Democracy and human rights

April 13, 2019

On 20 February, the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU, in collaboration with Civil Rights Defenders, held a meeting with Russian human rights organisations and officials from various EU countries. The aim was both to review the state of human rights with a focus on the situation for LGBTI people in Russia and to discuss support measures by the EU.

On 13 February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström presented the 2019 Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag. Check against delivery.

January 23, 2019

The 2030 Agenda offers us a new opportunity to influence and help improve the health situation for people in Sweden and globally. By acting globally, we create conditions for positive developments in our own country while also contributing to, and taking responsibility for, positive developments in the world at large. The document Sweden’s work on global health seeks to bring together and consolidate existing strategies, priorities and policies with the aim of setting out a clear and common agenda and creating the conditions for more effective communications, increased collaboration and, ultimately, more impactful Swedish action.

The objective of Sweden’s international development cooperation is to create opportunities for people who live in poverty and oppression to improve their living conditions. Development cooperation will be based on the principles of aid and development effectiveness, and the new agreements reached by the international community in 2015: the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement.

This strategy will form the basis of Sweden’s cooperation with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). The strategy establishes the priorities and forms of collaboration for Sweden’s membership of, and partnership with, UN Women at global, regional and national level for 2018–2022.

In October 2014, Sweden became the first country in the world to launch a feminist foreign policy. This means applying a systematic gender equality perspective throughout the whole foreign policy agenda. This handbook should be a resource for international work relating to gender equality and all women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights. It contains a selection of methods and experiences that can provide examples and inspira¬tion for further work of the Swedish Foreign Service, other parts of the civil service and society as a whole. The handbook also describes the first four years of working with a feminist foreign policy. Thereby, it responds to the considerable national and international interest in this policy.

As President of the UN Security Council, Sweden has been responsible for the Security Council’s very broad agenda and led its intensive day-to-day work. The Security Council’s primary purpose is to maintain international peace and security, and Sweden has contributed to these efforts by focusing on results, dialogue and inclusive leadership.

The formal rights for LGBT persons in Sweden have been strengthened through various reforms. This has involved changes in the law, including the introduction of a principle of non-discrimination, enhanced rights in family law and anti-hate crime initiatives. What follows is a chronological overview of several reforms put in place to strengthen and promote equal rights for LGBT persons.

In recent years, a number of reforms have been introduced in order to secure equal rights for LGBT persons. There has also been a positive societal development regarding these issues which has helped to ensure a better situation for LGBT persons in Sweden. However, LGBT persons, in particular transgender persons, still face difficulties in Sweden. The government is therefore taking further measures for equal rights for LGBT persons. You can find out more about these measures in the leaflet in the link on the righthand side of this article.

National statement delivered by Ambassador Carl Skau on behalf of Sweden at the United Nations Security Council Briefing on MINUSMA, 14 June 2018, New York.

Explantation of Vote delivered by Ambassador Carl Skau on behalf of Sweden at the United Nations Security Council Adoption of Resolution 2421 (2018), renewing the mandate of UNAMI, 14 June 2018, New York.

According to a new report from the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, the space for women’s rights defenders is shrinking in many countries. On 5 June, Sweden’s Permanent Representation to the European Union showcased the report at a meeting with the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation and other organisations working in the area.

National statement delivered by Ambassador Olof Skoog on behalf of Sweden at the United Nations Security Council Briefing on the situation in Burundi, 24 May 2018, New York.

National statement delivered by Ambassador Irina Schoulgin Nyoni on behalf of Sweden at the United Nations Security Council Briefing on Peace and Security in Africa, 23 May 2018, New York.

National statement delivered by Ambassador Olof Skoog on behalf of Sweden at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, 22 May 2018, New York.

National statement delivered by Ambassador Olof Skoog on behalf of Sweden at the United Nations Security Council Briefing on UNSMIL/Libya, 21 May 2018, New York.

National statement delivered by Ambassador Olof Skoog on behalf of Sweden at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on upholding international law within the context of the maintenance of international peace and security, 17 May 2018, New York.