Sweden’s foreign policy work promoting accountability for grave violations

Accountability in the UNHRC

The special procedures and mechanisms established by UNHRC resolutions are an important aspect of the UNHRC’s work. These mechanisms can be adapted to needs and contexts, but always aim to review, document, follow up and ensure accountability for human rights violations and abuses in different ways. 

The most common special procedure is special rapporteurs, who review and report on country-specific human rights situations. The UNHRC has appointed special rapporteurs for Afghanistan, Belarus and Iran, for example. In addition, there are independent experts who, similarly to special rapporteurs, take a long-term perspective in their monitoring and scrutiny. Commissions of inquiry have been appointed for Ukraine and Syria, for example. They are tasked with documenting and investigating serious violations, gathering evidence and identifying those responsible. Independent investigative mechanisms, such as the one established for Myanmar, are usually tasked with collecting and storing evidence for future legal proceedings, often in cooperation with international courts. 

The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime

The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime was established in 2020 and enables the EU to impose restrictive measures in the form of travel bans and asset freezes on individuals, entities and bodies responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses around the world. Sweden actively participates in efforts within the EU to ensure the effective and legally certain application of sanctions as part of our broader commitment to ensuring that human rights, democracy and the rule of law permeate the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. 

Support for the International Criminal Court

Sweden acceded to the Rome Statute in 2001 and actively supports the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) partly through political support in international contexts and partly financially. Since 2022, the Swedish Prosecution Authority and the Swedish Police Authority have seconded a number of prosecutors and investigators to the Office of the Prosecutor, and Sweden has entered into an agreement with the Court on the reassignment of witnesses and an agreement on the enforcement of sentencing. Through Sida, Sweden is also one of the largest donors to the ICC’s Trust Fund for Victims, (TFV).

Accountability for crimes committed in connection with Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Accountability is an integral part of the Strategy for Sweden’s reconstruction and reform cooperation work with Ukraine 2023–2027. This includes support for investigations of war crimes and other crimes committed in connection with Russia’s aggression, as well as support for human rights defenders.

• Sweden provides support to the Reckoning Project, which compiles evidence and provides support to journalists and lawyers for investigations of cases involving forcibly displaced and deported Ukrainian children.
• Sweden has seconded staff to the European Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform in Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine), and to the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM).
• Sweden, like 23 other states, has intervened in the case of Ukraine v. Russia before the International Court of Justice, concerning the interpretation of the Genocide Convention.
• Sweden has also intervened in the intergovernmental case between Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
• The Swedish Prosecution Authority has launched a ‘structural preliminary investigation’ into serious war crimes in Ukraine.
• Sweden has contributed to the financing of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) project that is examining the human rights situation in Ukraine.
• Sweden has contributed to the Council of Europe’s action plans for Ukraine, which provide capacity building, technical assistance and legal advice to Ukrainian authorities in their efforts to ensure accountability.
• Sweden has supported the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine’s work to document human rights violations in Ukraine during the Russian aggression.
• Sweden has participated in a core group to discuss the establishment of a tribunal to ensure accountability for the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine.
• Sweden has participated in the establishment of a mechanism for compensation for damages caused by acts in violation of international law in and against Ukraine. The first step was the establishment of a register of damage in 2023 under the auspices of the Council of Europe, which has a mandate to register damage claims and evidence linked to damage caused as a result of Russia’s aggression. A claims commission for Ukraine was established in 2025.
• Sweden supports the coalition for the repatriation of deported and forcibly displaced Ukrainian children.