Democracy and human rights

As a part of the national initiative to increase knowledge about the Holocaust and antisemitism, connected to the Malmö Forum Remember ReAct, a national educational material has been produced.

The purpose of the Forum is to jointly take steps forward in the work on Holocaust remembrance and the fight against antisemitism. The Malmö Forum are asking the participating delegations to commit to concrete actions. We call these commitments pledges.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented global crisis. The worldwide spread of the virus highlights the importance of collaboration and solidarity in tackling global challenges, leaving no one behind. Sweden continues to stand up for international principles and commitments and to support multilateral organisations working to fight the pandemic and its impacts. This is in line with Sweden’s work and ambitions to meet the 2030 Agenda. With a well-considered response, the international community can together lay the foundations for a more sustainable, equitable and gender-equal world that will be better equipped to manage future crises.

On 10 March 2021 the Expert Group of the Malmö Forum held its first meeting. The group will serve in an advisory capacity to the Secretariat of the Malmö Forum regarding the content of the programme of the Forum. Anna Ekström, Minister for Education, opened the meeting and stressed the importance of the coming Forum and how this will work as a catalyst for increased action for Holocaust remembrance, education and for actions to combat antisemitism.

Participating delegations are asked to commit to concrete actions and present them at the Malmö Forum. We call these commitments pledges. To clarify what we mean by a pledge in this context, and as a source of inspiration, we will invite various experts to present proposals regarding pledges, says Stefan Löfven in a short film.

The Government has adopted several measures against racism, similar forms of hostility and hate crime. Several of the measures are being carried out within the context of the national plan against racism, similar forms of hostility and hate crime, which the Government adopted in 2016. The plan takes an integrated approach and comprises strategies and measures to prevent and combat racism and hate crime through improved coordination and monitoring, more education and research, increased support to and deepened dialogue with civil society, strengthened preventive measures online and a more active justice system.

Today, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde presented the Government’s Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag. This year’s Statement of Foreign Policy was Ms Linde’s second as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

On 24 February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde presented the 2021 Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag. Check against delivery.

A Polish court has ordered two Holocaust researchers to apologise for information in a research report published in 2018 on the fate of Jews in German-occupied Poland in 1939–1945.

The Swedish Government has decided today to refer a proposal concerning a human rights institute to the Council on Legislation for consideration. The Government’s decision is an important step towards establishing the institute.