Europaudvalget 2022-23 (2. samling)
EUU Alm.del Bilag 206
Offentligt
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1/24/2023
Nordic stocktaking; SRHR under pressure, February 23,
2023
Background
The Nordic countries share a strong commitment to protect and
promote sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as an
integral part of gender equality. It allows women and girls to make
their own choices about their bodies and how they live their
lives. However, years of hard-fought
gains are now under increasing
threat by anti-rights movements. We are experiencing increasing
pressure on basic human rights, especially aimed at women and sexual
minorities in several European countries. The right to safe and legal
abortion is being rolled back in several countries, and access to
contraception and comprehensive sexuality education is being
challenged. Massive funds for the anti-rights movement are pouring
into all regions, with pressure on Europe in recent years. This also
includes the Nordic countries, where we, in different national
constellations, see an increased toxic public rhetoric towards LGBT+
rights, diverse family structures, as well as other gender and identity
issues. There is therefore an urgent need for further political
commitment and coordination to counter this worrying trend, which
we know is well coordinated, funded, and professionalized.
In 2021, the European Parliamentary Forum published the report
Tip
of the Iceberg,
which demonstrated how the opposition to gender and
SRHR has grown significantly across countries in Europe. The rapport
showed that over the past 10 years, funding for gender-opposition
movements, associations and political parties has more than
quadrupled.
1
The Nordic countries have a unique opportunity and responsibility to
lead the work to advance and secure fundamental rights. There is a
political momentum to bring together allies, national and European
parliamentarians, civil servants, and civil society to confront and
mobilize against the anti-gender movements, both inside and outside
the EU
.
Nordic members of the EU parliament are known for their
engagement in promoting fundamental rights in Europe. Despite this,
there is an unfulfilled
–
and much needed
–
space to create a
CSO/parliamentary alliance to coordinate and support this
engagement between likeminded actors. This event will be an
 EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 206: Invitation til nordisk seminar 23/2-23 om Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Under Pressure: Nordic Stocktaking on the Rising Gender Opposition in Europe
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important step towards strengthening the Nordic parliamentary
coordination, but also ensuring that Nordic members of the European
Parliament and other relevant allies are involved in dialogue and co-
operation. Hence, the event will gather Nordic national
parliamentarians, members of the European Parliament, as well as
relevant civil servants and civil society both from in and outside
Europe. They will convene for a day of discussions and knowledge
sharing on the growing anti-gender trends, including identifying
opportunities for coordination and alliance creation across sectors.
Target groups
Nordic parliamentarians, in particular members of all party
parliamentarian groups on sexual and reproductive health and rights,
Nordic members of the European Parliament, relevant Nordic
ministries working on SRHR and gender equality, relevant actors from
in and outside Europe, working on SRHR/GE.
The event is closed and by-invitation-only.
Dates and venue
23-24 February 2023 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The seminar takes place on 23 February at the Danish Parliament,
Christiansborg. On 24 February, Nordic MPs and MEPs are invited to
participate in strategic meetings including an extended Nordic
coordination meeting hosted by the Danish APPG for SRHR (separate
programme will follow)
Expected outcome of the event
1- To take the first steps towards establishment a Nordic
APPG/MEP/CSO platform to promote SRHR and counter the
setback in terms of SRHR and other fundamental rights, in
cooperation with key allies, including the Nordic relevant
ministries, European Parliamentary Forum and UNFPA. The
platform could include themed information sharing,
briefings/trainings, cross-sector coordination, support for
Nordic MP/MEP engagement and promotion of support in
response to the rising anti-rights trends in Europe and globally.
-
To plan towards broader European initiative on pushing back
the push-back.
A joint statement/op-ed on the Nordic countries commitment
to counter the anti-gender movements in the Nordics and
-
 EUU, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 206: Invitation til nordisk seminar 23/2-23 om Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Under Pressure: Nordic Stocktaking on the Rising Gender Opposition in Europe
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Europe alike and to promote the respect for
every person’s
right to make decisions over their own body.
The event is planned by Sex & Samfund (DK), Sex & Politikk (Norway),
RFSU (Sweden), Väestöliitto (Finland), and hosted by the Danish
Parliament's cross-party network for Sexual and reproductive Health
and Rights