2008

Speech Strasbourg 30 October 2008 Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly Speech by Ms Maria Larsson at the Conference "Protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in Europe" Ladies and gentlemen, dear participants! As you already know this conference has been arranged in cooperation between , the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers and the Nordic Council of Ministers.

And one objective of the Swedish Chairs of these two organisations is to strengthen the status of disability issues in the work of the Council of Europe and in Nordic cooperation. Disability issues have therefore been given priority and a prominent place in the programmes of the two Swedish Chairs. It is high time to start to think about disability issues as questions of human rights. Around 650 million people with disabilities are dependent on the protection provided by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Convention does not create new rights but aims to remove obstacles that prevent persons with disabilities from enjoying human rights. And it is important to keep in mind that all human rights are indivisible and interdependent. For Sweden it is important that the continuation of the process is inclusive. Men and women with disabilities and their representative organisations must be involved in and participate fully in the implementation of the Convention. People with disabilities must themselves have a major say in the monitoring process. "Nothing about us without us!" This motto was often repeated in New York during the negotiations on the UN Convention. The rights for everyone to participate in society on equal terms should be the main focus. The results of this conference prove that we have succeeded. I am very pleased that so many people and nearly all member states have come to Strasbourg to participate in this important work. You have all contributed to its success! Europe is ready to work for full inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society. The UN Convention has been adopted and it is now important that we all work hard to ratify and implement the Convention. It is not enough to simply adjust national legislation, disability policy needs to be mainstreamed in all sectors of society. Discrimination against people with disabilities must be combated in all areas. The disability perspective must be a natural, integrated element of every public authority's regular operations. The authorities have to provide service to all citizens on equal terms. In Sweden the ratification of the UN Convention requires a parliamentary resolution. The Government's ambition is to have a parliamentary decision on ratification of the Convention and its Protocol by the end of 2008. In line with the Convention, the Government has an ongoing dialogue with the Swedish Disability Movement. The Council of Europe Action Plan for People with Disabilities is an excellent regional tool in this work. This conference has increased knowledge of the content of the UN Convention and of the Council of Europe Action Plan for People with Disabilities. So please use the Action Plan in the implementation work. Eight years ago, the , the Swedish Parliment, decided on a national action plan for disability policies. The objectives for 2010 includes accessible communications and buildings. Inadequate accessibility is a crucial obstacle to the participation of people with disabilities in society on equal terms. As an example, let me mention the first accessible island in our country. It is situated in the archipelago in Lake Vättern outside the community of Askersund. A lot of difficult Swedish names.

I was very honored to be able to inaugurate it last year. The municipality has now been certified as an accessible municipality by the Design for All Foundation. And next week they will get their accessibility lag as a symbol. To speed up developments in the rest of Sweden the Swedish Government, in cooperation with the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions, has adopted a strategy for how to achieve accessibility by 2010. It involves easily eliminated obstacles, accessible public transport and an accessible national government administration. Ladies and gentlemen. These are historic days! The first session of the Conference of the States parties to the Convention will take place in New York tomorrow. The election of twelve members of the Committee will take place on Monday. This Committee will be of great importance. It is able to consider complaints from persons with disabilities who claim to be victims of breaches by the state. This places great responsibility on governments. Within the international cooperation in the UN system Sweden is also driving the question of the enjoyment by disabled persons of their human rights in the Human Rights Council and the Commission for Social Development. In addition, Sweden is presenting a resolution on the rights of disabled persons to UNGA's Third Committee along with New Zealand and Mexico. Sweden has long played a proactive role in the Third Committee. We are also working to ensure that UN convention committees and special rapporteurs have to include the perspective of disabled persons in their work. Ensuring that the rights of disabled persons are integrated into international development cooperation is another core issue for Sweden. Some European countries have already ratified the Convention. Let all of our countries, as member states of Council of Europe, increase our efforts to continue the ratification process! I am convinced that the new Convention and the Optional Protocol to it will be strong instruments for a fundamental change worldwide. Thank you for coming and I wish you every success in the efforts in your countries!

Speech Folkets Hus, Stockholm 08 September 2008 Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly Welcome speech by Ms Maria Larsson at the opening ceremony of The World Forum Against Drugs Your Majesty, visiting dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen. I suppose that this is the first time for many of you in Stockholm - heartly welcome! It is with great pleasure that I take part in this opening of the World Forum Against Drugs. I am very proud that it takes place here in Sweden, and I can only thank the many active, local NGOs for their tireless work as organizers. There are participants from more than 80 countries and from different professions and organizations. This mix of people and experiences will help to make this conference useful and successful.

