minister for Integration and Gender Equality. Women can also carry on violence against women in one-gender relationships. Violence means power; it is usually practised by men and affects women. If we choose to close our eyes to the sequence of events, we risk not seeing the honour-based violence and violence in one-gender relationships. That is why we have included these issues in our plan of action. The co-operation with other departments has been extended and the costs shared. We, women and men, who lead a decent life and are not exposed to violence, must use all the tools of democracy in order to carry on the fight against woman- related violence. We must see to it that these problems be taken seriously at all social levels and that we have a clear legislation that will enable us to act strongly against these acts. As a result, there are shelters in the whole country for women who need to hide. Here follow some decisions: - Operating shelters for women have been replenished with 20 million crowns. It is important to me that both the municipalities and voluntary forces operate shelters and the municipalities will pay the bill. - The social assistance law will be made more stringent and the Social Assistance Committee will be in duty bound to support the crime victims. - We will initiate more impartial regulations as regards the partition of the joint property of husband and wife. The law, which will come into force 1 July 2008, stipulates that compensation for individual injury and infringement from the ex husband will be set aside in case of the partition of property. - We consider that the initiation of a long-term research program is very important in order to get better knowledge about the mechanisms of violence. We live in the country with the most equal opportunities. In this country there are girls who are not allowed to choose their spouse, when to get married and, on the whole, whether they want to get married. In the country with the most equal opportunities there are girls who are exposed to genital mutilation and whose virginity is thoroughly checked. In this country, girls are murdered in the name of honour. There are voices, few but strong, that allege that honour based violence is equal to the traditional men's violence against women. I maintain this is naive, even racist. It is our duty to fight traditions that can lead to serious violations of the individual's rights and freedom. It is important that injustice should not be committed in the name of honour. It is also essential that those in need should get support and protection so that they can live in freedom and security. The Government allocates 40 millions in the fight against the oppression of the honour based violence. The money will be used to build women shelters, which will get funding for competence development. We are also working for a law change that will enable court laws to start an investigation about a young person without informing the parents. There will be initiated a survey of the pre-arranged marriages. What will it look like? How large will the measure of the voluntary basis be? Must one pay back the dowry in case of a divorce? There are many questions to answer. How we experience the terms of employment is consistent with how we experience our whole situation in life and whether we are capable to put together the everyday puzzle. Both women and men should be able to combine family life with work. The initiation of an equality bonus is going to raise the financial possibilities of the family to share the maternal and paternal leave. This can improve the circumstances for equality both at home and at work. The government has made it easier for the parents to combine work with a functioning family life by offering them the possibility to buy cheaper domestic help. Research has shown that families with small children are the first to buy this service in order to get temporary help at home. We have taken measures that stimulate to employment and to an extended working time. These measures stimulate employers to hire people and parents to take out larger parts of the parental insurance. These measures facilitate the daily routine for the parents and constitute a solid basis for greater economic equality between women and men. To be employed should not be the only available form of work or of supporting oneself. Sweden needs more prosperous companies. Sweden needs more women who start their own business and see their business grow. It is generally agreed that women enterprise is going to change the distorted property development that is set on the fact that few women own and drive a business today. The government invests 100 million crowns to improve the conditions for women to start their own business. A way to increase individual initiative and business is to let the women dominated branches enter into competition. One of the most controversial equality questions is about the difference in salary between women and men. The Government has made it an important issue to see this difference decrease. Legal measures against this unexplained difference in the salary will be taken until latest in 2010. At the same time, the authorities' work to get more women in leading positions is to be intensified. I will finish with some lines from Karin Boyes' famous poem "Certainly it is painful when buds burst". The poem has always been special for me, as it was the first poem I understood in Swedish after my arrival in Sweden as a teenager. "Certainly it is painful when buds burst, painful for what is growing and what is closing." The message in the first part of the poem is that change takes time, change is uncertain, change is painful. Painful for what is growing and painful for what is closing. Painful for those who represent the new, developing, multicultural Sweden. Painful for those who are forced to isolation and passivity, for those who, in spite of the promise of democracy and free choice, are denied the right to empowerment. It is painful for those who oppose and deny change, those who have blamed the newcomers for the failure of the integration policy. "At that time, when it is worst and nobody helps, the buds of the trees burst as if rejoicing. At that time, when no fear holds any longer, Falling in a sparkle, the branches' drops forget they were frightened by the new, forget they were distressed about the journey Feel for a second the feeling of security, relax in that confidence that shaped the world." My friends, these lines contain my personal and my department's main goal: to release the individual's inner power. To remove the obstacles that obstruct the individual's free choice and human rights. To refuse to permit that the fear of change should dominate, oppress and deny the human rights. Using my authority as a weapon against isolation, I will lead an indefatigable fight. Change does not need to be painful but some changes are. Changes take time, changes are uncertain and can be painful sometimes. One thing is clear though; it is time for a change. Thank you for the word and thank you to RIFFI that has invited me here.

