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Excellencies, distinguished delegates.
It is an honour for me to speak at this debate on behalf of the Swedish Government. Allow me first of all to express my appreciation for the excellent work the Assistant Secretary General Angela King and the Division for the Advancement of Women has done to promote gender equality within the UN system. I also would like to align myself to the statement made by my Greek colleague on behalf of the European Union.
Why, in the year of 2003, does male violence against women still exist? Why is the most dangerous place for a woman her own home?
The truth is: we are still living in an unequal society, a society where the oppression and discrimination of women by men still prevail, and where men are seen as superior to women. A world where men create the norm, and importantly, in which men use different forms of violence to control the lives of women and girls.
All this because of those male power structures that continue to shape us and the world we live in. Women are confronted with these structures and inequalities every day throughout our lives. It starts when a baby is born, and it continues during pre-school and all through their educational years. And as grown-up women we struggle, everyday, to surmount these barriers. Women have a weaker economic position, they own less – in many countries nothing at all – and in general they have less access to various resources.
One important area where women constantly face massive inequalities is in the labour market. In working life, women all over the world are confronted with higher rates of unemployment, less possibilities for a career, and lower wages.
In Sweden, we are, therefore, currently focusing on mending the wage gap between women and men. Lots of activities are taking place to highlight this injustice. The Swedish evening paper, Aftonbladet, is conducting the most recent campaign to highlight the fact that in Sweden, there are still a wage gap between women and men. It’s important for us to support these kinds of awareness-raising activities. In furthering our work for gender equality, media can play a positive and important role.
The root cause of wage inequalities is the difference in how women and men are valued in a patriarchal society. Men and male work are considered more valuable than women. Economic independence is the bases for women and men as we strive to create a society based on gender equality. All feasible measures must be taken to empower women and strengthen their economic independence.
The most serious expression of these inequalities is when men physically abuse, rape, and prostitute women and girls and sell them as they are common goods or commodities. For many of us the family is a source of security and comfort. Unfortunately, for many women and girls around the world, however, this is not their reality. Millions of women and girls are victims of crimes committed by men in the name of honour. Women and girls suffer female genital mutilation, dowry-related violence as well as early and forced marriages, prostitution and every day women and girls are targeted in armed conflicts.
In many countries, women lack access to sexual and reproductive health care services. This issue needs to be addressed politically, in the educational and health care systems, as well as in society at large. In this context, I must express my deepest concerns. The political climate in the world today, compared to in 1995 and during the Beijing process has unfortunately changed for the worse.
In recent years, some countries have taken measures, both in and outside the UN system, aimed to counteract previous successful work, thus, making the continuing struggle for women’s reproductive health and sexual rights much harder. I am especially concerned about the recent cuts to funding for different projects aimed to promote and improve women’s and girls’ reproductive health and sexual rights. I like, however, to express my deep appreciation for the important work done by the UNFPA, UNICEF and UNDP.
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In the many armed conflicts we are witnessing around the globe today, civilians make up between 75% and 90% of the deaths and casualties. Of those the majority are women and children. Women and children also make up the vast majority of refugees and internally displaced persons.
In conflict situations, soldiers systematically subject women and girls to murder, to physical abuse and torture, to rape and other kinds of sexualised male violence, forced pregnancies, sexual slavery and other violations of human rights or breaches of international humanitarian law. All violations and breaches, as well as violent crimes committed by emergency relief workers and members of peacekeeping forces, must be condemned and punished. Also, importantly, women must be included as equal partners in the post-war negotiations.
The former Finnish Minister of Defence, Ms. Elisabeth Rehn, has made this clear in her report to UNIFEM on women and war. Sweden is currently working to find a viable strategy on how to involve women in the prevention of war as well as in the post-war negotiations.
Mr Chair,
Prostitution constitutes one of the most serious expressions of the oppression and discrimination of women and girls and a major obstacle to equality between the sexes. It is also a threat to our common efforts to develop sustainable solutions that will allow women and children in all our societies to lead lives free of oppression and male violence.
We cannot achieve gender equality and equal participation of women and men in all fields of society as long as women and children in our countries are victims of prostitution and trafficking. It is time to focus our work on the root cause of this despicable trade with human beings, that is, the demand for women and children for prostitution and sexual exploitation.
No trade can take place without buyers and therefore we must not discuss trafficking in women and children without mentioning prostitution and the fact that men buy women and children for sexual purposes. Nor can we talk about prostitution without reference to trafficking in women and children. We will never succeed in combating trafficking unless we take a vigorous stand against prostitution at the same time. Prostitution is male violence against women and children and an unacceptable contradiction in a civilised modern society in which women and men are equal.
Thank you!
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