Sweden has for a long time been very active in the field of prevention. And, if I may say so, we have had some successes along the way. But we have also learned that this work needs to be an ongoing priority for society. Consequently, Sweden has invested heavily in addressing the drug problem. We have among the highest proportion of drug-related expenditures in the European Union. This conference puts a lot emphasis on the voluntary or NGO sector. Rightly so. In many instances, NGOs and volunteers, play a crucial role in the work against drugs. NGOs are extremely good at detecting new social problems which the government agencies are unaware of. NGOs are very good in meeting specific needs which are crucial for a person to be able to overcome the problems associated with poverty and exclusion. Therefore we must work together in prevention, in care and treatment and in the very important rehabilitation. Here in Sweden we are fortunate to have a number of active NGOs. The governments primary role is to make policy decisions, to draw up overall strategies, after listening to the NGOs, and to give the appropriate support. But we also need support from the general public. In my country we have today a political consensus and a broad public support for our comprehensive and restrictive drug policy. This drug policy is based on the UN Conventions. It aims to reduce both the supply and the demand of narcotics. More specifically, the policy focuses on prevention, treatment and control - three equally strong pillars. The vision is a drug-free society. Sweden believes in a balanced approach. Our view is that some measures of harm reduction are a complement to other policies and efforts. Therefore, during your visit here, you will see that Sweden accepts measures aimed at limiting the adverse consequences of drug abuse. But they can never be the only policy option. They are elements in a comprehensive care system. And they don't change the fact that illicit drugs can not be accepted and that the respect for human dignity demands a strong commitment to combat drug abuse. To reduce the demand for drugs and to tackle the negative social and health consequences - are complementary efforts. Ten years have now passed since the world community came together to plan for the work against drugs. The plans were both comprehensive and far-reaching, but maybe we have not always been successful in implementing them. The resolution which will be adopted here at this conference is part of a global UNGASS review process. Sweden has always been a staunch supporter of the UN drug conventions and of international collaboration in general. In our view, illegal drugs are connected with poverty, with HIV/AIDS, with corruption and criminality. Illegal drugs constitute a threat to security and to a democratic development in the world. The approach, consequently, requires close international collaboration, and for example also using development assistance to combat drugs. I am happy to reiterate Sweden's active support for a continuous central role for the UN conventions. The strong commitment from your side to show that there is public support for the conventions, will further help uphold respect for them. Sweden have a low level of drug use, or experimental drug use, among young people. We have made surveys among school kids about their drug use, since 1971. It is a unique material, and we make good use of it. The agency who coordinates the gathering and presentation of these surveys are also involved in European surveys called ESPAD. They are just about to begin the coordination of a new all-european survey which will now include 44 countries. Nationally, the government has adopted an action plan on drugs for the coming years. Among the priorities are young people. And one way to support hem is supporting their parents in their parenting efforts. Another current issues is to follow the introduction and evolvement of new drugs. The Internet is a newly opened shop to market and sell new drugs. It is open 24 hours and always reachable wherever you are. What used to be only a place for drug-liberal views is now a place to get hold of new, dangerous drugs. Different kinds of designer or synthetic drugs are sold over the Internet. And just recently my government classified a new narcotic called Fenazepam and prohibited this dangerous drug. In these cases we have to step in actively with efforts to protect children and young people. And we have to do it quickly once a new drug is detected. It is important for NGOs and government bodies to learn to monitor the Internet closely and to learn about the new drugs which are sold there. Let me therefore say that this conference is a perfect place to gather new knowledge and to share our experiences. Probably you have, just as I have, watched the Olympic Games. New world records, or Olympic records, or personal records, were set. Athletes improve their performance and get better - this is the basic idea about sports. But I also know that we can improve our performance - our work against drugs. We can get better in what we do. Let me therefore declare the World Games Against Drugs inaugurated. I welcome you to improve your performance and maybe even compete in how to best tackle the illegal drug situation. Thank You. And now: Let the games begin!