2007

Speech Lejondahls Castle/Lejondahls slott, Bro 03 December 2007 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Romani Women's Rights Conference Ladies and Gentlemen,

As Minister for the policy on national minorities, gender equality and the human rights implementation in Sweden, it is a great honour for me to welcome you to this conference on Romani Women's Rights Our Voices heard.

A priority for me and the government is to break the social exclusion that too often has been the marker of the daily lives of Roma. Not only in Sweden but in the whole of Europe. Sweden's ratification of the Framework convention for the protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for regional- or minority languages was a first step towards a Swedish policy on national minorities. Roma are one of Sweden's five national minorities and Romani Chib is one of Sweden's national minority languages. Important parts of the Swedish policy on national minorities are the measures aimed at strengthening, practicing and developing the languages and cultures of the national minorities. The Romani culture and the Romani language is an important part of Sweden's and Europe's common cultural heritage. Therefore I am particularly pleased that one of the official languages of this conference is Romani Chib. For many women in the world the daily struggle for personal survival excludes them from active participation. We can not achieve human rights unless women and girls are given the same opportunities as men to shape their existence and exercise power over their lives. Gender equality is a condition for democracy and central to human rights. It is a question of empowering women and girls. Sweden constantly strives to ensure girls and women's sexual and reproductive health and rights. Despite considerable progress, we still have a long way to go before we achieve gender equality. We need to take many more measures in order to ensure equal rights and equal opportunities for all girls and women, boys and men, in Sweden. Considering the themes that will be addressed at this conference, I would like, as Minister, to underline that: Control over ones own mind, body and sexuality are clear markers of integrity and independence. Threats, abuse and violence are severe forms of oppression and where they exist, girls and women can not have access to their human rights. These girls and women have the right to equal power to shape society and their own lives. They have the right to integrity and respect. I would like to state that it is essential that women and girls are aware of their rights. It is also essential that the rest of the society shares this knowledge. It is time to agree and implement concrete actions that determine clearly how states and societies can guarantee all women and girls their fundamental freedoms and rights. Even if this may mean going against traditional customs and practices. It is my hope that the discussions today and tomorrow will be characterized by reconciliation and dialog. Where all parties with an open heart can listen to one another's views. So that we together can improve the situation for Roma today. So that we can achieve equality. NGO:s have an important role in encouraging women and girls to make active and informed choices. They find efficient methods of reaching women and girls on all levels globally, nationally and above all, locally. They can also adjust their campaigns to rapid changes. The women's movements play an important part in this work. Their efforts should be acknowledged and commended. They need the support and recognition that they have deserved. In this, we who are in decision making positions, have a collective responsibility. I know that Roma in Sweden and Europe have a strong will to achieve empowerment. The majority society can assist the Roma with tools to defend and strengthen their possibility for empowerment. There is a need for a conscious strategy and the work must move forward and be characterized by reconciliation and dialog. Regardless of where we live, democracy and respect for human rights are essential for our sustainable development. Without gender equality democracies can not function. The empowerment of individuals is of supreme importance and must be strengthened. If we are to achieve this, women and girls must have the possibility to take power over their lives. The basic principle is simple: all people, regardless of sex, ethnic belonging, sexual orientation, age, disability or cultural and religious traditions, are of equal value and must be able to enjoy human rights. The principle of non discrimination is one of the cornerstones of human rights. It is guaranteed by a number of UN conventions. Among others the UN Declaration on Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. As well as European Council conventions such as the Framework Convention for the protection of National Minorities. Despite this, the existence for Roma in Sweden has for centuries been characterized by discrimination and exclusion. Abuse of Roma in the form of banishment, forced transportation, ban on owning businesses, ban on immigration, forced sterilisations and forced assimilation are a reality. This has led to a mistrust of authorities among Roma. Unfortunately this is not unique for Sweden. This has been the daily life for Roma throughout Europe. We have a common responsibility to change this. Sweden has, since the 1960:ties, made a number of central and local governmental efforts in order to bring justice to these abuses, and to improve the situation for Roma in Sweden. Among other things special focus has been put on improving the situation for children's and young peoples right to schooling. Over the last thirty years the efforts from the government has been formed in dialog and co-operation with Roma representatives. During 2006 the government appointed a delegation for Roma issues. With Sweden's international commitments for the protection of human rights as a base, we will nationally push for the improvement of the situation for Roma in Sweden. This work requires a close dialog and co-operation with Roma. As some of you may know, I was not born in Sweden. I have my roots in Congo the so called Belgian Congo. I regularly meet representatives of national minorities. When I meet romani women and men, I have had the opportunity to listen to Roma's relationship with the majority population - the Swedes. To me it has been like listening to and bringing back my conversations with my own Congolese people. I know what it is like to be deprived of ones language, ones culture, and indeed ones human dignity. The work that is carried out within the Council of Europe to promote the situation for Roma is important. It is important not just to work for Roma, but with Roma. It is important that before decisions are made we listen to those who are actually concerned. It means that we have to listen to the priceless knowledge about their lives and their experiences. For the improvement of the situation of Roma in Europe, we as decision makers, Roma and the majority society, need to take a collective responsibility. Therefore it is my hope that we, in dialog, will be able to live up to the title of today's conference and listen to each other so that we with pride can say amare glasura ashunde!

