Democracy and human rights

Today we honour the memory of the victims of the Srebrenica genocide in 1995. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has been invited by Sefik Dzaferovic, the Bosniak member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to attend the commemoration at the Memorial Hall for Srebrenica in Potocari. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign officials will take part in the commemoration via a video message that will be broadcast at the official commemoration ceremony.

On 2 July, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde invited minister colleagues and government representatives from South Africa, Mexico, Spain and Germany to discuss economic gender equality. These countries, together with representatives of civil society, international organisations and private funds, will lead a global coalition on economic gender equality to accelerate results for global gender equality. Here are the key messages from the meeting:

The Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism will take place in Malmö on 13–14 October 2021. The Forum has been postponed one year due to the unfortunate circumstances of the current pandemic.

The virtual Global Pride festival kicks off on 27 June. Artists, politicians and activists from around the world will take part in the 26-hour livestream event.

The OECD has released a report on how LGBTI people are included in the legislative frameworks in its member countries. The release coincides with Global Pride 2020, the worldwide digital festival taking place on 27 June. Minister for Gender Equality Åsa Lindhagen welcomes the OECD expanding its work to include LGBTI rights.

Here you find more information about the right of UK nationals to continue living and working in Sweden under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Today the Government presented a bill to the Riksdag containing proposals for provisions concerning the rights of UK nationals. The proposals supplement those contained in the Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU and concern the right of certain UK nationals to travel to and live and work in Sweden.

The COVID-19 outbreak presents an unprecedented global crisis. The worldwide spread of the virus highlights the importance of collaboration and solidarity in tackling global challenges. Sweden continues to stand up for international principles and commitments and to support multilateral organisations working to fight the pandemic and its impacts. 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.

The human rights situation in Sweden was reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council at the end of January as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Sweden received 300 recommendations from other UN Member States. The Government has now communicated its position on the recommendations in a report to be submitted to the UN.

On 1 January 2021, Sweden will take over the Chair of the OSCE for a period of 12 months. The assignment is a manifestation of Sweden taking responsibility for the OSCE, and also of multilateralism, peace and the upholding of the European security order.