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Reinfeldt discussed equality in the UN

Published: 24 Sep 11 10:13 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/36330/20110924/

Gender equality and women's rights globally were the themes of Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's speech to the United Nations on Friday.

In Reinfeldt's speech to the UN's general assembly, he pointed out many places worldwide where progress has been made, but also described the lack of gender equality around the globe as "possibly the greatest failure of human rights."

"It's about giving all individuals the same possibilities, regardless of their sex," he said.

Reinfeldt discussed the way belief in democracy and freedom are spreading around the world, at the same time as repressive regimes continue to strike against dissidents.

"In many countries, including my own, freedom is taken for granted. In other countries it is still a dream," Reinfeldt said.

Using Syria as an example, the prime minister stated that the rest of the world has a responsibility to protect civilians.

Reinfeldt also said that a powerful UN is important, and something Sweden strives for, partly by hoping to win a place on the UN human rights council.

The prime minister concluded his speech with a quote from the Swedish former UN secretary general, Dag Hammarskjöld.

"The quest for peace and progress - with its trials and errors, its attempts and setbacks - must never be dropped and never abandoned."

The opposition had no objections to Reinfeldt's priorities, which had been made public ahead of time, but accused the prime minister of empty words.

"I just wish it would be converted into actual policy. Bildt has hardly mentioned women's rights since he became foreign minister," said Social Democratic spokesman Urban Ahlin to news agency TT.

The Left Party's spokesman Hans Linde was surprised by Reinfeldt's topic.

"It's a little unexpected for Reinfeldt to focus on gender equality. But unfortunately this is rhetoric that lacks coverage," he said.

The Green Party's Valter Mutt thought the speech would have been more credible if Reinfeldt's words had been reflected in the government's aid policy.

TT/The Local/cg (news@thelocal.se)

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10:56 September 24, 2011 by Tysknaden
Reinfeldt: "(...)"The quest for peace and progress - with its trials and errors, its attempts and setbacks - must never be dropped and never abandoned."(..)"

He is right. They never will stop errors, attempts and setbacks. And the Swedish government helps to make sure. Especially the setbacks for gender equality are impressive!
11:30 September 24, 2011 by sjuttiosjusköterskorpåsjukhuset
Why doesn't this jerk just resign . . . NOW!
11:36 September 24, 2011 by Grokh
Want to talk about equality in the UN, start by only allowing countries to be part of UN members IF the abide by human right laws.

This would mean kicking out all islamist countries, china and USA.

hows that for equality ?
13:26 September 24, 2011 by rouzi
Great! All world's problems had been solved and the only remained problem was gender equality which hopefully going to be solved after this fruitful speech of Reinfeldt.
13:54 September 24, 2011 by Iraniboy
There are still many countries where children don't have right to get food , medicine or go to school because they were born on the wrong part of the world! Yeah you can blame Mr X to Z for that but that doesn't reduce our own resposiblity!!!
14:04 September 24, 2011 by akhokhay
lol!

I wonder why he went!

he can send a female representive to show the world!

AM I DO IT RIGHT?
14:34 September 24, 2011 by Scott McCoy
Once again,another totally stupid Swede
16:57 September 24, 2011 by Nemesis
He is speaking from experience about inequality.

Sweden has a very low number of women in CEO positions in the private sector in Sweden.

Also Sweden's history of sterilising people for being Sami, Roma, women, or anyone else not approved of by the ruling class in Stockholm, will allow Reinfeldt to draw on practical experience in inequality.
19:05 September 24, 2011 by Cornelius Hamelberg
A great speech and the best all round speech so far . ( All round = Global)

He talked about so many important issues that are of concern to all the mankind that were assembled at the UN. Anyway, here's 50 ores worth on thye matter :

http://www.thelocal.se/blogs/corneliushamelberg/2011/09/24/swedens-prime-minister-fredrik-reinfeldts-speech-at-the-66th-session-of-the-un-general-assembly/
19:19 September 24, 2011 by Frank Arbach
anybody listening to this political non-entity, (in world leader terms) apart from 'thelocal'?
20:57 September 24, 2011 by rouzi
Then, he spoke about all thing except two very important issues.

1. he forgot to say Sweden is the best

2. he forgot to speak about animal right the second most important issue in Sweden after gender equality.

What a nice world we could have if there was no politician on the earth!!
21:11 September 24, 2011 by cogito
@Frank #10

The U.N. is the favored platform for political non-entities. That's why Sweden loves it.

@rouzi. He did not feel he needed to say Sweden Is Best. Everyone is supposed to know that already.
22:37 September 24, 2011 by shahislam
Bad Pakistani guys in control of political power in 1971 killed 3 million members of foolish (independent seeker for nothing) Bangladeshi public (Indians have been better off and now is envy of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis). The activities and personal monetary interests of similar minded Pak-guys were up until recent time protected by policies and a group of lawmakers etc. of USA and the West!