Once again, let me extend to you a warm welcome to Sweden and this conference on Romani women's rights.

Speech Stockholm 14 June 2007 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Speech at Forum for the Future of Democracy

(Check against delivery.) Dear colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen: Related I was born in exile in Burundi because my parents home country, Congo, was a dictatorship. When I grew up, Forum for the Future of politics seemed to be something dangerous and threatening. Those who did not agree with the ruling party in Democracy Congo, were thrown into jail. My father was imprisoned because of his political activity. He later managed to come to Sweden as a political refugee. I was twelve at the time. The topic of this conference is in my heart and in my life. And therefore I am concerned we seize this opportunity. Not just to have yet another international meeting with good-hearted ideals and predictable conclusions. Not just another restatement of democracy and human rights being someone else's problem. Not yet another reducing democracy to its formal institutions. We have the democratic institutions in Sweden and many other countries. Parliaments. Parties. Universal Suffrage. We have the constitutional rights. But my concern is that the institutions and letters do not create participation. Democracy is not only a challenge to countries without the institutions. Or the newly established ones. It is no less a challenge to the old ones. Our institutions were created before the take-off of globalization, before the fall of the Berlin Wall, before the clash of civilizations, before the introduction of the Internet. I am proud to say that Universal suffrage was introduced in Sweden in 1921. But I am sure history must continue to build and develop on this fundamental achievement. The work has only just begun. How do we create a meaningful participation in the decision process? Today, many people are not satisfied to vote once in a while. Many people are not trustful neither of the politicians, nor of the institutions. Is that ok? Is democracy in Western societies just for export? In Sweden there are an increasing number of people who feel they do not belong.They feel they are not being listened to. They feel they do not have the tools or the ability to participate. They do not feel safe and secure enough in their basic needs, their human rights, to engage in matters beyond their immediate concerns. For the poorest, the deprivation of food hinders democratic participation. For some in the richest countries, the deprivation of meaning and trust shuts them out from democratic participation. I am certain that both Human Rights and Democracy need to be translated into systematic programs of renewal and action. Citizens need to see how we plan to work. They need to be able to spot where the real decisions are made. They need to feel that representatives are accountable for processes and promises. Are we, as we speak and discuss during the coming days, relevant to people outside the established circles? Are the twelve year olds, the citizens of tomorrow, also in our minds, as well as legislation, voting systems and international declarations? I would so much want us to contribute if only a little to girls and boys that today are in the situation I was in being able to hope for a better future that also includes them. We know the struggle for and development of democracy and Human Rights has a proud history. Does it have an equally exciting future? I hope this conference will be a free, inclusive and searching dialogue. We have questions in search of answers. And we all have some answers to contribute. That is why I am very happy, on behalf of the Swedish government and the Ministry for Integration and Gender Equality, to welcome you all to the 2007 Forum for the Future of Democracy. Thank you!

Speech Informal EU-meeting in Hannover 16 May 2007 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Supporting migrant women and children - participation in society and the labour market

Madame President, Dear colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me first thank the German Presidency for giving me the opportunity to introduce this topic of vital importance: How to support migrant women and children, so that they can fully participate in society and the labour market. I would like to start by emphasising the fact that integration is a two or even multi-way process, something more complex than simply adapting a minority to a majority. Integration means living together and honouring our differences rather than trying to eliminate them. Diversity is a valuable and necessary resource for the Union in our globalised world. The challenge for host countries is to ensure responsible and effective integration of all immigrants and to offer women and men equal opportunities to participate in society and the labour market. Another crucial task for a democratic society is to establish flexible and inclusive forms of dialogue. Forms of dialogue that offer different ways for people of different backgrounds to participate in and influence their society. Therefore, I welcome the fact that next year will be the European year for intercultural dialogue. Our populations need to engage in dialogue that addresses conflicts of interest and values in society. The starting point should be the universal human rights and democratic principles that have after all been recognised not only by the Union, but also by states representing different geographical regions, different cultures and different religions. Migrants often face discrimination. Women migrants risk facing multiple discriminations. That is, they may be discriminated against on the basis of their ethnicity or their belief and their sex. They are not only discriminated against by the majority population, but also by members of their own communities. All forms of discrimination are unacceptable. We will not tolerate xenophobia or discrimination from majority populations; neither will we tolerate the oppression of women and girls within communities. It is a mistake to think of migrants as a single homogenous group. Some have lived in their host country for many years. Some have just arrived. Some are highly qualified. Some have little or no education. We must never forget that no matter which country a migrant comes from, she or he is an individual with unique circumstances, experiences and dreams. An unacceptable number of migrants are excluded from our societies. Unemployment, low income and dependence on social welfare, lead to exclusion and isolation. If average labor market participation is low in a migrant group, women's participation will be even lower. Employment is an important element of integration. To have a job is not only about having an income. To have a job leads to participation and involvement in the community. Equal access to the labor market and a regular job income, have been and still is the most important cornerstones in gender equality policy. Having an income also means being able to access the social security system and to save up for retirement. At a conference in Leeds, the UK reported that they now could identify a third generation of unemployed migrants. It is extremely worrying that there are children and young women and men who do not identify themselves with the society they live in. The role of migrant women is crucial if we are to break this trend and fight this inherited social exclusion.

