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Handbook Sweden's Feminist Foreign Policy

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Handbook Sweden's Feminist Foreign Policy Handbook Sweden’s feminist foreign policy Handbook Sweden’s feminist foreign policy Download this handbook on www.regeringen.se Photographers: p. 1, 20 and 69 Ryan Brown/UN Women p. 7, 11, 14 and 15 Kristian Pohl/Government Offices of Sweden p. 17 Ninni Andersson/Government Offices of Sweden p. 41 Catarina Axelsson/Government Offices of Sweden p. 24 Manuel Elias/UN Photo p. 26 The Swedish Embassy in Mexico p. 29 and 42 Government Offices of Sweden p. 35 The Swedish Embassy in Tunis p. 55 and 59 Moa Haeggblom/Government Offices of Sweden p. 57 The Swedish Embassy in Islamabad p. 62 The Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU p. 65 Elin Nyström/Government Offices of Sweden p. 72 Catarina Axelsson/Government Offices of Sweden p. 75 Linda Grandin/ The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency p. 79 Ulrika Grandin/Government Offices of Sweden p. 86 Johan Schiff p. 91 Hanne Hansen/Swedish Chamber of Commerce p. 94 The Delegation of Sweden to Unesco, Paris p. 97 Osse Greca Sinare p 101 Plan International Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 2019 2 Handbook Sweden’s feminist foreign policy Contents 3.5 Exemples of internal work .............43 Contents Foreword ............................................... 6 3.6 Voices on feminist foreign policy ............................................48 1. Introduction ....................................... 8 4. Methods for norm changes and 2. What is feminist foreign policy? .. 10 mobilisation .................................... 52 2.1 The core of the feminist foreign policy ...........................................................11 5. Working methods within the various The three Rs ..............................................13 subsidiary areas of foreign policy 60 2.2 The framework for the feminist 5.1 Foreign and security policy ............63 foreign policy ............................................16 5.1.1 Peace and security .......................63 2.3 Objective areas for Sweden's 5.1.2 Human rights, democracy feminist foreign policy .............................19 and the rule of law ...................................68 2.3.1 Full enjoyment of human 5.1.3 Disarmament and rights ...........................................................20 non-proliferation .....................................72 2.3.2 Freedom from physical, 5.2 International development psychological and sexual violence .....22 cooperation...............................................74 2.3.3 Participation in preventing and 5.3 Trade and promotion policy ...........85 resolving conflicts, and post-conflict peacebuilding ...........................................24 6. Working methods at country level 92 2.3.4 Political participation and influence in all areas of society ............25 7. Pursuing gender equality in the face 2.3.5 Economic rights and of headwinds .................................... 102 empowerment ........................................27 2.3.6 Sexual and reproductive 8. References ..................................... 108 health and rights (SRHR) ......................28 8.1 Documents ..................................... 108 3. Working methods within the 8.2 Websites ...........................................111 Swedish Foreign Service ................ 30 8.3 Twitter ................................................111 3.1 Leadership ..........................................31 3.2 Ownership .........................................34 3.3 Guidance .............................................36 3.4 Support ...............................................39 Handbook Sweden’s feminist foreign policy 5 Foreword In October 2014, Sweden became the use when analysing conditions in the shows that gender-equal societies enjoy based on new knowledge and analyses. first country in the world to launch a contexts we work in. What do the better health, stronger economic feminist foreign policy. Taking this step statistics say about the differences growth and greater security. It also In pursuing a feminist foreign policy, means that we systematically integrate a between women and men, girls and shows that gender equality contributes Sweden’s feminist government has gender perspective throughout our boys? Do they have the same rights – to to peace, and that when woman are taken another step towards realising its foreign policy agenda. education, work, marriage, divorce and involved in peace processes, the vision of a gender-equal world. By inheritance? Are women represented likelihood of lasting peace increases. sharing knowledge and experiences, we This handbook is intended as a resource where decisions that affect them are can all contribute to accelerating global in international work for gender equality made – in parliaments, on boards and in This handbook presents activities gender equality. Change is possible. and all women’s and girls’ full enjoyment legal systems? Is gender equality taken carried out by thousands of people all of human rights. It contains a selection into account when resources are over the world. Naturally, it only of methods and experiences that can allocated – in central government includes a selection of implemented and serve as examples and inspiration for budgets or development assistance ongoing activities, not least because further work in the Swedish Foreign projects? methods are constantly being refined Service and other areas of public administration, and society generally. The policy has achieved significant The handbook also outlines the first results. We have established a network Per Olsson Fridh Ann Linde Anna Hallberg years of feminist foreign policy of women mediators active all around Minister for International Minister for Minister for Foreign implementation, responding simul- the world. We have championed issues Development Cooperation Foreign Affairs Trade with responsibility taneously to the considerable national relating to women, peace and security for Nordic Affairs and international interest in this policy. within the UN Security Council. We have campaigned for women’s and girls’ Sweden’s feminist foreign policy begins sexual and reproductive health and and ends with reality. Based on facts and rights, and greater access to midwives; statistics on the daily lives of girls and we have increased the representation of women, the policy aims to deliver women in peace processes and legal results that make a difference in people’s systems, and in the world’s largest lives. Otherwise, it will lose its relevance. online encyclopedia Wikipedia. Feminist foreign policy work is organised Our work is based on the premise that around three Rs: rights, representation gender equality is not just a women’s and resources. This is the framework we issue – it benefits everyone. Research 6 Handbook Sweden’s feminist foreign policy Handbook Sweden’s feminist foreign policy 7 1. Introduction Sweden is the first country in the world This handbook is divided into seven to pursue a feminist foreign policy. The sections, combining methods with policy was launched in 2014 in response examples of what the policy has to the discrimination and systematic achieved. The introductory chapter subordination that still mark the daily describes what Sweden’s feminist lives of countless women and girls foreign policy involves and is based on. around the world. The feminist foreign The next section reviews the methods policy entails applying a systematic used to ensure the impact of the policy gender equality perspective throughout in the Swedish Foreign Service. The foreign policy. One starting point is following chapter provides examples of that gender equality is an objective in how the feminist foreign policy works itself, but it is also essential for with norm change and mobilisation. achieving the Government’s other Then follows a chapter with examples overall objectives, such as peace, of overall methods that have been used security and sustainable development. within the three policy areas encompas- sed by Swedish foreign policy – foreign This handbook describes how Sweden’s and security policy, development feminist foreign policy was launched, cooperation, and trade and promotion gathered pace and was developed into policy. The two concluding chapters a hallmark for Swedish dialogue in a take a closer look at operations at world characterised by gender inequali- country level and describe the work ty. The handbook is based on experien- involved in pursuing gender equality in ces from the work of the Swedish the face of headwinds. Foreign Service, and focuses on the practical implementation of the policy. It is intended to support the Swedish Foreign Service in its ongoing work, while also satisfying the considerable national and international interest in Sweden’s feminist foreign policy. 8 Handbook Sweden’s feminist foreign policy Handbook Sweden’s feminist foreign policy 9 2.1 The core of the feminist foreign policy 2. What is feminist foreign policy? Essentially, Sweden’s feminist foreign “In a world with increasing policy is a working method and a resistance to women’s and perspective that takes three Rs as girls’ rights, representation and its starting point and is based on a fourth R. The implication is that the resources, a feminist foreign Swedish Foreign Service, in all its parts, policy is needed more than shall strive to strengthen all women’s ever. Sweden will continue to and girls’ Rights, Representation and Resources, based on the Reality in pursue this policy with full which they live. Sweden’s feminist force all around the world.” foreign policy is
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