Speech Geneva, Switzerland 20 May 2008 Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly Statement by Sweden by Mrs. Maria Larsson at the World Health Assembly Madame Director General, Mr President, distinguished delegates, Sweden aligns itself with the statement made by Slovenia on behalf of the European Union. It is a great honor to take the floor at this Assembly, that marks the 60th anniversary of WHO and the 30th anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration.

In the past decade we have seen a substantial increase in the numbers of actors and partnerships in global health, and in the amount of funding. The fundamental role health plays in social and economic development is increasingly recognized. And it is necessary. The changing health landscape creates new challenges. We have to work in a coordinated way to improve health in all our countries. I would like to emphasize the role of WHO as the global health authority. The Swedish government would like to contribute to a sound and efficient WHO. We have seen proof that the Director General is moving the organization in this direction. I welcome the steps taken to improve financial control, transparency and result-based management. Distinguished Director General, in your inauguration speech you mentioned that you want the WHO to be to be judged by the impact it has on the health of the people of Africa, and the health of women. These are important indicators as they encompass the poorest of the poor, for example uneducated women in rural Africa. In November I visited a number of African countries. I encountered a strong commitment and far reaching ambitions in improving health. But I also met pregnant women waiting for hours for clinical care. And women who couldn't access any care at all. The harsh reality is that at least half a million women die every year globally due to birth- and pregnancy related complications. Deaths which in many cases are preventable. But Director General, as you also pointed out, women do much more than give birth. Improving women's health is essential. Primarily because it is their fundamental right. But also because it is in the interest of society as a whole. Women carry an enormous burden of ill health. Improving women's health requires efforts to promote women's self empowerment, such as guaranteeing primary education for girls and getting rid of discriminatory laws. But it also requires accessible primary health care at an affordable cost, along the lines that Alma Ata set out thirty years ago. And it requires health systems that are able to offer skilled attendance at delivery in rural areas. At mid point, we are far from reaching the health related millennium development goals. Maternal health is the target lagging most behind of the Millennium Development Goals. Only by addressing the underlying structural problems can we perform better. Communicable diseases make up a large part of the global disease burden. They are the major cause for premature deaths in Africa. Therefore, fighting them should remain one of the main priorities for WHO and Member States. A worrying example is bacteria that cannot be treated with conventional antibiotics. The spread of antimicrobial resistance poses new threats to treatment of illnesses and here a lot remains to be done The entry into force of the International Health Regulations last year was a milestone and implementing the regulations is crucial. While keeping in mind the heavy and disproportionate burden of communicable diseases on developing countries, we need to recognize the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. Neuropsychiatric disorders, cardivascular diseases, cancer, injuries and other non-communicable diseases make up a majority of the global disease burden, and they are on the rise in developing countries. There is no conflict between efforts to fight non- communicable and communicable diseases. On the contrary, there is a strong interaction between them. A marginalized person suffering from aids is more inclined to turn to alcohol and drug dependence. And alcohol and drug dependence reduces resistance to infectious diseases. In addition, diseases, whether they are communicable or not, often share common solutions. By promoting health and preventing ill-health we target a wide range of diseases. And by building strong health systems that offer prevention and treatment of both communicable and non-communicable diseases, at an affordable cost to for people, we contribute to improved health. Last year the secretariat presented us with a report on evidence-based strategies to reduce alcohol related harm. This year, a resolution has been put forward by Rwanda supported by many African countries, opting for a global strategy on harmful use of alcohol. We strongly support and commend this African initiative. I sincerely hope member states will take the opportunity to take joint action and adopt the proposed draft resolution. Let me finally extend my thoughts to the people of Burma and China who in the past weeks have seen their homes and families disappear in the ravishing forces of nature. They remind us how vulnerable we are and what disasters disturbing the eco-system can lead to. WHO has a crucial role in helping to reduce the negative impact on health of earthquakes, floods, storms and drought. I therefore hope that this Assembly will take the opportunity to scale up efforts on climate change and health. Thank you.

Speech Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, India, 08 May 2008 Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly Opening speech by Ms Maria Larsson at the Public Health Seminar Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, It is a great pleasure and honor for me to address you today at this Indian-Swedish seminar. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet and share knowledge and to learn more about the policies of our two countries and what challenges we are facing.