As I mentioned, migrants cannot be looked upon as a single group - they are individuals with unique aspirations. Policymaking must make sure that there are opportunities for migrants to fulfill their aspirations and to contribute to society, no matter what skills and experience they have. Many migrants come from countries where women have no access to education - where women are expected to take care of the home and children. Access to education and training is an essential element in the successful integration and emancipation of women. Sweden has a good record in education and training, including literacy training for migrants with no previous education. But perhaps we have neglected the importance of practical training in the labor market. In order to increase opportunities for migrant women, we need to ensure that both gender and ethnic perspectives are mainstreamed into our labor market programmes. The structure of migrant families often changes when they arrive in a new country. Both women and men are expected to be gainfully and equally employed. Parents often become dependent on their children for communicating with public authorities. This frustrating loss of power can cause male parents to preserve oppressive traditions that even their home countries may be abandoning. We have to fight this phenomenon. I want to see cooperation with civil society. This could take the form of an intercultural dialogue on our fundamental values. It is not easy to change gender roles. Some member states have made more progress than others. Despite progress, many women in all our societies are still denied their human rights. Many of them belong to minority groups. I am deeply concerned by the fact that there are girls and young women in Europe who are denied the right to fully participate in the standard curriculum of their schools. Girls who are expected to become mothers and housewives tend to leave school before their peers. Let me give you some examples of the things we are doing in Sweden in order to improve the opportunities for migrant women and children to be included in society and the labor market: Language training combined with work training. People, who are not employable, will be offered a meaningful activity guarantee to avoid passivity. Children must see their parents being active. We are trying to remove obstacles to entry in the labor market for the unemployed, for example by providing subsidies for employers. We want the public sector to lead the way in combating discrimination. The Swedish government is currently testing a method of anonymous job applications in the public sector. Now I want to hear about your ideas. Let us focus on best practices, successful models and well-documented experiences. I look forward to hearing what you have to say. Thank you! (Check against delivery)

Speech Swedish side event at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, New York 27 February 2007 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Understanding and combating violence in the name of honour - Government commitments and the need for further action

