More than 226 women fled in Norrbotten - the municipalities that gave zero kronor to the women's shelters

Only when the three municipalities have placed women in sheltered housing in other municipalities have they paid for that particular housing cost.

But the operational support, which ensures that the emergency services can keep going all year round, has been completely absent from these three municipalities.

At the same time, over 226 women in the county have been forced to flee to sheltered housing in recent years.

Most of them have been protected by the women's shelters.

- In some municipalities there are no women's shelters but they rely on other municipalities' women's shelters instead, says Mildred Hedberg, chairman of the county association for women's shelters in Norrbotten

In the video above, the municipalities of Arvidsjaur and Pajala explain why they have not donated a single kroner in support of the women's shelters in Norrbotten.

No own women's shelter

Although Jokkmokk and Pajala do not have their own women's shelter, they have not chosen to support the nearest emergency service financially for the past five years.

- This is not a secure system at all.

The emergency services that have money from their municipalities are set aside for women living in that municipality, says Mildred Hedberg.

Some contribute financially

Övertorneå shares a women's shelter with Överkalix, just as Arvidsjaur shares with Arjeplog.

But only Övertorneå has, in some years, contributed with association support to its nearest women's shelter Athena.

According to SVT's survey, Överkalix and Arjeplog have also failed to provide grants for several years over a five-year period.

However, the two municipalities provided financial support during the pandemic.

- Some municipalities are very generous while others have reduced such costs, to provide support and help to women.

In the end, it is the vulnerable women who are harmed by the municipalities not showing up with funds, says Mildred Hedberg.

"It's remarkable"

The chairman does not buy the explanation that the municipalities lack resources.

- I do not think the explanation holds.

It is about whether to prioritize men's violence against women.

It is remarkable because you give money to so much else and we know that violence exists in all these municipalities at the same time as the emergency services are an extended arm to the social services.

SVT has tried to reach the social manager in Jokkmokk municipality several times for a comment without result.