I have now been in India for a couple of days and I must say that I am very impressed by your beautiful country. The great hospitality that we have been shown, during our stay, the colors and the flavors are very inspiring. This school is also fantastic. I lead a prominent delegation consisting of government agencies, companies, researchers and NGO's. Our aim is to explore possible areas of cooperation between Indian and Swedish actors in the field of health. Earlier this week I had a meeting with the Indian federal Health Minister, Mr Ramadoss. I proposed him that Sweden and India set up a Memorandum of Understanding in the health field. And I invited him to come to Sweden. My impression is that he was positive on both accounts. But besides being the minister for Public Health, I am also responsible for elderly cares. The number of old people grows rapidly in Sweden and in the European union. The film we saw devote attention to the elderly issues. Our aim is that also when you become old and is in need of health care and services, you should be able to live an active and dignified life. To lay a foundation for this: the young people must have good living conditions. Much can be done to make it possible to preserve good health in your later life. This is the reason why youth and elderly persons are groups we give priority to. Public health is a challenge for our both countries. I will give you an idea about the Swedish approach. One cornerstone is how to implement national goals at the local level. We have several policy documents but when it comes to implementation it is more difficult. The local actors: the community, the NGO's, schools, decision makers, all must get involved and work together. The other important foundation is that promoting public health is a cross-sectoral work. Health care, schools and NGO's are extremely important to get impact. I have seen several positive examples of partnership-building here in India, How the Indian organization MAMTA works to change attitudes towards sexual and reproductive health and rights. And how midwifery education is being done here in Hyderabad. We were there this morning. Two very impressive examples which shows the importance of knowledge. But we must not forget the individuals own responsibility. Society may provide good information and make it easy to make good choices, but still it is the individual who must make those good choices. An important aspect is the use of research and evidence based methods. The need for research is well accepted in health care and in medical treatment. And I mean it must be developed also to find methods to prevent health threats, for example caused by alcohol, tobacco and food. Just recently I sent a Public Health Bill to parliament. One of the focus areas in this bill is mental health, especially among young people. Physical health has improved and is fairly good in my country. But for example among girls there is a growing mental health problem. To empower parents and give voluntary support to them would benefit children's health. Several studies shows this. A special action program will be set up for parental support and advice. Public health policy is not just a national concern. We are facing major health challenges on the global arena today. During this trip I have had a god insight into the Millennium Development Goals concerning early child and maternal mortality. Problems related to this area continue to cause one- third of all deaths and disabilities among women globally. The questions of sexual and reproductive health and rights is an important global public health issue. Sweden is working actively within WHO in this field. Here in India it is also a burning issue. It will need a lot of attention and change of attitudes to reach these goals in India. A responsible political leadership is a key to change peoples attitudes. Therefore I was glad to learn that midwifery training is supported by the responsible politicians in this state. I believe that Sweden and India would both benefit from increased cooperation and I see many potential areas for dialogue and partnership. So, let me finally say that I am glad to be here today. And impressed by the participation from all of you who wanted to come. Please use this seminar to make useful contacts for future cooperation. Improved cooperation, trade and research are important tools that we need to make use of to find solutions to our common welfare and health challenges. In this spirit I am looking forward to an interesting seminar and following fruitful discussions. Thank you! 2007

Speech León, Spain 08 November 2007 Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly Statement by H.E. Ms Maria Larsson, 2007 UNECE Ministerial Conference on Ageing "A Society for All Ages: Challenges and Opportunities" Mr Chairman, dear colleagues, experts and friends, It is a great honor for me to participate in this important event. I am very grateful for the warm hospitality shown to us from our hosts - the Spanish government and the UNECE. You have once again drawn the attention to the situation of our ageing populations.

