Associations on call: Civil society is being silenced

Associations on call Civil society is being silenced
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full screen The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency warns that the government is cutting funding for the grassroots. Archive image. Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT

In recent years, the government has systematically dismantled large parts of civil society. This is claimed by spokespeople for 23 associations in a debate article in Aftonbladet – including ABF, Sweden’s Homeland Federation, Älvräddarna riksorganisation, Sveriges konsumenter and Klimatklubben.

They point out that study associations and organizations in the fields of environment, climate, peace, culture and public education in the non-profit sector have had their funding greatly reduced or completely cut off. Among other things, Sida’s information support in 2022 was reduced from SEK 155 to 20 million, the Consumer Agency’s funds for non-profit associations were completely removed in 2023 and now the Environmental Protection Agency is flagging that funds for non-profit associations may be reduced or completely removed.

According to the debaters, the support has been of the greatest importance in making visible how climate change and the conservation of biological diversity can be implemented. Civil society also represents the voices that would otherwise lack a platform, according to the article.

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