Gudrun Brunegård met with Erikshjälpen's Secretary-General Mattias Ingeson, Sweden Director Birgitta Johansson, and International Director Anders Malmstigen. They discussed the government's aid reform agenda and its potential impact on civil society organizations.

Anders Malmstigen particularly highlighted the importance of organisations such as Erikshjälpen being able to continue working in countries such as Burkina Faso and Mali, where both the EU and Sweden are now considering withdrawing their support. He emphasized that Erikshjälpen's future interventions in these countries depend on the future distribution of aid from Sida. 

Gudrun Brunegård shared the work that has been done so far and the processes that lie ahead. She agreed on the need for a long-term approach in development policy.

- I have great confidence in Erikshjälpen's commitment and work, both in Sweden and abroad, says Gudrun Brunegård. 

The meeting is one of several important steps in the dialogue between politicians and civil society on the future of aid and how Swedish civil society organizations can continue to contribute in the best possible way.

Cyclone Remal hit southern Bangladesh hard with wind speeds of 135 kilometers per hour. Around 4.6 million people were affected and over 40,000 houses were destroyed. The cyclone hit the regions of Rampal and Mongla the hardest, where Erikshjälpen together with our partner organization CODEC (Community Development Center) has long been working with various interventions to create resilience and facilitate children and their families.

Almost all of the more than 1700 families that Erikshjälpen supports in its projects are fully or partially affected by cyclone Remal. Among these, about 300 families are so severely affected that they need immediate support to survive. In Bagerhat and Patuakhali districts, the floods have caused particularly severe damage to families' homes and primary sources of income such as farming and fishing.

Starting July 1, Erikshjälpen will therefore implement a humanitarian operation in the area, carried out by CODEC in collaboration with the local community. The intervention includes:

• Repair and reconstruction of housing
• Support for fisheries and agriculture
• Support for small businesses.

Our long-term interventions

Erikshjälpen works long-term in Bangladesh to ensure that children have access to health, education, safety and protection. In communities that are constantly threatened by floods, residents are equipped with disaster preparedness and improve their living conditions for better resilience in terms of, for example, recurring cyclones.

On site at the Children's Rights Square, representatives from Erikshjälpen's Sweden department will be present together with young people from Erikshjälpen's Future Workshop in Uppsala. Our focus during the week will be youth participation.

A warm welcome to Erikshjälpen's seminars:

Neighborhood development - through youth engagement and participation

Wednesday, June 26, 14:00-14:45

According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has been Swedish law since 2020, every child has the right to a safe childhood free from violence, a good education, meaningful leisure time and the right to be heard in all matters affecting them. Children and young people who grow up in an area with socio-economic challenges do not have the same conditions to have their rights met. Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad works to engage children and parents in neighborhood development to equalize unequal growing conditions.

We will, together with young people who have been involved in the activity, highlight the lessons and conclusions we have seen during the first five years of Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad.

Participants: 

Camilla Waltersson Grönvall, Minister for Social Services, Moderate Party

Nadim Ghazale, Head of Operations, nattvandring.nu

Ehsan Nasari, Municipal Councillor Uppsala Municipality & Group Leader, Center Party

Birgitta Johansson, Program Manager Sweden, Erikshjälpen

Young people from Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad

Moderator:

Mattias Ingeson, Secretary-General, Erikshjälpen.

Young people's political engagement and confidence

Thursday, June 27, 13:00-13:45

Belief in the future is an important measure of how young people assess their ability to influence their life situation. Reports indicate a growing pessimistic attitude towards societal development, a decline in political engagement and widespread skepticism about the ability of those in power to effect change. This is a dangerous development.

Together with young people, we want to take a closer look at what is behind this trend and how we can work together in the long term to reverse it. During the seminar, young people will have the opportunity to raise their thoughts in discussions with those in power.

Participants:

Juno Blom, Ombudsman for Children

Evin Cetin, lawyer, author, lecturer

Jakob Olofsgård, Member of Parliament, Party Secretary, Liberals

Ehsan Nasari, Municipal Councillor & Group Leader Uppsala Municipality, Center Party

Young people from Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad

Moderator:

Mattias Ingeson, Secretary-General, Erikshjälpen.

What is the situation of girls in the world today?

- Of course, there is no single answer to this question. If we take a closer look at gender equality work, for example, we can see that developments are moving in several directions at once. Over time, gender equality work has made progress. In many places, the level of education of girls and women has increased, as has their representation in leading positions. Maternal mortality has also fallen periodically.

Despite this, there are many negative trends and resistance to girls' and women's rights globally, which require major efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

Today, there are many armed conflicts around the world. In parallel, people are increasingly affected by climate change. It is well known that this has a particular impact on girls and women as a group. They are also more affected by various forms of violence, which tend to increase in times of crisis and conflict. COVID-19 has also had a negative impact on gender equality, with increased gender-based violence and restrictions on sexual and reproductive health and rights. The impact of the pandemic is visible in our work, particularly in education, where girls are often overrepresented among those who have not returned after school closures.