This is the beautiful Chinese sign for "old". I have learnt that it is synonymous with "wise, experienced and respectable". My vision is that all generations will regard ageing as a period where dignity is preserved. Unfortunately - this is not the case. Old people are too often looked upon as an economic burden and a strain on our health care systems. The other way to look at it, is to see the demographic curve as a tremendous welfare achievement. The last decade we have reached better health and developed our social insurance systems. In a global perspective we now live longer and we are healthier than ever before. But - somehow we seem to have lost some important aspects along the way. Let me tell you about Fariba, who lives in Sweden. She came from Iran 28 years ago. She is now 78 and she has lost most of the Swedish language because of the dementia she is developing. The problem is that those who provide care can only speak Swedish. They come three times a day to help with medicine and daily routines. Fariba must be able to communicate in her own language. One important step in the process of changing the attitudes towards old people, like Fariba, is to highlight the importance of dignity. Dignified ageing is to be able to remain the person you are. In the example of Fariba - dignity is to be able to communicate in a language that you understand. In Sweden, and in a great part of the western world, we have to show our respect and appreciation towards our citizens also when they reach old age. I claim that the way we value old persons and the way we approach the issue of ageing - is an important part of the solution today and in the future. The right for Fariba to choose who comes to her house to help her, is one example of dignity. In Sweden we therefore develop a system of client- choice for old people. How we organize our welfare systems differ from one country to another. But the challenge of dignity must be dealt with no matter what system we have. Dignity must be a fundamental value. It has little to do with economy. And everything to do with attitudes. And it is relevant everywhere. We have gathered here in León to follow up the important process started in Madrid and Berlin five years ago. In the ministerial declaration we shall adopt today, there is a strong emphasis on dignity and on strengthening the individual. Let us continue this regional cooperation. I would welcome increased exchange in experiences on systems for social services and social protection within the region and also globally. How could we - governments, the UN, the scientific society and NGO:s - together build a society where dignity is guaranteed? My vision is that the work with elderly care will be based on the fact that old people are "wise, experienced and deserves our respect". Thank you for your attention!

Speech Park Inn, Solna 14 September 2007 Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly Speech by Mrs Maria LARSSON at the closing ceremony of the project Children at risk Dear colleagues, As Swedish Minister for Elderly Care and Public Health I am honoured to be here at this last day of your training. My impression is that your training in many ways is unique. Not only in our region but in the world.

Trafficking in human beings is a human rights violation. This means that victims of trafficking are victims of gross violations of their rights as human beings. Trafficking in children is also a violation of their rights as children. It is a responsibility of each government to make certain that the rights of the child are respected and ensured. It includes ensuring the right to protection and support in situations where a child is the victim. In order for this to be possible, expertise must be developed in each country. I know this is the reason why you are here and why you have all participated in this training. The quality of life of children in the countries in the Baltic Sea Region on the whole is rising. Fewer children grow up in poverty and the access to education is bigger. At the same time, some children face enormous difficulties: Some grow up in families that are plagued by alcohol abuse with all the consequences this has on a child's development. Earlier this week I launched a nationwide initiative to increase support to children who grow up in such families. Some children are victims of violence and some suffer from being sexually abused by persons that should be there to care for them. In our region some children also face the violence and exploitation coming from being trafficked from their home country. With the purpose of someone to exploit them in the commercial sex market, or engage them in criminal activities or in slave like working conditions. The countries in the Baltic Sea Region also see children that come unaccompanied - who reach other countries to seek a better future. Their living conditions in their home country has become a threat to their lives or freedom. Children that are separated from their families in this way create a challenge to the child protection systems in our countries. These children are more vulnerable to becoming abused or violated. All countries in the Baltic Sea Region, and in the world, face an important and challenging task: To ensure the best possible care and rehabilitation to children that have been sexually abused or physically violated or exploited in any way. Improved sharing of expertise and increased exchange of knowledge means that more children will benefit from adequate assistance. To do this, networks of professionals need to be built and maintained. These are powerful countermeasures when we as a region move towards creating societies where no child is left out. I believe that you constitute such a network - a regional resource - when it comes to assisting children in their reintegration and rehabilitation. It is and should always be the goal of the regional cooperation on children at risk to assist countries in the region in their full implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Every boy and every girl has a right to be heard and every child, no matter what her or his experiences are, has a right to develop in accordance to her or his potential. This training is organised by the Working Group for Cooperation on Children at Risk under the Council of the Baltic Sea States. It would not have been possible however, had it not been for the support given by the European Commission through the Daphne programme. In order for countries outside of the EU but bordering to our region to participate, I know that NGOs and public agencies have cooperated to ensure funding also from Save the Children Sweden and from the Oak foundation. I see this as a unique and promising way of cooperation between the Council of the Baltic Sea States, civil society, public agencies, private foundations and the European Commission. Preventing children from coming to harm is the most important aspect of child protection. You are now a regional resource in this work. And I know that you will all be called upon to assist children and young people in your respective countries. Your knowledge and your expertise coupled with your extensive regional network present in this room, makes me certain that you will succeed. It is now my privilege to extend to you the certificates you have all earned: Please step forward to receive them. Thank You.

