Det talade ordet gäller!

On behalf of the Swedish Government I would like to extend a very warm welcome to you all; ministers, high-level officials from organisations and government authorities, politicians, journalists and others who have come - some a long way - to this conference. As some of you have noticed, I also note with pleasure that my predecessor Mona Sahlin is taking part the first morning of our meeting.

For two days now, we will discuss and seek solutions to address the problem of patriarchal violence, with focus on violence in the name of honour.

Patriarchal violence occurs throughout the world, but differs in terms of expressions. It is based on notions of male superiority and female subordination and is part of an exercise of power and control over women. The violence is not tied to any religion, ethnicity nor culture but to the degree of patriarchy.

Patriarchal violence is part of the overall male violence. According to WHO, the World Health Organisation, male violence represents the bulk of all violence globally. It is costly to societies at large - as indicated by a study of the present chief economist of the World Bank, M. Francois Bourguignon. He has estimated the cost of male violence in individual countries to compare to as much as between 3% and 7.5% of the GDP of the countries concerned. And then, the cost in terms of sufferings and deaths of individuals remains to be added.

It is important to see male violence directed at women not as something isolated but as one of many means to maintain the subordination of women. Because patriarchal violence and indeed violence in the name of honour is the ultimate vehicle for denying women and girls personal security, physical integrity, freedom, love - and even the right to live. And it is not only open violence but also threats of violence that constitutes grave hindrances to the freedom of women and girls, which severely limit their lives and choices. It is in this context of assumptions of male superiority and female subordination that we must understand and combat this violence.

Two years ago the at that time UN rapporteur on violence against women, Ms Radhika Coomaraswamy, provided a special report on cultural practices in the family that are harmful to women. She notes that violence, including killings in the name of honour, is typically carried out by husbands, fathers, brothers or uncles, sometimes on behalf of larger communities. She points to the fact that the violence is not necessarily related to love, shame, jealousy or social pressure. Economic factors can also contribute as well as armed conflict and war, and economic decline and social What might be labelled or disguised as "honour" might really be men's need to control women's sexuality and freedom, and to act as custodians for cultural and ethnic purity. Thus, the rapporteur urges states not to invoke any customs, traditions or religious considerations to avoid their obligation to eradicate violence against women and girls. Instead, they should send clear signals that such violence is unacceptable by punishing perpetrators and taking care of victims and helping those who have managed to escape violence in the name of honour.

This fall, the Government of Turkey together with the United Kingdom introduced a resolution in the General Assembly of the UN on the elimination of crimes against women and girls in the name of honour. The resolution that was adopted by consensus is very strong and highlights for instance the responsibility of men to promote gender equality and bring about changes in attitudes to eliminate gender stereotypes. It also points to the importance of supporting services in the area of sexual and reproductive health.

Against this background, I would thus like to point at four crucial issues that we might consider at this conference.

Firstly, Governments must act responsibility to protect the life, security, integrity and freedom of all citizens, in accordance with human rights instruments. Because where it is acceptable to sacrifice an individual for the sake of the collective group nobody can feel safe.

Governments have also to live up to the recommendations of the UN Secretary-Generals special report on violence in the name of honour 2002 as well as subsequent reports as he calls upon governments to forcefully combat violence against women, including violence in the name of honour, to put perpetrators on trial and to spread knowledge about the extent and causes of the violence.

Secondly, we must give credit to and support the very essential and long-term work of civil society in terms of assisting victims of male violence and for combating the problem. Many of these actors represent indeed the essence of both courage and honour.

Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, we must address the major root-cause to violence, which is inequalities between women and men. Thus, we need a broad range of measures, nationally and internationally, to enhance respect for women's rights and gender equality. This must entail measures in a wide range of areas. That would include equal rights to inheritance, education, equal distribution of power and influence, equal pay for work of equal value, contraception and sexual counselling, measures to prevent prostitution and initiatives to combat all forms of patriarchal violence against women.

Fourthly, we hope for frank and open discussions in the conference. No country - including my own - can claim to have to come to any satisfactory solution of these difficult problems as yet.

To conclude, I would like to remind us that all over the world, we see stunning examples of how political will and engagement of people can transform what we perceive as realities. Privileges that used to be in the hands of a few can be shared. And violence as a means of solving conflicts can be prevented, whether it takes place between nations or within families. Just like people in the past have fought for rights that we today take for granted, we must make our contribution, for ourselves and for future generations, and continue to defend and expand the respect for human rights for all and the right to live without oppression, fear and violence.

Thus, let us jointly, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, generation or class, combat patriarchal violence in all its forms and be united in these efforts, across all borders.

Thank you.