Laws and policies made by humans can easily be reversed or modified as long as more honest guys continue to join in in the administrative managements of artificial but immortal Crocodile (An important and "highly beneficial super power-if managed by honest and wise guys", in control of all other smaller powers in the world).

Like many of the new generation public, I am very optimistic about watching honest personalities like Great Mr. Obama lead the world power and get reborn for continuing the efforts of changing the old-style global politics in unprecedented ways, only to make the world more peaceful than ever historically experienced by mankind.

There should be no more 'old political but secret personal money dealings allowed to take place' and we the good heads of Western powers can change the trend to the dismay of foolish heads of the newly emerging powers which are just imitating copies of our old Western foreign policies!

The secrets are gradually opening, so, it's about time for us to start a different kind of politics.

How many of the US public representatives actually care for fixing ties with ego-blind leaders: such as, of Iran, Pakistan, Yemen, Palestine, Israel, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Burma, Taiwan etc. that are as heads of political powers, with eheir dumb intelligences still fail to realize that dishonest manipulation of facts behind the scenes ultimately does no good but cause global unrests that effect everyone including self!

And instead of finding out the secret perpetrators of brutal politicking heads...

These guys are the unwise ones who for limited knowledge, contradict collective aim towards peaceful solutions and thus ruin own possible role of acting right in implementing peaceful ideas of sharing a happy Earth by all of the human races.

I wish majority of the world leaders were with wisdom of at least like Mr. Obama, who expresses his personal deep thoughts only when it is necessary.
00:05 September 25, 2011 by Cornelius Hamelberg
shahislam,

May all your best wishes come true, but not your nightmares...
10:05 September 25, 2011 by salalah
shahislam, Obama sends his best, but who is the Crocodile? This was the most confusing comment I have ever read
09:44 September 26, 2011 by shahislam
Only 8 of the world body's 15 members will support the bid!

And later on even if statehood is granted, there will still be no peace between two warring groups of same origin, fighting blindly for centuries over nonsense religious reasons or ''selfish small minded issues" -with which the Creator has no link now and never ever had before too; unless with totally honest, unlike the past, negotiations and truly meant commitments for infinite time both sides agree to live side by side like one country- a piece of land divided in south and north-two parts in the middle! Time is coming for border lifting and perhaps these foolish two: Israel and Palestine will feel ashamed later when e.g. Bangladesh and India will be lifting their borders to become one piece of land again (Still one piece but two in human minds only because of unfruitful personal ambitions of a few guys in control of public emotion!

Now, where are those so self-claimed religious old-political mercy-makers?

Everybody better listen carefully to the advice and requests made by the Great Mr. Obama!

One can understand the capacities of the Lions and the Tigers now, as they are falling one after another; the time will start telling soon about the order of these pieces of lands: Algeria, Sudan, Somalia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia etc. There will be no bloodshed but the heads will be ousted in a evolutionary chain reactions because the older Crocodile, surviving for centuries out of sight, is now transparently in the control of North-American power and no one has to confusingly wonder anymore about the whereabouts of the giant Crocodile and its eggs or wasting time arguing about which one came first on earth? The egg or the Crocodile?

The fools have no idea that the digital technology and money are now more powerfully effective than guns and there won't be World Wars anymore, so the businesses of War weapons are bound to go bankrupt! Oil crisis, global warming etc. are nothing but business propaganda.

The days are not too far when the mercy-maker: religious-type businessmen themselves have to start begging for mercy from UN power, if UN itself can secure its own position on the foundation of possible global unanimous support.

Shahislam
13:33 September 26, 2011 by Great Scott
This idiot has got some front trying to tell the UN about equality, look on your own back yard Reinfeldt. Unemployed people working for nothing (Phase 3) while the employed get paid, if you want the unemployed to work Reinfeldt, then give them equality and PAY them now.

Reinfeldt, the leader of a failed government.
08:58 September 27, 2011 by Uncle
Oh, how proud I am of Fredrick. What a might of thought!

How appropriate will be sitting in the Human Rights Council shoulder to shoulder with the Human rights giants like cutting off hands Saudi Arabia (that was accepted into the council, while females there were still not allowed to vote, equalized to animals in their rights).

How strong will be the feeling of belonging to the progressive human rights pioneers like Lybia that was sitting there under Qaddafi, Burkhina Faso, Djibouti, Nigeria, Uganda. How open minded Sweden will become after learning from the experience of Jordan, Pakistan, China, Cuba and Kyrgyzstan.

Good company indeed.
18:39 September 29, 2011 by shahislam
A wise decision, to be followed by many soon!

Everyone better believe the in cosmic queue for evolutionary transitions taking place through human for the human @ 50% cosmic rule.

Read European News:If German were a municipal-like Government under new UN power, its hard working people could keep all the money they are earning for themselves. When it comes to credit, there is no difference between a guy and a country, because countries' states mean representations of a few human minds. The true help that you can offer to yuor poor neighbour is convince and get them into working for themselves.

No thing or money is enjoyable or truly belongs to you, unless you earn it honestly by your hard work!
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