Swedish intervention delivered by Ambassador Bard at the Human Rights 41st session.
Distinguished Professor Okafor, Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity,
On behalf of Sweden, I wish to begin by thanking you for your visit to Sweden in April last year and the report you have submitted. Your visit was a good learning experience and it yielded insights and understanding of both strengths and weaknesses in Sweden in relation to the matters covered by your mandate.
We are thankful for your observations reflected in the report. The recommendations will be closely considered in view of Sweden’s contribution to international solidarity.
Sweden has a long tradition of working to strengthen, promote and continuously defend human rights, democracy and the rule of law both at home and abroad not least through our development cooperation. The three areas are interconnected and mutually reinforcing.
They also constitute fundamental prerequisites in implementing the 2030 Agenda and the sustainable development goals. We are therefore grateful for your acknowledgement of Sweden’s long tradition of human rights-based approach and solidarity at both the domestic and international levels.
There is a global trend of democratic backsliding and democracy is in crisis in many countries around the world. This especially concerns the respect for freedom of expression, association and assembly and the rule of law. But we also see increasing social inequalities and corruption that are undermining the confidence in democratic institutions. Since your visit last year, the Swedish government has launched a drive for democracy as a response to tackle these global challenges. It encompasses all areas of our foreign policy. Sweden will increase its democracy assistance and strengthen the support to both democracy’s defenders and to institutions.
Coupled with the work to promote democracy, Sweden continues to ensure a gender sensitive approach, striving for gender equality, in the frame of ourfeminist foreign policy. To ensure that women have the necessary rights, resources and representation are integral parts of our work to strengthen democracy.
As rightly noted in your report, Professor Okafor, Sweden has a long tradition as a welcoming society for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. All applications for migration and asylum are examined individually, with a right to appeal negative decisions to a court. Asylum seekers in need of protection are granted a residence permit.
A parliamentary Commission of enquiry has recently been established with the of investigating the future migration policy, including a humanitarian ground for residence permit.
Finally, in our development cooperation, Sweden applies a human rights-based approach and a perspective of poor people, to ensure that the situations, needs and priorities of poor people is the point of departure for fighting poverty and promoting fair and achievable sustainable development. To be able to achieve the Agenda 2030 we need to ensure that no-one is left behind, and we need an international rights-based solidarity approach.
We wish, again, Independent Expert, Professor Okafor, to express our gratitude for your visit and for your report. The invitation to you Mr Independent Expert is a standing one and you have our continued support.
Thank you, Mr Independent Expert