Speech Conference of the Healthy Ageing Project, Brussels 26 June 2007 Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly Opening at conference of the Healthy Ageing Project Mr. President/Distinguished delegates/Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great honour to take the floor and open this final conference for the EU-funded project "Healthy Ageing". As a Minister for Elderly Care and Public Health the elderly issues are very important for me. I congratulate the project for the very demanding and interesting results. I am glad for this opportunity to express my support for the final recommendations and the priority topics for actions. They are all very demanding for the Member States.

Ageing is an international challenge that also require international co-operation as many countries find themselves in the same situation. Challenges concerning demography make the concept and recommendations of Healthy Ageing very important. Demographic trends threaten to increase the pressure on public finances. Ageing must be high on the political agenda. It is a question of curbing costs, to have long-term strategies and to see the advantages in having a long and more healthy life. Health and economic growth and development are closely related. Keywords are implementation, co-ordination, prevention. Easy to say but challenging to work with. Often there is expost treatment instead of prevention for elderly. The consequences of doing nothing for the growing part of old citizens are costly. The European Commission has established a High-Level-Group for demography issues in order to give support with analysis and exchange of experiences. Its focus is on family policies but we have to look upon demography issues as a whole. We need both research and good practice to know more how to tackle the demographic challenges. It is necessary to start early with actions. The ability of each Member State to deal with its own demographic trends is key to maintaining macroeconomic stability in the EU. To promote healthy ageing among people aged 50 years and over is a very useful concept thanks to this Healthy Ageing project. Sustainable development has been an overall objective of the Treaty on European Union ever since 1999. Social participation is fundamental for sustainable development. Public finances must be sound in order to ensure sustainable and long-term welfare systems. Demographic changes will have a major impact on public sector expenditures. A high rate of employment is essential to cope with the demographic challenge. The fact that more and more people are living longer and healthier is demanding for our societies and for sustainable societies of tomorrow. We need tools for successful efforts and sustainable development requires an intersectoral perspective. We have to include people in our efforts and we have to include ageing people as well and give them a meaningful role to play. I want to mention EU's conference in Berlin in April this year: "Demographic Change as Opportunity: The economic potential of the elderly". The theme of this conference gives us an important message: the elderly can contribute in many ways e.g. in the labour market, as volunteers etc. Age discrimination has been pinpointed within this Healthy Ageing project as one of the main barriers. The Healthy Ageing project tells us that age discrimination is the most common type of prejudice experienced by people aged 55 and over. The timing is right to really start lifting the whole issue of age discrimination to a higher level. We have to prepare for a higher employment rate among elderly people and start early for increased participation of older workers as the Healthy Ageing project is telling us. A successful public health policy is decisive for ensuring healthy old age and a high rate of participation in the labour force. The Healthy Ageing project says: "Keep a balance between personal resources and work demands and do not tolerate age discrimination". There is a Commission Report called "Promoting Solidarity Between the Generations". We need both research and good practice to know more how to tackle it. More room must be created in the labour market for all groups. We have to use good practices from NGOs concerning elderly issues in "face-to-face-help". We have to provide opportunities for older people to do voluntary work among seniors. Both the volunteers and the old people who receive the services will benefit from projects aiming to support a more active life style. Motivating the least motivated is crucial - an experience from this Healthy Ageing project. The results tell us that it is a good concept providing opportunities for voluntary work by older volunteers. As a Minister for Elderly Care my vision is a that elderly people must always be treated with dignity and respect with possibilities of choosing their social care service as well as having influence of what will be done by the staff in social care services. The Swedish Government wants to increase freedom of choice in order to strengthen the possibilities for elderly people to influence their own everyday lives by using among others an introduction of a dignity guarantee. The estimate for Sweden tells us that the percentage of elderly among the Swedish population will rise substantially over the next few decades. In 2050 there will be a duplication of 80+ comparing with today. Very shortly I will give you some examples from the Swedish Government Bill (April 2007) "Policy for elderly". The Government is now financially supporting this sector with 211 million Euro (2 billion SEK). It is a very strong contribution from the Government in order to increase the quality for the care of the elderly. A large government grant has been set aside to stimulate local authorities and regions in building more housing facilities for elderly. A great majority of the elderly in Sweden live in ordinary homes and wish to live there as long as possible but some persons wish to move to a special housing accommodation. There is a lack of special housing and new forms of housing must be developed and designed for elderly. We now have 144 million Euro (1.35 billion SEK) in the government budget for local authorities and regions to reach higher quality in health and medical care for older persons.

