United Nations Human Rights Council 40th session. Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s oral update 7th of March 2019. Statement by Sweden delivered by Ambassador Veronika Bard.
Mr. President,
Madame High Commissioner,
Sweden aligns itself with the EU statement, and wishes to express its sincere and wholehearted appreciation for the High Commissioner.
Sweden remains committed in its strong support to your Office and in ensuring that the independence and the integrity of its mandate is upheld and respected. On this note, we reiterate our call on all States to fully cooperate with and grant access to the High Commissioner and her Office. In this context, allow me also to express our esteem for the support your Office provides to the special procedure mandate holders appointed by this Council.
Sweden would also like to commend the Office for its crucial work on promoting and protecting human rights, not least in the field. The in-country activities and the interactions with various actors from different parts in society, including the civil society, is crucial in detecting early warning signs and working to prevent conflict, violence and insecurity.
For the first time in decades, more people in the world live in countries with authoritarian tendencies than in countries with democratic progress. A fully functioning democracy is impossible without full respect for human rights and the rule of law. Independent, effective and transparent institutions under the rule of law facilitate participation in policy making and discussions and enable accountability. These features are central in attaining a democratic development and for individuals in asserting and enjoying their human rights
Democracy means much more than the right to vote in free and fair elections. A democratic society allows its citizens to freely participate in policy and decision making and public debate. It safeguards their freedom of expression and opinion. It is socially and economically fair.
Given this worrying development we would like to ask:
“How does your office work when detecting early warning signs like shrinking democratic and civic space?”
I thank you