Uppsala municipality's gender equality council has selected Nexus resource center as the recipient of this year's gender equality prize. The award recognizes the center's efforts to support victims of violence, especially by helping them secure safe housing. The prize is presented in connection with International Women's Day.
Uppsala municipality awards a gender equality prize each year to recognize activities or employees contributing to lasting equality. For 2026, the prize goes to Nexus resource center, which provides support to people exposed to threats or violence from close relations, often women. The center's work focuses on improving living conditions through knowledge and systematic efforts, fostering safety, quality of life, and hope for the future.
The gender equality council particularly highlights Nexus's initiatives to help violence victims obtain safe housing. "Nexus works together with others so that people can move on from sheltered accommodation more quickly. It is important work that creates increased safety, quality of life, and hope for the future," says Tobias Smedberg (V), chair of the council.
At Nexus, various professional categories collaborate to meet individuals' needs from a client perspective. Unit manager Andreas Lindman emphasizes: "We have a strong commitment to the target group and a great willingness to develop our operations from a client perspective." An example is the investment in permanent housing for violence victims, developed in collaboration with partners.
Violence in close relationships – physical, psychological, economic, sexual, or honor-related – often stems from societal inequality, according to the council and Nexus. "We work daily with the ultimate consequence of an unequal society," says Lindman. The prize motivates the center to continue developing its work, including support for those who have experienced sex for compensation that did not feel right. Nexus is LGBTQ-certified, and staff have confidentiality obligations.
The gender equality council works to raise awareness of gender equality in all policy areas within the municipality and follows developments in the field.