Though significant progress has been made in maternal health over the last few years, approximately 810 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, according to the World Health Organization. Sexual and reproductive health and rights, or SRHR, are an integral part of a well-functioning health system, but there is still a significant lack of funding.
Sweden is one of the world’s leading donors for SRHR and is one of the top overall donors of foreign aid relative to the size of its economy. In 2014, Sweden became the first country to implement a feminist foreign policy, a cornerstone of which is SRHR. Support for SRHR accounted for around 60% of Swedish health aid, a figure set to increase.
The Swedish government has also been a vocal critic of the White House’s Mexico City Policy, also known as the “global gag rule,” which bars aid funding to any foreign NGO engaged in any abortion-related activities, including education or counseling. In response to the policy’s reinstatement and expansion, Sweden increased its funding for SRHR in 2017.