National Statement by Minister for International Development Cooperation, H.E. Ms. Matilda Ernkrans at the Commission on Population and Development, fifty-fifth session, New York, 25 April 2022
Mr. Chair, Distinguished Delegates, Civil Society Representatives, Sweden aligns itself with the statement delivered by Denmark on behalf of the Nordic Countries, the EU statement and the cross-regional statement delivered by Mexico.
Gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights for all are the foundations for inclusive economic growth and for achieving Agenda 2030. Without them, we will fail on our commitments and obligations.
Let me outline a few key areas for action, and remind ourselves of the gains they would bring about.
First, to achieve inclusive and sustained economic growth and development, we need to eliminate discriminatory legislation. We must prevent all forms of sexual and gender-based violence. And we have to ensure women’s and girls’ control over their own body, sexuality and reproductive health.
If women and girls were able to enjoy their rights to decide freely if and when to have children, they would have better access to education and the labour market. There would be greater economic growth and prosperity.
Unsafe abortion is one of the main causes of maternal mortality and morbidity globally. Millions of women suffer severe complications due to unsafe abortion every year.
If women and girls everywhere had access to safe abortion care and services, maternal mortality and morbidity could be prevented. Girls could participate fully in education, women could participate more freely in the labour market, and we could have inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.
We must draw on both data and experiences. In Sweden, social and economic reforms have enabled women’s full participation in the labour market. This includes investments in social protection systems and universal health care. Individual parental leave, and affordable, quality childcare. Access to contraception and to safe abortion. Pushing forward in all areas, we started to transform decades ago and could rather quickly reap the benefits. Another lesson learned is that to create equal opportunities between men and women we have to include responsibilities for household, child and elderly care in the equation.
If women and men share the responsibility for unpaid domestic and care work, women can more easily participate in the formal labour and have a better chance of getting decent and well-paid jobs. This too would allow us to see global GDP grow considerably.
It is partly because of our own positive experience that Sweden encourages international and national investments in gender equality, social protection systems and sexual and reproductive health and rights. We have seen the importance and value of access to comprehensive sexuality education, modern methods of contraception and safe and legal abortion care and services.
As we build back after the covid pandemic, let us put gender equality and investments in sexual and reproductive health and rights for all at the core. Let us not miss this opportunity to achieve inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.
Thank you!