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends, It's a great honour to be on this panel together with such esteemed experts. Respect for democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms are essential and universal values that must be realised and defended all over the world. Gender equality is an integral part of democracy and absolutely central to sustainable development. Each girl and boy has equal rights and every single one of them deserve respect. The empowerment of girls and women is fundamental to meeting the challenges that face the realisation of these universal values. Sweden is pleased to see that strengthening gender mainstreaming, the promotion of gender equality, and the empowerment of girls and women are key issues of the ongoing reform work in the UN system. As many of you know, in December last year, the General Assembly adopted an important action-oriented resolution on the intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women. Today, in light of the priority theme at the 51st session of the CSW, I would like to take the opportunity to focus on one of my main priorities as Minister for Gender Equality. This is violence in the name of honour and other customs and practices that discriminate against and are harmful to girls and women. Honour, in this context, is based upon the idea that a family's or community's honour depends on the conduct of its female members. This leads to strict control and limits the lives of girls and women. In the most devastating cases it can end in extreme and fatal violence. Violence against women is not limited to specific countries and regions, but is a world-wide problem. Nevertheless, violence against women is sometimes rooted in local cultural habits and beliefs, such as the notion that girls and women are the bearer of men's or families' honour. It is sometimes also related to religious doctrines, including doctrines about the position of women in society. And it is often the case that a clash between on the one hand a traditional way of life and on the other hand urbanisation and migration worsens the problem. This does not, however, mean that culture or religion is responsible for the violence. The perpetrator is always responsible. Cultural mores and religious teachings can be interpreted and applied in different ways. All forms of violence against girls and women, including violence in the name of honor, constitute criminal offences. States have an obligation to exercise due diligence to prevent and to investigate such crimes, and to ensure that the perpetrators do not enjoy impunity. States also have an obligation to provide protection for the victims. Not doing so is a violation of human rights. All people regardless of sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, disability or cultural and religious traditions are of equal value, and must be able to enjoy human rights. All people should have equal opportunities in all areas of society. When girls and women live in the fear of violence, are restricted from setting the standards of their own lives and prevented from developing into free and independent adults, it is impossible for them to fully enjoy human rights. Ten years ago, honour related violence and oppression was not recognized as an issue on the political agenda in Sweden. Today it is a question that concerns and involves all parts of society. We don't have exact figures on how extensive the problem is in our country. A study is being carried out that we hope will give us detailed information on the extent to which young people are able to decide for themselves who their friends will be when and whom they will choose as their partners, parental control, etc. This survey will be completed at the end of March this year. While girls and young women constitute the majority of the victims, crimes in the name of honour also affect boys and men, both as victims and in situations when they are forced to uphold cultural notions of honour against their own will and convictions. We know too that gay, lesbian and bisexual people are also exposed to honour-related violence and other crimes. The Swedish Government prioritises work to prevent men's violence against women. Our vision is for the violence and oppression to which women are subjected to cease entirely. No one should be subjected to honour-related oppression. No one should have to marry against her or his will or be pressured to enter into marriage with a person she or he has not chosen. And no one should lose their life because of honour-related violence. I would like to underline that honour-related violence and oppression against girls and women stand out from other forms of violence because of its collective nature: such actions are condoned by the family and community. Since upholding honour is seen as a collective responsibility, there are difficulties in determining culpability and in prosecuting. This means that girls and women in such settings are particularly vulnerable. The recent General Assembly resolution stresses that it is important that States strongly condemn violence against women, and refrain from invoking any custom, tradition or religious consideration to avoid