Human rights, democracy and the rule of law in foreign policy

Safeguarding and promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law is a core task of the entire Foreign Service and permeates all aspects of foreign policy. This work is conducted in close cooperation with others who share our values: our Nordic neighbours and, in particular, our EU partners.

Sweden is a proponent for ensuring that the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) safeguards and promotes human rights, democracy and the rule of law. By contributing concrete initiatives, expertise and analysis, we want to ensure that the EU remains a strong foreign policy actor and voice for human rights, democracy and the rule of law, both in Brussels and around the world. The EU’s toolbox for achieving this includes everything from political dialogue and statements to reform support to EU candidate countries, humanitarian aid, development policy measures, election observation missions, civilian and military missions, and support to civil society, human rights defenders and independent media.

The toolbox also contains various forms of restrictive measures. States and non-state actors that violate or abuse human rights can be subject to sanctions. 

Other policy areas such as trade are also included. Trade policy is incorporated through incentive schemes that provide customs preferences to developing and low- and middle-income countries, provided that they respect human rights, and through EU export bans on goods that could be used for capital punishment or torture. 

The EU’s diplomatic service, the European External Action Service, has adopted an action plan for work on human rights and democracy in foreign policy for 2020–2027. The EU has also adopted guidelines on how to conduct work in various thematic areas and appoints a special representative for human rights in foreign policy (the EU Special Representative for Human Rights).