Sweden’s Integration Minister Mats Persson has proposed mandatory social integration courses emphasizing liberal values and gender equality to tackle the high incidence of rape committed by foreign-born individuals.
His remarks to Expressen followed a major Lund University study showing that 63% of those convicted of rape between 2000 and 2020 were either born abroad or had parents who were.
The study also found that men who had spent less time in Sweden were at a higher risk of conviction. Persson linked these statistics to cultural differences, stating, “Men who grow up in patriarchal structures where they don’t have the same view of equality as we have in our liberal Sweden — this is clearly part of the problem.”
To address the issue, Persson stressed a two-pronged approach: tougher penalties and enhanced education. He advocated for stricter deportation policies for foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes and highlighted the recent introduction of language and social tests for immigrants. These tests, he noted, will strongly focus on equality and liberal values.
“First, it is about being very clear that there are high penalties and deportation for those who commit this type of crime. Secondly, we are now introducing a new language and social test for those coming to Sweden, and in it, we will emphasize equality and liberal values to a great extent,” Persson explained.
Sweden raised the minimum sentence for rape to three years in 2022, but Persson believes further increases are necessary. Tougher punishments, he argued, would act as both a deterrent and a way to ensure justice for victims. “The government has a general direction that we want to increase punishments in Sweden. It is incredibly important for people to feel that the system is fair and that crime victims get the redress they deserve,” he said.
However, punitive measures alone aren’t enough, Persson emphasized. Education and cultural integration are key to preventing sexual violence. Currently, newcomers are offered a 100-hour social orientation course, but discussions are underway to extend and make it compulsory.
The proposed courses would focus heavily on women’s rights, gender equality, and sexuality, aiming to instill Swedish values in migrants. Completing the course could even become a requirement for obtaining permanent residence.
“You can have whatever religion you want and speak whatever home language you want, but we have to be clear from day one that whoever comes here needs to support our views on sexuality, child-rearing, women’s rights, gay rights, and so on,” Persson said.
The plan underscores the government’s belief that fostering shared values is crucial to building a safer, more cohesive society.