their obligations with respect to such violence. Ladies and Gentlemen: I see this seminar as an important opportunity for us to exchange experiences and knowledge about this vital issue. Let me tell you about some of the steps that have been taken in Sweden. The Swedish Government has initiated a number of measures to address these pressing issues in the past few years. Special funding has been allocated to stimulate the creation of sheltered housing particularly for girls under the age of 18 years, as well as to raise awareness and educate professionals and other adults who have direct contact with girls subjected to violence in the name of honour. Special target groups are of course professionals in the social services, the police force, the judiciary and the school system. These professionals must have a good knowledge and understanding of what constitutes violence in the name of honour in order to combat it and provide the victims with the support they need. If one looks at the problem from the perspective of the social services, one must be aware that the family and relatives are part of the problem and cannot be drawn into the issue and used as a resource as would otherwise be the case in Sweden. If one looks at it from a police and legal perspective, honour crimes are particularly complicated to investigate and demanding in terms of resources. A crime may be planned in one country and committed in another. Crimes motivated by honour frequently contain ritual elements, which require particular expertise of those investigating the crime. Issuing a restraining order to one single persecutor, or detaining him, is insufficient since the violence is seen as a collective responsibility. Ignorance may result, as we all realise, in society's efforts making the situation of victims more difficult, instead of helping them. It is essential to protect the victims, if necessary by placing them in sheltered housing. While sheltered housing can save a person's life, having to be deprived of your relations with parents and siblings can be a tragedy for young people. Providing sheltered housing is therefore, of course, not enough. There must be plans for the future, and these young people must be given help to form networks that to some extent can fill the void of the loss of relatives. And there must be hope that the future will offer a good and safe life. Measures to boost girls confidence and support their empowerment are vital. The Swedish school system has a legal obligation to promote equal rights for children and school students and to combat discrimination. School staff play an important role in being able to detect at an early stage the occurrence of honour related violence and oppression. In addition to the work of public agencies, there are numerous women's organisations and networks that are dedicated to supporting victims of honour-related violence. These organisations oppose the notion that a woman's sexuality defines the honour of the family and try to influence the communities where such thinking prevails. They offer information and guidance to professionals who work with the victims. They also work hard to raise awareness among the general public in order to prevent crimes in the name of honour from occurring. Their work is invaluable. Despite our efforts there are still many examples of severe mistreatment and abuse. Further steps need to be taken at all levels in order for all girls and women to enjoy fulfilment of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Swedish Government has recently begun work on an Action Plan against Violence against Women that will include concrete measures in a number of areas, such as improved support and protection for women who are subjected to men's violence and intervention programmes for men aimed at breaking patterns of aggressive and violent behaviour. The Action Plan will also include measures to raise awareness and knowledge about men's violence against women within the judicial system and social services as well as proposals for improved cooperation within and between authorities. We must also continue to reinforce our work towards changing attitudes, improving knowledge and raising awareness in all parts of society. Supporting the empowerment of victims of honour-related violence is also of great importance if they are to be able to take control over their own lives. We need an open and honest debate on how to prevent violence in the name of honour! We must share good experiences as well as bad. Where do we find good examples from training professionals in how to treat people who are affected by honour-related crimes? How do we engage civil society? In many countries action is being taken in order to eliminate the existence of violence in the name of honour. I want to encourage all countries to continue this important work. I urge you to share your experiences with us - as we will share our experiences with you - in order not to repeat each others' mistakes but to take advantage of what has been successful. We need to jointly focus our efforts on supporting and trying our best to improve the conditions of life of girls and young women around the world. Thank you for your attention.

