Norrbotten Region may win the Swedish Gender Equality Award

The Norrbotten Region has been the only region to be named one of ten semi-finalists for the Swedish Gender Equality Award 2023.

The Swedish Gender Equality Award is awarded each year by Sweden's women's organizations to an actor who has actively contributed to a more equal society.

This year, 30 nominations have been received and Region Norrbotten is one of the ten semi-finalists.

For Region Norrbotten, the justification is that we "have long integrated gender equality into the organization's governance and operations in a strategic and sustainable way. All political decisions require justification of how the decisions affect women and men. The consistent gender equality work contributes to a vibrant region."

At Utveckla Norrbotten, gender equality issues are constantly alive. Gender equality and inclusion are part of the social sustainability that is part of our mission at Utveckla Norrbotten. Workplaces characterized by tolerance and openness, for example, have an easier time recruiting and retaining staff. That is why this year we launched the tool Develoop, a support for creating an equal and inclusive work environment.

– Gender equality is something you do, not something you are. It is important to address the issues in the concrete work that goes on every day, they must not get stuck in a strategy document on the bookshelf, says Monica Lejon, Head of Business and Society at Region Norrbotten.

The winner of the award will be presented in February next year at Forum Jämställdhet, Sweden's largest gender equality conference.