The Swedish people want to feel proud of Sweden's international commitment to peace, equality and democracy, a survey shows. The government's restructuring of the aid lacks support - not even one in ten thinks it is a priority that Swedish exports should benefit from the aid.
2024 is suffering towards its end. It is hard not to feel hopelessness and powerlessness when the wars seem to have no end, democracy is going backwards, the consequences of the climate crisis are becoming increasingly serious and more and more people are forced to flee their homes.
In a period before the pandemic, great progress was made: child mortality fell sharply and hunger, poverty and child labor decreased. One reason was that many countries came together and contributed resources. Today, the situation is different. Rich countries, not least Sweden, are reducing their aid. At the UN climate summit at the end of November, the countries of the world barely reached an agreement on climate finance, at a level that is many times lower than needed. The World Health Organization WHO lacks the necessary funds for preventive efforts such as access to vaccines and clean water.
In Sweden, there is a deep commitment to the outside world, and a strong feeling that we should share with those who have less. Our poll shows that a large majority (74 percent) of the Swedish people think it is important to be able to feel pride in Sweden's international commitment to peace, equality, climate and democracy. Three out of four people we meet in the grocery store, in the bus queue and in the football stands care about what we as a country are doing for the world.
During its time in power, the government has instead reduced aid and ended long-term support to people in some of the worst affected countries. Resources for gender equality work and work with the UN's Global Goals have decreased. The government directs an increasingly large part of the shrinking aid budget to reduce migration to Sweden and favor Swedish companies' export opportunities.
The restructuring of Swedish aid that is taking place does not have the support of the Swedish people. Only eight percent think it is a priority that the aid should benefit Swedish companies' exports, while a majority of the population (63 percent) wants the aid to go to those who are worst affected.
The gathering of power for the world that has been done before can be done again. The Swedish people expect our country to be part of the solution to the world's common problems. The government should listen to that.
29 organizations that work for global justice issues, including the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Association, Act Swedish Church and the Olof Palme International Center.
