Today in Sweden: A roundup of the latest news on Wednesday

Five-year-old boy found dead in central Sweden

A five-year-old boy who disappeared from a residential children’s home in Hagfors, central Sweden, on Wednesday morning is dead. He was found in the water of a river at around 10am and was taken to hospital; it is unclear whether he was still alive at the time.

The boy had disappeared from the home around three hours earlier, wearing only a diaper. A police search was launched, and drones and helicopters were called in.

Swedish vocabulary: children’s home – HVB-hem (Hem för vård eller boende – literally “home for care or accommodation”)

Swedish government to crack down on violence against women

The Swedish government was on Wednesday set to reveal a list of measures it wants to take to end violence against women in Sweden, including tougher punishments and preventative measures. The proposals were to be outlined by Equality Minister Märta Stenevi, Justice Minister Morgan Johansson and Home Affairs Minister Mikael Damberg at a press conference at 8.15am (it can be watched in Swedish HERE).

The initiative was sparked by a spate of killings of five women in Sweden in spring, with party leaders saying decision-makers needed to do more to combat the problem.

Swedish vocabulary: woman – (en) kvinna

Women in Sweden may have (almost) equal salaries and shared parental leave, but what's it all worth if we can't feel safe, asks Swedish columnist Lisa Bjurwald after five women were killed in three weeks. https://t.co/6KE61XsQ6F

— The Local Sweden (@TheLocalSweden) April 27, 2021

Partners again allowed to visit hospital after birth

As of June 21st, all regions in Sweden will have scrapped a pandemic visiting ban for partners to maternity care units after birth, reports Swedish public broadcaster SVT.

Eleven of Sweden’s 21 regions have had such a ban in place during the pandemic, and other regions have had other restrictions to decrease the risk of spreading coronavirus.

There are still restrictions in place: for example, in some regions the visitor may have to take a rapid coronavirus test before they are allowed to enter, reports SVT. And some regions may still ban partners from joining the pregnant partner for pre-birth visits.

Swedish vocabulary: visitor – (en) besökare

Women who gave birth in 2020 told The Local how they were affected by hospital staff shortages, as a new study shows that more than 900 women in Stockholm could not be offered a place on maternity wards when they gave birth. https://t.co/A9qv57EVNL

— The Local Sweden (@TheLocalSweden) May 17, 2021

What do Sweden’s market rent plans mean for tenants?

Sweden’s Left Party has given the government a 48-hour deadline to throw out its proposal to abolish a hotly-debated rent cap on newbuilds – or it will try to organise a vote of no-confidence.

As The Local reported yesterday, Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar told a press conference that her party’s attempts to discuss the controversial proposal with Social Democrat Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and the Centre Party had been repeatedly rejected. “Our support is not there if the government goes through with proposals on market rents or free rent-setting,” said Dadgostar.

But what’s going on with Sweden’s proposed new rental laws, and is the government really in danger? We explain what we can expect in THIS article.

Swedish vocabulary: market rents – marknadshyror

What do proposed changes to Swedish rental laws mean for residents, and could the Left Party really bring down the government over the plans? The Local explains. https://t.co/DQOYcmLsjF

— The Local Sweden (@TheLocalSweden) June 15, 2021