Lena Ag, Director-General of the Swedish Gender Equality Agency, and Minister for Gender Equality Åsa Regnér.
Photo: Jöran Hagerlund/The Swedish Gender Equality Agency

On 12 January, the new Swedish Gender Equality Agency was inaugurated in Gothenburg, with speeches by Minister for Gender Equality Åsa Regnér, Director-General Lena Ag, County Governor Anders Danielsson and chair of the municipal executive board, Ann-Sofie Hermansson.

The agency will contribute to strategic, coherent and sustainable governance and effective implementation of gender equality policy.

One of the agency’s main tasks is to increase the impact of the government’s gender equality policy and make a real difference to people’s lives. This covers all of the government’s gender equality policy objectives: power and influence, economy, education, health, unpaid housework and care work, and an end to men’s violence against women.

“It has been exciting and inspiring to follow the growth of the Swedish Gender Equality Agency. Professionals, organisations and private individuals have long been calling for an agency like this. There is a continuous and growing need for follow-up, analysis, coordination and support in the area of gender equality policy. This is a strategic and long-term task. We want to see real results,” says Minister for Gender Equality Åsa Regnér.

“It feels fantastic to finally get started on the agency’s work. Having our premises in Angered gives us major opportunities – we certainly noticed this today when we met pupils from Angered Upper Secondary School,” says Lena Ag, Director-General of the Swedish Gender Equality Agency.

In connection with Friday’s inauguration, Ms Regnér and Ms Ag visited Angered Upper Secondary School to talk to pupils about gender equality, sexual harassment and violence. During the afternoon they also visited the family centre in Angered.

Tasks of the agency
• Contribute to strategic, cohesive and sustainable governance and the effective implementation of gender equality policy.
• Be responsible for follow-up, analysis, coordination and support based on the gender equality policy objectives.
• Coordinate the national strategy to prevent and counter men’s violence against women, including honour-related violence and oppression, as well as prostitution and human trafficking for sexual purposes.
• Collect and disseminate knowledge in its area of responsibility.
• Examine matters concerning government grants for gender equality projects and women’s organisations.
• Assist the Government in other respects on gender equality policy issues, such as international cooperation in the area.

Swedish Government