Men’s violence against women must be a part of the international agenda!

The global extent of violence against women and girls will be one of many topics at Nordiskt Forum Malmö 2014. Violence against women and girls is also the theme of the 57th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The Swedish women’s rights movement demonstrate strength and unity, in a time when women’s rights are challenged in Sweden as well as globally, through a joint policy paper demanding governmental engagement and action to eliminate all forms of men’s violence against women.

The UN CSW has previously addressed the need for preventive work in its outcome documents from the 1998 and 2007 sessions. The fact that 2012 years session of the CSW ended without agreed conclusions, however, demonstrated once again that women’s rights are questioned and threatened around the world.

With the current political backlash for women’s rights we recognize the need to mobilize the global women’s rights movement and to make adequate use of the knowledge and experience that this movement holds. Through Nordiskt Forum Malmö 2014 – New Action on Women’s Rights, the Nordic women’s movement can set a common political agenda for the advancement of women’s rights. We welcome you to make gender equality a reality!