Published: Less than 30 min ago
During three weeks in 2021, five women were murdered.
Men’s violence against women suddenly ended up at the top of the agenda and the government at the time promised to take action.
Two years have passed since then and the number of women killed continues to rise – so what really happened?
In the spring of 2021, five women were murdered in the space of 21 days – all by a man they once had a relationship with.
New mother Siri in Älta after she explained to her partner that she wanted the relationship to end.
Sanije, the mother of nine, in an underpass in Linköping by her ex-husband, whom she has long been afraid of.
Elin in Höör by a man who killed and buried her a few meters from his mobile home.
Athraa in an apartment in Huddinge the day after she said she wanted a divorce.
Aline in the middle of an open street in Alvesta by a man she had a relationship with.
It was as if the whole of Sweden had suddenly had enough of the senseless violence against women.
The then Minister of Justice Morgan Johansson (S) announced a zero vision regarding the deadly violence against women.
– If we can have it in traffic, we can have it in this, he said then.
That spring, the question of a bill on a new crime against children was on the government’s table. A law which means that it is punishable to allow children to experience violence between relatives and which has since come into force.
40-point program
The government at the time also presented a 40-point program against men’s violence against women.
Even so, men continue to murder women they love. According to Aftonbladet’s long-term review Killed women, 350 women have now been killed between the years 2000-2022 – and a further four cases from 2022 are still being investigated and await a legal conclusion.
But which measures have been implemented and which are underway?
From the 40-point program, there are several things that are still being investigated, among other things, a special investigator was assigned to consider that crimes with hate crime motives against women should lead to stricter punishments.
They also set up an investigation to be able to toughen the punishment for men who commit repeated crimes against women, and produced a proposal to criminalize psychological violence.
This has been introduced
Here are some examples that the previous government implemented after 2021:
Paulina Brandberg says that the current government continues to work according to the 40-point program but that they are also working on their own, new action program. It will come into force in 2024 and contain a new national strategy.
– I am not satisfied with the result we have now, too little is happening. I will do things differently than the previous government did, she says.
Among other things, Brandberg believes that until now they have worked according to “one size fits all” when it comes to both perpetrators and victims – and that you have to look at each individual and adapt the measures accordingly.
“Zero vision sounds good, but…”
The current government that took office in October last year has so far not implemented any concrete measures.
But Brandberg lists some points that she believes will be important to protect women. Partly, to a greater extent, to combine contact bans with foot shackles and also to expand the geographical zone for contact bans.
– Now it is the case that the victims of crime have to hide and we need to prioritize their needs more.
The government at the time also wanted to have a zero vision regarding men’s lethal violence against women, just like in traffic. Do you share that vision?
– I think you can never have any other ambition. Because we should never accept that a single person is killed by a partner. Zero vision sounds good, but it must not only be beautiful words, it must also lead to sharp action.
Do you have it then?
– There is much to improve, there have been too many beautiful words, but my ambition is that it should be combined with sharp measures.
FACTS
MAN: You can go here if you want help with violent behavior:
Choose to quit – Talk anonymously with experienced advisers who will help you further. By calling Choose to stop, you can get help to change a controlling or violent behavior towards your loved ones.
Telephone: 020-555 666.
National Men’s Helpline – At Mansjouren there is an opportunity to have conversations about, for example, violence, both as a victim and as a perpetrator.
Phone: 08-30 30 20.
National crisis center – a national organization for professional treatment work against violence in close relationships. [email protected]
The National Board of Health and Welfare has produced support material for professionals who come into contact with people who practice violence.
The National Board of Health and Welfare’s support material
The National Board of Health and Welfare’s handbook Violence
Younger people can turn to the Youth Reception or support chats such as guys.se and ungarelationer.sewhich also have call receptions.
Read moreFACTS
WOMAN: Here you can get help and support
Are you or someone close to you exposed to violence in a close relationship? Here is a selection of places you can turn to for help and support.
Important: Always call 112 in case of emergency. You can also reach the social service or the social emergency service in your municipality via the emergency number.
A national helpline for those who have been exposed to physical, psychological and sexual violence. Relatives and friends are also welcome to call.
Offers temporary sheltered accommodation for people who have been victims of intimate partner violence and honour-related violence. Accepts women, men, their children and accompanying animals with placement via social services.
The national organization for women’s shelters and girls’ shelters in Sweden collects shelters throughout Sweden, some of which offer sheltered accommodation. Find an on-call nearest you via Rok’s website. Click on “find an on-call”.
Collects over 130 women’s shelters, girls’ shelters and other support activities. On the website there are contact details for emergency services throughout Sweden, some of which offer sheltered accommodation. Click on “find on duty”.
Network for women’s rights against men’s violence. Emergency phone: 020-52 10 10. Advice in 70 different languages, including legal advice.
Provides support to criminal suspects, witnesses and relatives.
A women’s shelter for abused women with experiences of abuse and prostitution.
Support for LGBTQI people who have been exposed to abuse, threats and violence. RFSL support reception also runs a sheltered accommodation in the Stockholm area.
If you want to talk to someone who works at social services, you can call the switchboard in your municipality and ask to be connected to social services.
All children can get help via Bris, Children’s rights in society.
Can help with emergency call and crisis support: Call 112 and ask to be connected to the priest on duty.
A support platform for young people (15–20 year olds) who are exposed to violence in their partner relationships, offers chat every evening at 8–10 pm.
Choose to stop is a national telephone line for those who want help to change controlling or violent behaviour. The telephone line is run by the Stockholm County Administrative Board in collaboration with Manscentrum Stockholm and in collaboration with Sweden’s county administrative boards.
Read more