Speech UN Commission on the Status of Women 26 February 2007 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Statement by Ms Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Gender Equality, Head of Delegation of Sweden at the UN Commission on the Status of

Madame Chair, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, I am speaking on behalf of the Swedish Government. Sweden aligns itself with the statement made by Germany on behalf of the European Union. I am honoured to be speaking here at the 51st session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women and would like to commend the Commission on its important work. Respect for democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms are essential values that that must be realized and defended across the world. Gender equality is integral to democracy and central to sustainable development. To realize these values, girls and women must be empowered. Sweden is pleased to see that strengthening gender mainstreaming, promoting gender equality and empowering girls and women are still priorities in the UN's reform work. The basic principle is simple: all people, regardless of sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, disability or cultural and religious traditions, are of equal value - and must be able to enjoy human rights. All people must have equal opportunities in all areas of society. One of the most important human rights principles is that of non-discrimination. This is guaranteed by the UN Declaration on Human Rights as well as through other human rights instruments, such as the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Each girl and boy has equal rights and every single one of them deserves respect. It is the responsibility of all states to protect children from violence and abuse. Sweden has fought for many years to achieve gender equality and has certainly made progress. Sweden constantly strives to ensure girls and women's sexual and reproductive health and rights. Combating violence and discrimination has long been a priority for the Swedish government. Corporal punishment has been prohibited since 1979, and the ban has gained wide support throughout the Swedish society. Recent efforts include projects that aim to boost girls' self-confidence, work done to reduce gender-stereotyping and a national action plan against female genital mutilation. Girls and boys, women and men, all have the same right to education. In fact, women in Sweden are gainfully employed to almost the same extent as men. We have about the same numbers of women as men in parliament, government and other areas of public and political life. And more women than men hold university degrees. Madame chair, Of course, I look at this overall picture with pride. However, when I look more closely at the situation in my country, cracks begin to emerge. Women still earn less than their male colleagues. Although women and men in general are gainfully employed to the same extent, this does not apply to all women and men in Swedish society. If we look more closely at the present situation for girls and women in Sweden, it becomes clear that not everyone has the same opportunities. Your chances of participating fully in all aspects of society are affected by your background - what country you or your parents come from; how much money your parents earn; what area you live in; what schools you went to and so on. Despite considerable progress, we still have a long way to go before we achieve gender equality. Many more measures need to be taken in order to ensure equal rights and equal opportunities for all girls and women, and boys and men, in Sweden. Madame chair, In light of today's priority theme, I would like to take the opportunity to focus on one of my main priorities as Minister for Gender Equality. That is, the issue of discrimination and patriarchal violence against girls and women. I especially want to highlight violence in the name of honour and other customs and practices that discriminate against and harm girls and women especially, but also boys and young men. Having control over your own mind, body and sexuality are clear markers of integrity and independence. Threats, abuse and violence are severe forms of oppression and where they exist, girls and women can not equal human rights. It pains me to say, that I represent a country in which some men do beat and abuse women. Despite all the laws and programmes that Sweden has put in place. I represent a country where some young women and men are denied the right to decide who they will marry, when they will marry or whether they will marry at all. And I represent a country where some girls, despite all the laws and information programmes, risk genital mutilation, physical and psychological abuse, and even death, at the hands of the very people who are charged with their care and safety - their parents and other family members. When we discuss gender equality in Sweden and elsewhere around the world, and in particular the protection of the girl child against discrimination and violence, we cannot keep quiet about these damaging and demeaning acts. I am talking about girls and women who live in a country that has enjoyed universal suffrage for more than 85 years. That has signed, ratified, and fully committed itself to the international treaties on human rights. A country whose constitution guarantees freedom from persecution and freedom of religion. Yet some girls and women feel unsafe and let down. So I ask myself what further steps should we take to support them. Madame chair, It is time to agree and implement concrete actions that determine clearly how states and societies can guarantee all women and girls their fundamental freedoms and rights. Even if this may mean going against traditional customs and practices. The Secretary General's study on all forms of violence against women and the study on violence against children include recommendations for intensified action on all levels. All states have a responsibility to abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices that discriminate against girls and women. We must put into place laws, policies and institutional mechanisms that make it easier to promote gender equality, with a much needed emphasis on actively improving the life-situation for girls. A precondition is that both women and men take an active part in this important work. The women's movement plays an important part in this work. Their efforts should be commended. They deserve our support and recognition. We also need to involve relevant actors, including religious leaders, NGOs, moulders of public opinion, and of course, girls and boys themselves. I would like to state that while it is essential to ensure that girls are aware of their rights, it is also important to ensure that the rest of society shares this knowledge. These girls and young women have the right to equal power to shape society and their own lives. They have the right to integrity and respect. The theme of this year's session - the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child - is a question of high priority for the Swedish government. I hope to be able to share with you the results of our efforts over the years, and warmly welcome the opportunity to learn from your experiences. Thank you!

