PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY IN RESEARCH Legal framework In Sweden, the operations of research organisations are regulated by the laws and statutes that apply to the area of higher education, primarily the Swedish Higher Education Act (SFS 1992:1434) and Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 1993:100). According to Chapter 1, Initial provisions, section 5 of the Swedish Higher Education Act, “equality between women and men shall always be taken into account and promoted in the operations of higher education institutions”.
Every year, the Swedish Innovation Agency, VINNOVA, invests approximately SEK 3 billion in research and innovation. Since 2015, it has successfully integrated a gender perspective in its activities and promoted gender equality in the distribution of funds for research and innovation. VINNOVA makes an effort to include gender perspectives in the projects financed, recognising gender equality as a prerequisite for sustainable societal development and innovation.
Since 2016, HKR has successfully worked with a model for equal distribution of internal research resources. The work started with a revision of the existing resource allocation model, as the old model was considered outdated. The earlier model resulted in an economical budget deficit for the university and allocated resources based on position (i.e. a fixed share of working hours allocated to “research time”).
The project VINNOVA addresses the unequal funding of research. Therefore, it works with three main areas linked to the questions of who, how and what. The ‘who’ dimension includes the work around who is being financed. The focus is on the project team and the gender composition, such as how many women and men are project leaders or the time and resources allocated to different positions and tasks in the project from a gender perspective.
KTH appointed a Vice-President for Gender Equality and Core Values in 2017, whose task is to promote gender mainstreaming and equal opportunities. HEIs in Sweden must work according to several government objectives and legal obligations within the broader equality framework. KTH also set up an Equality Office to coordinate implementation and support different units and management levels. Through the Equality Office, KTH is conducting research-based proactive work at both the strategic and practical level, with the aim of promoting gender equality, diversity and equal terms from an intersectional perspective.
Since 2016, HKR has successfully worked with a model for equal distribution of internal research resources. The work started with a revision of the existing resource allocation model, as the old model was considered outdated. The earlier model resulted in an economical budget deficit for the university and allocated resources based on position (i.e. a fixed share of working hours allocated to “research time”).
Data collection systems vary widely across EU Member States, as they draw on various sources. To improve the collection of administrative data on femicide, EIGE has been working to establish indicators that can harmonise data collection processes across Member States’ jurisdictions. EIGE has collected information from a wide variety of stakeholders through a questionnaire sent to official data providers and an online survey filled in by national experts.
Parental leave is granted to parents, usually after maternity and paternity leave, allowing mothers and fathers to take care of their young children without losing their jobs. Such a policy exists in all EU Member States and in Sweden it is called Föräldraförsäkring. The policy design and eligibility rules vary across the EU, including in Sweden, and not all women and men in the EU are eligible for parental leave.
With 83.8 out of 100 points, Sweden ranks 1st in the EU on the Gender Equality Index. Its score is 15.9 points above the EU’s score. Since 2010, Sweden’s score has increased by only 3.7 points (+ 0.2 points since 2017). Despite making slower progress towards gender equality than some other EU Member States, Sweden has maintained its leading position since 2010.
With 83.6 out of 100 points, Sweden ranks first in the EU on the Gender Equality Index. Between 2005 and 2017, Sweden’s score increased by 4.8 points (+ 1 point since 2015) and it is 16.2 points above the EU’s score. Despite slower progress towards gender equality than other EU Member States, Sweden has maintained its rank since 2005. Sweden’s scores are the highest in the domains of health (94.7 points) and time (90.1 points).
Model Actors involved Guidelines Strenghts and weaknesses Model Gender impact assessment is a relatively common instrument to support gender-mainstreaming implementation in Sweden. It appears to be strongly embedded and is carried out at the initiative of different levels of governance, from the local to the national level. At the level of government offices, gender impact assessments are most regularly performed when drawing up government bills, terms of references for inquiry committees and other relevant documents.
The recommendations were developed after an in-depth analysis of data collection from the police and justice sectors. They aim to improve administrative data collection on intimate partner violence to better inform policies and to help the Member States meet the monitoring requirements outlined in both Directive 2012/29/EU (the Victims’ Rights Directive) and the Istanbul Convention. Read more Data collection on intimate partner violence by the police and justice sectors - all EU countries Indicators on intimate partner violence and rape for the police and justice sectors EIGE's work on data collection on violence against women
