In 2024, Sweden held the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The year has been characterised by both retrospection and serious efforts for the future. The 50th anniversary of Nordic gender equality co-operation has been celebrated with an anniversary publication. It features interviews with eight people who have all followed developments from 1974 to the present day, in different roles and geographical contexts. The interviewees emphasise that in many respects we live in a completely new world, where almost no one still questions if fathers can care for their children as well as mothers, and where women now hold positions of power.

“There are many things to celebrate when we look at the progress made over the last five decades in terms of gender equality and equal rights for LGBTI people. But at the same time, it is important that we do not take progress for granted, that we do not sit back and feel satisfied or believe that the fight is over. We must continue to defend these rights, and in this context the Nordic Region has a very important task to stand up for gender equality and equal rights. These rights and freedoms must apply to everyone: women, girls, boys, men, or regardless of gender identity or gender expression,” says Sweden’s Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life, Paulina Brandberg, who has led the work of the Nordic Council of Ministers for Gender Equality and LGBTI this year.

New five-year co-operation programme

Although much has happened in the field of gender equality over the past 50 years, challenges remain. At the end of 2024, the Nordic Council of Ministers launched a new programme of co-operation in the field of gender equality and LGBTI, setting new targets for 2025-2030.

The Nordic co-operation programme highlights, among other things, the need for further efforts to combat gender-based and sexual violence. The same programme also highlights the importance of continuing to work against discrimination and promote gender equality in the labour market. Inequality in health, wealth and quality of life is also highlighted as an area where the Nordic countries need to concentrate their efforts. One goal is for healthcare professionals to have better knowledge in the area of LGBTI care, to ensure that all citizens in the Nordic Region have access to equal and inclusive healthcare services.

Focus on conditions for transgender people in the labour market

One issue raised during the Swedish Presidency in 2024 was the situation for transgender people in the labour market. A Nordic knowledge review was published in the spring, summarising the results of several national studies. The review shows that prejudice and poor treatment affect recruitment processes as well as working environments and opportunities for career development, with major consequences for the lives and finances of transgender people.

In autumn 2024, the knowledge review was followed up with a conference in Stockholm. It brought together politicians and representatives from employers, trade unions and organisations. Over a full day, the knowledge was expanded on and the participants discussed measures that can help give more transgender people access to the labour market and workplaces that do not discriminate or harass.

Paulina Brandberg, Sweden’s Minister for Gender Equality and Working life, opened the conference.

“The conference provided an important arena for various actors to exchange experiences of their efforts to stand up for equal rights for transgender people in working life. It is important that we bring together people working on these issues to inspire and learn from each other,” says Paulina Brandberg.

New pledge from the Nordic governments

During the conference on working conditions for transgender people, several speakers reiterated that there is growing resistance to transgender people’s rights. This was linked to a general hardening of tone towards work for gender equality and equal rights, both in the Nordic Region and in other countries.

The growing global opposition to gender equality and the rights of women and girls and LGBTI people has also been recognised by the Nordic governments. At the end of the Swedish Presidency, the Nordic Council of Ministers for Gender Equality and LGBTI adopted the joint declaration and programme Pushing for Progress. The declaration and associated three-year programme for 2025-2027 promises that the Nordic governments will defend the progress that has been made in the field of gender equality and LGBTI and push for new reforms. The Nordic Council of Ministers is allocating a total of DKK 10 million to strengthen global efforts to promote gender equality and equal rights for all. In connection with the signing of the declaration, the Nordic Council of Ministers announced that it is entering into co-operation with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as a strategic partner in the work.

“We are convinced that solutions to global challenges lie in co-operation with others who are also driving development,” says Paulina Brandberg.