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Sweden Launches "Women's Peace" Council to Combat Men's Violence Against Women

Sweden has launched a new ministerial council focused on "women's peace" to coordinate a national effort against men's violence toward women. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will chair the council, which aims to address domestic abuse, honour-related violence, and cases linked to mental health. The initiative follows two high-profile murders of women in late 2025 that sparked public debate about risk assessment and repeat offenders. The government has already decided to tighten parole rules and improve how repeat violent offending is handled.

Key Points: Sweden Launches Program to Curb Violence Against Women

  • New ministerial council on "kvinnofrid"
  • Targets domestic and honour-related violence
  • Tightens parole for repeat offenders
  • Prompted by high-profile 2025 murders
2 min read

Sweden launches new program to curb violence against women

PM Ulf Kristersson chairs new council to tackle domestic abuse, honour violence, and strengthen parole rules after high-profile murders.

"It should not be life-threatening to be a woman in Sweden. - Gunnar Strommer"

Helsinki, Jan 29

Sweden has launched a new program to combat what Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called "one of the largest and most frightening social problems" facing the nation: men's violence against women.

Speaking at a press conference in Stockholm on Wednesday (local time), Kristersson said he will chair a new ministerial council on kvinnofrid ("women's peace"), aimed at strengthening coordination across government agencies.

Kristersson said the new effort will address violence linked to severe mental-health problems, domestic abuse, and so-called honour-related violence, in which women are targeted by family members. He added that the cabinet has already decided to tighten parole rules and strengthen how repeat offending is assessed.

Women's safety returned to the centre of public debate in late December 2025 after two widely followed cases -- one in Ronninge, a district south of Stockholm, and another in Boden, a town in northern Sweden.

The incidents renewed scrutiny of how authorities assess risk and handle repeat violent offenders, reports Xinhua news agency.

In Ronninge, police launched a large search after a 25-year-old woman was reported missing during the night into December 26 last year. She was found dead on December 27, and the investigation was reclassified as murder. In Boden, police responded to a call at a residence on December 25, 2025 and later confirmed that a woman had died after being subjected to extensive violence.

Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer said it "should not be life-threatening to be a woman in Sweden," adding that "dangerous men should be locked up" so women can feel safe in public.

The term kvinnofrid has deep roots in Swedish legal tradition. Historical accounts often link it to 13th-century "peace laws" intended to curb assaults and abductions of women, though original texts are not preserved.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
"Dangerous men should be locked up" - the Justice Minister is absolutely right. The focus on tightening parole for repeat offenders is crucial. Our system in India also needs to ensure that bail and parole are not granted so easily in cases of violence against women.
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Aman W
Interesting to see them linking it to mental health issues. Often, violence is just labelled as 'crime' without looking at the root cause. A holistic approach that includes support systems for men with severe problems could prevent tragedies. Hope they allocate proper funds for counselling.
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Sarah B
While the intent is good, I hope this isn't just a political announcement after two tragic cases. Real change requires consistent implementation, training for police, and societal education. Sweden is often seen as progressive, so if they're facing this, it shows it's a global fight.
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Vikram M
The historical context of 'kvinnofrid' from the 13th century is fascinating. It shows the problem is ancient, but the solutions need to be modern and robust. In India, we have strong laws like the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, but ground-level awareness and enforcement need a massive push.
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Nisha Z
As an Indian woman, I read this with mixed feelings. It's good other nations are acting, but when will we feel truly safe here? We need faster courts, safer public transport, and a change in mindset from childhood. It starts at home, teaching our sons respect.

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