SWEDEN
Sweden’s fourth NAP is the latest, running from 2024-2028 following their first, launched in 2006, second running from 2009-2012 and third running from 2016-2020.
OBJECTIVES
Sweden’s NAP outlines four main areas, rooted in Resolution 1325 to guide Sweden’s work on women, peace and security.
- Contribute to women’s and girls’ equal participation in conflict prevention measures
- Contribute to inclusive and equal peace processes and peacebuilding.
- Increased protection of women and girls
- Leadership and expertise
Sweden recognises the link between gender-equal societies and increased democracy, gender equality and peace. Promoting women’s economic empowerment is a priority for the Government and is a prerequisite for women’s equal and active participation in the political decision-making process. A priority will be contributing to women’s active participation in crisis management and the reconstruction of Ukraine will be a priority.
COMMENTARY
National military service has been gender neutral since 2018. Government agencies that work within the framework of total defence will continue to integrate a gender equality perspective into their national and international activities and act in accordance with the women, peace and security agenda.
Sweden will promote broad partnerships in the implementation of the NAP. Sweden will cooperate with regional and multilateral actors to ensure continuing implementation. The agenda is mentioned in the NATO 2022 Strategic Concept. Sweden will help drive this work forward.
Funding will take place within the framework of ordinary budget allocation. The Government will use ordinary agency governance to determine the roles and tasks of the Swedish government agencies helping to implement the NAP. The government agencies must report annually on the operationalisation of the NAP. The reports will focus on results rather than implemented activities.
Support for Ukraine is one of the Government’s most important foreign policy priorities.
INVOLVEMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY DRAWING UP THE NAP
The Swedish National Courts Administration, the Folke Bernadotte Academy, the Swedish Defence University, the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Gender Equality Agency, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service, the Swedish Coast Guard, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, the Swedish Police Authority, the Swedish International Development 5 Cooperation Agency, the Swedish Defence Research Agency and the Swedish Prosecution Authority are involved in the implementation of the NAP.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs, in consultation with relevant ministries, will coordinate a working group of agencies and civil society tasked with implementing the NAP.
UN PEACEKEEPING STATISTICS
As of March 31, 2025, Sweden has contributed 24 personnel for peacekeeping missions (of which only 7 are women).
Sweden's ranking as a contributor of personnel to UN peacekeeping missions: 71
WOMEN IN PEACEKEEPING
UN data suggests that nearly 8% of deployed peacekeeping troops are female with a target of 11%. The police contributions are more even, with 27% females. Female personnel make up 23% of experts on mission and staff officers, meeting the target of 21%.
REFERENCES
Sweden’s WPS NAP can be found at:
The latest country contribution by gender can be found at:
The UN Peacekeeping targets can be found on their website:
https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/gender
The gender breakdown for each mission can be found here:
https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/07_gender_statistics_79_october_2024.pdf