Swedish Labor and Integration Minister Mats Persson acknowledges differing perspectives on gender equality between Swedish society and some migrant communities.
Minister Persson highlights the need for education on liberal values to address the rise in rape convictions involving individuals with foreign backgrounds or parents who immigrated to Sweden. A Lund University study reveals that 63% of rape convictions between 2000 and 2020 involved individuals born abroad or with foreign-born parents.
In an interview, Persson emphasizes the significance of values in combating this issue, stating that the high number of sexual assaults committed by migrants from the Middle East and Africa stems from their upbringing in patriarchal systems with differing views on gender equality compared to Sweden’s liberal society.
The ministry offers 100-hour civic orientation courses to all new immigrants.
“We aim to enhance the curriculum’s focus on liberal values, women’s rights, honor violence, and sexuality. We must not only educate but also assess comprehension of these values,” he stated. The government is exploring mandating and extending these courses.
Persson stresses the importance of clear consequences, including strict penalties and potential deportation, for those convicted of rape, advocating for an increase in the current minimum three-year sentence. He explains the government’s intention to strengthen penalties to ensure fairness and public confidence in the justice system.
According to Eurostat, Sweden had the highest per-capita rate of reported rapes in the EU in 2022 (86 per 100,000), exceeding Iceland (68.04) and France (53.13).