Universal Periodic Review 32nd session, UN Human Rights Council. Swedish statement delivered by H.E. Ms. Veronika Bard
Mr. President,
Sweden acknowledges improvements on freedom of religion or belief, and the human rights of LGBTI-persons. A worrying trend, however, is shrinking space for civil society and an increased number of convictions of dissidents, human rights defenders, and bloggers, and lack of transparency regarding the number of death sentences. We would like to make the following recommendations:
1. To ensure that freedom of expression is protected online and offline by amending national security provisions in the Penal Code, and the Cybersecurity law and its implementing decree, so as to comply with article 19 of ICCPR and other commitments.
2. To introduce a national moratorium on the death penalty, aiming at complete abolition. Until then, reduce the number of crimes subject to the death penalty, ensuring that it does not apply to offences other than the ”most serious” crimes, in accordance with ICCPR.
3. To develop, enact and implement, in dialogue with business and civil society, an action plan to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Sweden wishes Viet Nam all success in the current review.
I thank you Mr. President.