Democracy and human rights

The Government is now presenting an action programme to prevent and combat men’s violence against women, domestic violence, honour-based violence and oppression, and prostitution and human trafficking for the period 2024–2026. The programme contains over 130 initiatives and measures to be undertaken on a broad front at national, regional and local level. The efforts will also be strengthened in four special priority areas for development.

On Tuesday 4 June, the task force for Jewish life in Sweden held its fourth meeting, which focused on education. Invited representatives of schools, universities, other higher education institutions and liberal adult education attended the meeting.

This regional strategy for the Syria crisis forms part of Sweden’s overall development and foreign policy and will help to strengthen local resilience among the Syrian population, Syrian refugees and vulnerable groups in the refugee-hosting communities of neighbouring countries Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye, all of which are major regional recipients of Syrian refugees.

Johan Floderus and Saeed Azizi, the two Swedish citizens wrongfully imprisoned in Iran, have come home to Sweden.

Sweden’s strategy for civilian crisis management and peace promotion is a part of the governance of Sweden’s collective development, foreign and security policy. The strategy will contribute to strengthening the multilateral organisations’ capability to prevent, predict, manage and resolve crises and conflicts and help promote sustainable peace, security, democracy and increased respect for human rights and freedoms and the rule of law.

The Government has adopted a new regional strategy for the Syria crisis. It comprises SEK 880 million over three years and is being implemented by Sida. Sweden’s engagement is aimed at supporting the Syrian population in Syria, Syrian refugees and vulnerable groups in host societies in the neighbouring countries Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye.

The EU has adopted a new sanctions regime in response to increasing political repression in Russia. In light of the decision, 19 natural persons and one entity have been added to the sanctions list.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies have organised a conference on Belarus to strengthen dialogue with Belarusian democratic forces in exile.

This year’s Per Anger Prize went to Sithar Chhim, who fights for democracy and respect for human rights in Cambodia. Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand presented the award on 25 April during a ceremony at the Living History Forum.

Today, on World Press Freedom Day, the Government announced that it is expanding and deepening our work for press freedom around the world through several key actors. Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell and Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand, opinion piece, Expressen, 3 May 2024.

Speech by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at the Summit for Democracy in Seoul, South Korea, 20 March 2024. Check against delivery.

The objective of Sweden’s international development assistance is to create preconditions for better living conditions for people living in poverty and under oppression. Internationally agreed principles on aid and development effectiveness will be applied.

Speech by Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin at the Summit for Democracy in Seoul, South Korea, 18 March 2024. Check against delivery.

National Statement delivered by Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life Paulina Brandberg, at the 68th Session of the Commission on Status of Women, New York, 12 March 2024. Check against delivery.

The visit to Bangladesh will take place on 18–21 March on the occasion of HRH The Crown Princess’s role as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP Assistant Secretary General Ulrika Modéer will also take part.

The Swedish Gender Equality Agency has been tasked with sharing knowledge about honour-based violence and oppression in connection with stays abroad. The Government has now also tasked the Agency with analyzing and presenting proposals for a national reporting and follow-up system for cases where a child or adult has been taken abroad. This involves determining the scope of the problem and establishing an approach to systematic follow-up.

On 10–16 March, Minister for Gender Equality Paulina Brandberg is taking part in the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), also known as the UN women’s commission, in New York. The theme of this year’s session is combating poverty and how institutions and financing can be strengthened from a gender equality perspective. Ms Brandberg is also hosting the activities arranged by the Nordic Council of Ministers, of which Sweden is holding the Presidency in 2024. Ms Brandberg will hold two policy speeches: Sweden’s policy speech and a policy speech for an LGBTI Core Group that includes Sweden.

Statement by Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life Paulina Brandberg, at the 68th Session of the Commission on Status of Women, New York, 11 March 2024. Check against delivery.

Preventing and combating men’s violence against women, other types of intimate partner violence, and honour-based violence and oppression is a high priority for the Government. More than SEK 600 million will be invested in gender equality in 2024 and government agencies have been assigned several new assignments. The Government is now further strengthening the work towards gender equality and presents investment in women’s economic empowerment and to increase knowledge about national minorities’ exposure to violence.