The Gender Equality Forum is Sweden’s largest gender equality conference and is organized annually by the Swedish Women’s Organizations. The conference is for everyone who works with or is responsible for work environment efforts, within the private, public, union, and non-profit sectors. A lineup of around 100 speakers, with a mix of seminars, interviews, series of fiery speeches, and practical method workshops attracted over 1200 visitors. Also, about 40 exhibitors were present.
During this year’s conference, visitors could choose to listen to over 100 speakers; politicians, international experts, researchers, activists, and practitioners shared their knowledge and tools for creating more gender-equal operations.
– This year’s conference was very rewarding, both in terms of contacts and feedback on the agency’s work. I really think we succeeded in conveying our message that work environment is a gender equality issue, and our tote bags with the stylish print were a hit! Says Karin Sjöberg Forssberg, process-leading analyst at The Swedish Agency for Work Environment Expertise.
At the booth, Director General Nader Ahmadi, Gender Equality and Deputy Minister of Labour Paulina Brandberg (L), and Deputy Director General of The Swedish Work Environment Authority Håkan Olsson had a discussion about why a gender-equal work environment is important and what challenges await for gender equality and work environment in the future.
Two researchers at the booth
Sara Göransson, who is involved in the agency’s project “Threats and Violence from Third Parties in the Workplace,” lectured on the results concerning vulnerability within public operations focusing on healthcare, education, and care. Anne-Charlott Callerstig, one of the researchers in the agency’s project “Sexual Harassment, Part of the Gender-Based Violence at Workplaces,” talked about the project and answered questions at the booth.
– It was great that two of our researchers participated and that we shared a booth with the Swedish Work Environment Authority. Of course, it also adds weight to the work when our Directors General participate along with our Gender Equality and Deputy Minister of Labour, says Karin Sjöberg Forssberg.
