The national strategy brings together intimate partner violence, honor-related violence and oppression, as well as exploitation in prostitution and human trafficking, as proposed by the government's special investigator last year.
Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson (L) emphasizes at a press conference the importance of violence prevention and early intervention, as well as the need for support and protection for vulnerable women and children.
But at the same time, women's shelters have raised the alarm that many of them have been forced to close since the government introduced new legal requirements for permits in 2024. A total of 37 shelters for women have been closed, according to Unizon and Roks.
Women's shelters are closing
When asked whether fewer women can receive support today, Nina Larsson replied:
It is true that women's shelters have chosen to close due to these increased demands, but the demands have been important in ensuring that vulnerable women receive the protection and support they need.
She says that the government has given extra money to women's shelters to help them develop their work, but does not rule out that more may need to be done.
The Minister for Gender Equality also points to a number of toughened legislative measures as important for combating men's violence against women.
This includes the new sanction of secure custody, the possibility of life imprisonment for repeated aggravated rapes, and a ban on cousin marriages.
Critics have also warned that other increases in penalties, such as double sentences for gang criminals, risk creating effects where domestic assault could receive a lower sentence than assault committed in a gang context.
I don't rule out the need to tighten things up on that front as well, says Nina Larsson.
Honor-related oppression
The fight against honor-related violence will also become a separate new gender equality policy goal, even though investigator Anna Ekstedt did not think such a goal was necessary.
The Swedish Gender Equality Authority's Director General Lise Tamm emphasizes that girls should be able to "cycle, swim and not be forced to wear anything when they are small children and unable to decide for themselves." She has decided that the authority should not have pictures of little girls wearing headscarves in its material, and thinks that more should follow suit.
However, this is not part of the strategy, according to Nina Larsson. She points out that psychological violence will be criminalized this summer.
Compulsion to wear religious clothing may be one such element. It is important that authorities and others are vigilant about this.
