Sweden’s foreign policy for freedom of expression and media freedom

Promoting freedom of expression – both online and offline, is also a priority in Sweden’s foreign policy work. Sweden regularly raises the issue of freedom of expression and media freedom in bilateral dialogues with other countries, and in multilateral contexts such as the UN, the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the EU. Sweden is part of the core group that presents the recurring resolution on freedom of expression in the UNHRC, together with the Netherlands, Canada, Brazil, Namibia and Fiji.

The EU supports efforts to improve access to information, combat censorship and surveillance, and promote an open, free and secure internet. The EU works with civil society, independent media and international organisations to fight disinformation, raise public awareness and stimulate open public debate. In international forums such as the UN, the EU raises issues of freedom of expression and opposes restrictions that threaten an open society.

Safety of journalists

The safety of journalists is a top priority of Swedish foreign policy, both bilaterally, multilaterally and in development cooperation. Sweden works actively to strengthen accountability for violence, threats of violence and other types of harassment against journalists and others who are targeted for exercising their freedom of expression. This involves both reactive and proactive measures to manage and prevent threats and violence. Moreover, it involves supporting individual journalists and media workers who are exposed to threats, hatred and violence, but also support to free and independent media and to educational efforts to promote free and independent journalism.

By actively supporting resolutions and other initiatives, we have participated in putting and keeping the issue of journalists’ safety in focus, not least in the UN in a broad sense (the UNHRC, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly and UNESCO) but also in the EU, the OSCE and the Council of Europe.

The EU strives to ensure that journalists are able to operate freely and safely, including by promoting environments in which freedom of expression can be exercised in practice. The EU responds to attacks, threats and harassment – both online and offline – and offers support to persons in vulnerable situations through specific protection mechanisms for human rights defenders. The EU also works to ensure that all states work proactively to combat violence against journalists, act forcefully when such violence occurs, and ensure accountability.

Sweden has been a member of the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC) since the beginning of 2022. The MFC is a coalition of states that focuses on making statements on freedom of expression and media freedoms, the safety of journalists in different countries and building local networks.