Föreningen för utvecklingsfrågor – Sida 21

FUF-fåtölj 28/11: India in transformation – improved rights but increased inequalities

India is in a period of transformation and evolving cultural values. There is a split between the young urban community and the traditional rural community. The fragmented cultural values have resulted in widespread violence within the society.
In December 2012, several men brutally raped a young woman on a bus in India’s capital New Delhi. The incident sparked mass protests that spread all over the nation. Never before has a sexual crime against a woman received attention to this magnitude.

Were the mass protests a sign of a changing India in regards to women’s rights?
What are the challenges in the work of gender equality in the Indian context?

Suruchi Thapar-Björkert, docent and senior lecturer at the Department of Government, University of Uppsala in Sweden, will visit FUF to discuss the Delhi Gang Rape Case and other recent violent atrocities against women, in light of the growing aspirations of the middle class on the one hand and entrenched caste/class based inequalities on the other.

WHEN? Tuesday 28 November, 18.00 – 19.30
WHERE? FUF, Karlbergsvägen 66A, Stockholm
HOW? Register HERE

Seminar 30/11: Reform of the UN and the UN in the Age of Trump

The UN in the age of Trump is increasingly challenged. Due to this development, and other changes in motion, there is also talk of necessary reform. These topics will be discussed by Thomas G. Weiss and Stephen Browne in a seminar jointly arranged by the Swedish Development Forum (FUF) and the UN Association of Sweden (Svenska FN-förbundet).

Professor Weiss and Mr. Browne are Co-Directors of the Future United Nations Development System Project (FUNDS). Currently based in New York, Weiss spent ten years as a staff member of UNCTAD in Geneva and has devoted his professional career since to teaching, studying, and researching global governance and international organizations. Browne spent more than 30 years in three different organizations of the UN Development System, his time divided between headquarters and the field. He teaches, studies, and writes about the UN from his base in Geneva.

After the presentations, initial comments will be shared by Aleksander Gabelic, President of the UN Association of Sweden, and Lennart Hjelmåker, Ambassador, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Gunilla von Hall, Geneva correspondent for Svenska Dagbladet, will moderate the discussions.

WHEN? Thursday 30 November, 18.00 – 19.30
WHERE? Hörsalen, Myntkabinettet, Slottsbacken 6, Stockholm
HOW? Register HERE

Most welcome!

FILM: ICAN – vägen mot kärnvapenförbud

År 2017 är debatten om kärnvapen mer aktuell än på länge. I juli enades 122 länder, inklusive Sverige, om en FN-konvention om ett globalt kärnvapenförbud och i oktober meddelade den norska Nobelkommittén att The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) tilldelats Nobels fredspris, bland annat för sina ansträngningar att få till just detta avtal.

Samtidigt genomför Nordkorea nya kärnvapentester och USA planerar att utöka sin kärnvapenarsenal tiofalt. Faktum är att alla nio kärnvapenstater – däribland Ryssland och Kina – under en lång tid investerat i modernisering av sina kärnvapen, och bojkottade såväl förhandlingarna som omröstningen om FN-konventionen.

Hur arbetar ICAN för att nå konkreta resultat i denna motvind? Vad är nästa steg? Och varför är det så viktigt att uppnå ett globalt kärnvapenförbud?

I Sverige representeras ICAN av Internationella kvinnoförbundet för fred och frihet (IKFF) och Läkare mot kärnvapen (SLMK). I samtalet medverkar Gabriella Irsten, IKFF, och Andreas Tolf, SLMK. Modererar gör Henrik Karlsson, FUF.

FUF-fåtölj 23/11: Security and Migration – Dimensions of Climate Change

Climate change is increasingly viewed as one of the greatest challenges to international security. Around the planet, climate change threatens livelihoods and food security, and the worst affected are people already living in precarious conditions. As a consequence, climate change has also become one of the main causes of migration.

What are the biggest security challenges caused by climate change? Which regions are most affected? And what measures are needed to prevent increasing numbers of climate refugees?

FUF has the pleasure to invite you to a presentation and discussion with Dr. Amiera Sawas, researcher in climate risk and change at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Come and join an exciting conversation where you are encouraged to raise your own questions.

WHEN? Thursday November 23rd at 18.00-19.30
WHERE? ”Korksvaravaren” Studiefrämjandet (Brygghuset), Norrtullsgatan 12N, Stockholm
HOW? Register HERE

Refreshments will be served.

Most welcome!

FILM: The Changing Context for Europe-Africa Relations

Relations between countries and regions are influenced by a variety of factors. As regards Europe and Africa, political changes such as Brexit, the existential crisis within the EU, and Africa returning to the top table of decision making in the wake of the refugee situation have changed the dynamics of the relations.

At the end of November, the next EU-Africa Heads of State Summit will take place in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and the EU will shortly begin negotiations on its next budget, as well as on how to implement the 2030 Agenda. These constitute significant moments for potential change and a need to reflect on arising dilemmas.

How are EU-Africa relations influenced by ongoing political and social changes? Does the future hold more or less cooperation than at present?

In this series of seminars, FUF zooms in on different regions to discuss impacts of the turbulent world situation. Andrew Sherriff, European External Affairs Programme, and Mariella Di Ciommo, European Centre for Development Policy Management, talks about critical issues impacting Europe-Africa relations and take us through possible future scenarios.