Seven areas are included in these priorities: 1. Better accessibility to doctors/physicians for elderly in special housing and in ordinary homes 2. Prevention 3. Develop the dementia care 4. Rehabilitation 5. Supervision of pharmaceutical products (e.g. to avoid fall accidents) 6. Nutrition - good eating habits 7. The social part of life for the elderly We want to make it possible for the elderly to maintain the possibility of independent living in their ordinary homes. We have 2,4 million Euro (22 million SEK) for stimulating the development of technical equipment and service for old people by using e.g. access to technology and by using housing improvement. I will give you one example how technical support can facilitate for them. Use of medication can be a problem and in order to avoid errors in drug intake we can offer a technical reminder, telling the old person when it is time for medication. It is very important for family members and relatives with the development of the new technology in every day life of old persons. Staff in health and social care services needs support in their professional role and their continuing professional development. This will be our next step in order to establish a minimum level of competence for staff in the elderly care sector. The social situation for older people is for the first time an earmarked sub-area of the government's elderly policy. We have just started our preparations for the Swedish Presidency of the Council of Ministers in the autumn of 2009. It will be a long process before agenda items for the Council meetings and themes for conferences are decided. However, I think it is important to put some focus on healthy aging during the Swedish presidency. Mr. President, to conclude I would like to emphasize my strong support for the work carried out by this Healthy Ageing project. All Member States have responsibilities to contribute to enforcing the efforts in this area. Some regional networks have already been created e.g. within United Kingdom and for the Nordic countries. The success of a high level political agenda will depend on local and regional initiatives. Regional networks can strengthen such a process. It is with great satisfaction I welcome this Healthy Ageing report. The report clearly shows that a lot can be done to improve the situation for old people to get a society respecting their needs. We must use their capacity and their wish to participate in the communities and treat them with respect. Thanks to this project we all now know that it is never too late to promote health. Thank you and I hope that we will have a fruitful conference.

Speech ASEM Workshop, Stockholm 05 June 2007 Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly Opening remarks by Mrs Maria Larsson at ASEM Workshop on HIV and AIDS Good morning everyone!

I hope you had an interesting day yesterday and that you had the opportunity to experience some of our Swedish efforts in the field of health care, prevention, information and education. An HIV-diagnosis is still in many countries a death sentence. Parents watch their babies die. And children watch their parents die.

A story of a mother in Kenya has effected me deeply. She was infected and so was her baby. But she could only afford drugs for one person in her family. So she gave her own treatment to save her son. This story, as well as many others, show that there is still much to be done. The global goal is to reach everyone with health care and prevention. The summit of the G8-countries set this target to be reached in 2010. And the United Nations agreed on a similar goal in the Declaration of Commitment which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2001 and reaffirmed in 2006. And the goal is clear: the world needs general access to HIV-prevention, treatment and care. But we are not there yet. There is a lack of approximately eight billion dollars for this year alone, according to an estimate made by the United Nations. The G8 countries will meet in Germany tomorrow. And we all have high hopes for renewed promises of increased support. I was glad to learn a few days ago that President Bush asked Congress to approve 30 billion dollars for HIV/AIDS prevention. Hopefully, in the future, no mother or father will have to choose which family member should be given drug treatment, if more than one is infected. As Swedish Minister for Public Health, I have a firm conviction to reduce the spread of HIV in my country. I would like to mention two of my priorities to do this. The first one is to strengthen the cooperation with NGO's in the field of prevention and care. I have met several voluntary organizations in this field since I became minister for public health. Just recently I met Noaks Ark. I know that some of these NGO's were on your agenda for the field visits yesterday. NGO's work in a way which authorities and Government agencies normally cannot do. And they do it on a local level. The voluntary aspect touches upon one of my key priorities. We must allow different actors to do what they do best. A proactive Government is necessary and NGOs need the backing of the Government. NGOs are better equipped to do some things while businesses can contribute in other areas. Businesses have for example a certain responsibility to their employees and their employees' families. The Swedish Government puts a lot of emphasis on cooperation with voluntary organizations and NGOs. We are therefore looking into the possibilities of formulating a partnership of cooperation between Government and NGOs in the social field in our country. We may have different ways to work and to approach a problem, but the overall aim must be to cooperate - not compete. My second priority is to support efforts at the local level. It is at the local and regional levels that politics is put into practice. Therefore we have recently chosen a new way of distributing most of the Swedish national budget for preventive work against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. And of course, it is equally important to have close co-operation between the national, regional and local levels. In December last year the Government and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions concluded the first round of negotiations on this topic. The plan is to make annual agreements for the priority areas. We have also established a National Council against HIV/AIDS. The Council has an advisory role in Swedish preventive work. It functions as a venue for creating a unifying and strategic platform for all actors, from the public sector as well as from civil society. There is a need to allow many different actors in this field. As I said, cooperation between Government, Local Authorities, NGO:s and also business is crucial to take on this complex challenge. I also have a firm conviction to strengthen parenthood. The aim of my Government is to provide parents with voluntary support in their role as parents. A well-functioning family is what our children need the most. With parents ready to take responsibility for themselves and for the upbringing of their children. A preventive work can be done in many areas. I will now leave the floor to . Let me assure You of my great interest and firm commitment in this field of HIV and AIDS. Gunilla and I are happy to work closely together "Standing up for HIV Prevention". I wish you all a fruitful conference day! Thank you.

