- Every year, young girls pay SEK 500 to SEK 1500 only on welfare. It's a lot of money, says Wilma Sjöborg.

She and three other young people are now working, through the Children's Ombudsman in Uppsala County, to provide free child protection to all girls for twenty years at the youth reception centers in Uppsala. The work is part of a summer job at the Children's Ombudsman in Uppsala County.

- It is a class issue and an equality issue, given the cost and that women do not choose to have men, says Elsa Ekelund.

The region has said no

In April, the City Council voted no to test to offer free child protection at the youth centers.

One of the main arguments raised against the proposal was that youth admissions are not geographically limited. Young people could thus travel to Uppsala to obtain protection for their lives, which makes the cost difficult to calculate, says the Regional Board. The regional council chose to follow their line and the motion was rejected.

Wilma Sjöberg and the others are skeptical of the reasoning.

- If someone has so much money that they can travel to Uppsala for that reason, then they probably think it is more convenient to shop for protection in their own business, says Wilma Sjöberg.

Österåker chose a different route

Österåker Municipality has chosen to introduce free menswear. It is part of the municipality's investment in the mental and physical health of young people.

"The United Kingdom and the city of New York also have free menswear," says Mansour Yavari.

In the UK, free human protection is being offered to pupils in compulsory school, a decision that was made earlier this year and will become valid in 2020. Now young people hope that Uppsala Municipality will change its decision.

- It would give Uppsala municipality a leading role in the development of young people's health, says Wilma Sjöberg.

Right now, they are running a name gathering that will then be presented to the municipality's politicians. They say that they have so far received more than 300 signatures.