Speech Gender Mainstreaming at governmental level in the EU Member States 01 February 2007 Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Nyamko Sabuni's statement at the conference Gender Mainstreaming at governmental level in the EU Member States Statement at the press conference following the conference on Gender Mainstreaming at governmental level in the EU Member States

Honorable guests, ladies & gentlemen - very welcome to this press conference on gender mainstreaming. There is still a discrepancy between political will and reality in gender mainstreaming in the EU. This is the challenging conclusion of the project we are discussing here today. Before going more in to this, I want to say that Sweden took the initiative to this project. It started in december 2005. And it ends with this conference. Gender mainstreming has been official EU policy since 1999, and Sweden decided that it was time to follow up what has been acheived. Now we have a report. We are here today to discuss this report, its conclusions and recommendations. As I said - there is still a discrepancy between political will and reality, even in countries in the frontline - like Sweden. So there is still much to be done when it comes to changing attitudes, legislation and political reforms. In my work as a minister in the new Swedish Goverment I will put a high priority on how to attack the most urgent equality problems in Sweden: - to promote gender equality among young parents in sharing the responsibility for the small children - through making changes in the parental leave insurance. - to find ways to fight violence against women, including abusing the human rights by forcing them into arranged marriges. Gender mainstreaming is a relatively new concept. In short - it is about how to reach the goals for gender equality. In practice it can be how to broaden the group of policy makers to take responsibility for promoting gender equality. It can be to establish gender impact assessments of proposals and bills. Another example is gender mainstreaming of the budgetary process. Which means to analyze how men and women respectively gain from the budget. I hope this conference - and the report - will inspire everybody to renew their efforts to achieve real gender equality. Thank you.