Speech 20 March 2007 Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly Speech by Maria Larsson at the inauguration of the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

Dear Zsuzsanna, Commissioner Kyprianou, Board Members, Honourable guests, I am pleased to have the opportunity to be here for the inauguration of this new auditorium named after the late mayor of Solna Mr Anders Gustâv. My first visit to ECDC took place in November last year; and I have to stress again that ECDC headquarters - the Tomteboda building - is very strategically located in the heart of the Karolinska Institute Campus area close to the Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease and situated in a very beautiful park. My Ministry has a very central location in Stockholm, close to other ministries and the Swedish Parliament - which is an advantage in many ways. But we do not have the nice surroundings you have. Now, let me continue with a word about ECDC and why the work you do is so important. It is obvious that you have a very important mission - strengthening Europe's defences against infectious diseases. In today's world when diseases could and probably will spread internationally - and quickly - one very important factor for handling this successfully will be the cooperation with and between the Member States and Member States experts. You are responsible for coordinating this, and the key word is networking. We have experienced your success in managing this task and thus giving proof of added value in addition to what is done at national level. I am sure Commissioner Kyprianou agrees with me. Mr Commissioner, having the same portfolio - public health - we share the same interest in this important area. I have no doubt that we will continue to have a successful and fruitful cooperation and together give our support to the work of ECDC and the important mission: defences against infectious diseases. I know that ECDC is in the midst of a process of establishing a multiannual programme for 2007 - 2013 including priorities for your future work. A lot of challenges have been identified linked to communicable diseases and I also note what you say: that there is always a risk that the on-going - often very non -glamourous - routine preventive work, which is necessary to maintain the good progress we have achieved, is neglected. As you quote: "All successful prevention undermines the reason for its own existence". The fact that people are travelling all over the Globe and a change of lifestyles make us vulnerable; we need to be aware that what we have done and are doing in relation to communicable diseases are long-term commitments, we must always be vigilant. Another important task you have in front of you is the evaluation of your achievements, as specified in your founding regulation, and linked to this an assessment whether ECDC's mission should be extended to other Community activities in the area of public health. I look forward to the coming discussion on this. From a Swedish perspective I can assure you, that the cooperation with you, the EU institutions, Members States and international organisations are a priority for us. Joint forces are necessary to combat communicable diseases. When it comes to pandemic preparedness we are putting a lot of efforts in this - and we know that you do the same. You have identified some key areas which need to be improved, such as a more integrated planning across different ministries and making the plans more operational at local level. My Ministry is actively involving other ministries in the preparedness work; last week we had an exercise with all ministries within the Government. We are now in the process of drawing conclusions from this exercise so we can take the next step in our preparedness planning. We welcome the support ECDC is giving all the Member States in this area, so we very much welcome the ECDC support visit to us here in Sweden in April in order to assess our influenza pandemic preparedness. Thank you again Zsuzsanna for giving me the opportunity to take part in this inauguration. I wish you a fruitful Board meeting. Thank you!