Women in Global Governance: The Case of Margot Wallström

What happens when women and girls are placed on an equal plane as men and boys in the development of principles that guide and govern human rights across the globe? What if the abuses against women and girls in war-zones are considered a central issue in negotiating an end to conflict and implementing a sustainable peace in such locations? What if equitable distribution of government resources are implemented to ensure equal educational access for girls and boys, affordable childcare for all families and similar care for the elderly, and equal employment opportunities for women—such that men and women are able to create a sustainable future for themselves and their families? What if women’s voices and perspectives are at the table and on equal footing as their male counterparts, as war ends and a society tries to re-emerge in a more democratic, peaceful, and sustainable way? What if women are no longer considered to be simply victims and, instead, valuable and valued actors in fostering a more sustainable future, for individual countries as well as the global community? Such are the kinds of questions that Sweden’s Margot Wallström asked as her government’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, developing and representing a Swedish foreign policy agenda in global government circles from 2014-2019. Such an effort represented her commitment to enshrining gender equality as a foundational principle in international human rights and the rule of law.