Equality between women and men in Sweden

Gender equality issues are dealt with at the Ministry for Integration and Gender Equality, where the Division for Gender Equality has among its tasks the processing of gender equality matters.

The Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman also comes under the Minister for Gender Equality, as do questions concerning legislation and equality between men and women in the workplace.

New national objectives for gender equality in Sweden

The main objective of the government's policy is that "women and men shall have equal power to shape society and their own lives". A prerequisite to accomplish this is that women and men enjoy the same opportunities, rights and obligations in all spheres of life.

Interim objectives:

• An equal distribution of power and influence. Women and men shall have the same rights and opportunities
  to be active citizens and to shape the conditions of
  decision-making.
• Economic equality between women and men. Women and men shall have the same opportunities and
  conditions with regards to education and paid work that
  provide life long economic independence.
• An equal distribution of unpaid care and household work. Women and men shall take the same responsibility for
  household work and have the same opportunities to give
  and receive care on equal terms.
• Men's violence against women shall come to an end. Women and men, girls and boys, shall have equal rights and
  opportunities to physical integrity.

Adopted by the Swedish parliament (Riksdag) in May 2006.