Why is the issue of menstruation important to raise?

- Almost 2 billion people menstruate. At least a quarter of them lack the resources necessary for good Menstrual health. The consequences of this affect their whole lives. Menstruation is much more than a hygiene or health issue. Menstruation is an issue of gender equality and children's rights. As children enter their teenage years, we see how violations of certain rights increase exponentially. Especially for girls and young women, but also for LGBTI people. One of Erikshjälpen's priority areas is therefore sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). These are rights that apply throughout life, including for children. The onset of puberty creates disproportionate differences between the sexes. Menstruation, which in itself is such a fundamental and natural process, is instead a major setback for millions of girls in a range of areas and rights. In turn, the perception that girls are ready for marriage leads to a dramatic increase in the risk of child marriage, female genital mutilation and other forms of gender-based violence. Lack of or inadequate maternal care is one of the leading causes of death or lifelong complications among teenage mothers, girls and young women. Girls' opportunities to go to school are rapidly being taken away from them. Continuing to defend girls' right to education is therefore not only a protective factor, but a fundamental right that will determine girls' future prospects.

Not only do we need to talk more about menstruation, to break the stigma and taboo, we also need to ensure access to both safe and hygienic environments. There are many examples of non-existent or unhygienic facilities, such as school toilets in Bangladesh. But there is also an increased risk of various forms of abuse. Menstrual health work therefore needs to be seen in a broader context with its links to other rights such as access to education and freedom from violence. In some societies, menstruation is an extremely sensitive issue. We need to be aware of how and if issues around menstruation can also open doors to talk about other controversial issues.

How is Erikshjälpen working on the issue?

- Through Erikshjälpen's close cooperation with local partner organizations, which are part of the local community, we can contribute to change that lasts over time. For example, it can start with creating access to sanitation products.

In many interventions , girls learn to sew their own sanitary pads, which helps to ensure school attendance. Through clubs, discussion groups and secured access to sexuality education, not only girls, but also boys, teachers and parents, gain basic knowledge about menstruation and the conditions required for good Menstrual health. Working towards and together with local decision-makers and leaders increases the chances of long-term change. Religious leaders are often a particularly important group when it comes to behavior change. Even if there is legislation in place, cultural and religious traditions and norms can be deeply rooted and thus influence people's attitudes and behaviors.

We work on issues related to menstruation more or less in all our regions. In many cases, it is an integral part of broader work on the rights of children and especially girls. We aim to work in parallel on individual, social and practical components. The individual components to support girls and menstruating persons' self-esteem, knowledge and skills. The social components to promote communities and social norms free of stigma and discrimination, and the practical components to increase access to safe and appropriate facilities.

Trafficking is a global problem that affected around 49 million people in 2023.
Erikshjälpen is one of the organisations that, together with partners, work against human trafficking in different countries. Strengthening the rights of women and children is a central part of this work.

In his thesis "A matter of faith?The fight against human trafficking in Thailand & Cambodia", Andreas Henriksson has examined how religion shapes the work against human trafficking. The research report is based on case studies of Christian aid organizations working in Thailand and Cambodia, where the children's rights organization Erikshjälpen and the parish and missionary movement Evangelical Free Church (EFK) have been included as partners.
- "I have tried to understand what governs the work of religious organizations and how it is received in the local communities where they operate," says Andreas Henriksson. "A religious worldview can make cooperation with secular aid actors and donors difficult, but at the same time religion is often an asset in relation to the local communities where they operate.

Easier to bridge the gap

International aid is characterized by a secular approach, which means that Christian aid organizations are mainly funded by religious donor networks. Networks that make it easier for organizations to highlight the role of religion.

Henriksson has investigated how religious organizations succeed in reaching out to the secular aid world and shows that organisations that are not affiliated with a particular church or denomination may in some cases find it easier to bridge the distance to secular actors.
- "Our organization is based on Christian values, and this is reflected in how we treat people around the world," says Mattias Ingeson, Secretary-General of Erikshjälpen. "Based on our identity and background, we have knowledge of the importance of religion for both individuals and societies. Our understanding and respect for other people's religion and culture creates good conditions for working together.

A motivating factor

Henriksson's research shows that there is local trust in religious actors. That religion is not seen as something negative, even if you do not share the same beliefs. Faith is even a motivating factor.

The results of the thesis can provide insights to improve collaboration with other actors. The hope is a better understanding of religious aid organizations and how their identity and worldview leads to both opportunities and challenges.
- "Erikshjälpen will disseminate Andrea's research results to our partner organisations and use it in our joint work against trafficking," says Mattias Ingeson. We will also highlight the results and spread the knowledge further in our networks.