This week Ms. Annika Ben David, Sweden’s Ambassador-at-large for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, visited Vienna. Ambassador Ben David met with several OSCE representatives for informal exchanges. We got the opportunity to talk to her about her role as Human Rights Ambassador, and how the situation can be advanced in the OSCE area and beyond. Read the interview below:
What difference can you make in your role as Swedish Ambassador-at-large for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law?
In order to stress the centrality of Human Rights in our foreign policy, Sweden has had an Ambassador-at-large for Human Rights since the 1980s. I believe we were the first in the world to appoint such a function. Respect for, and the protection of, human rights is both a cornerstone and a starting point for Sweden’s value-based foreign policy. It is both a perspective and a method that characterize our entire foreign policy engagement. My job consists of communicating what Sweden sees and does in terms of human rights protection and promotion; a work that is mainstreamed throughout our foreign service. Sweden firmly believes in a rules-based global order with multilateralism at its core. Sweden aims to be a strong voice for human rights in dialogue with other countries, in multilateral for a and vis-à-vis civil society. Human rights have become our foreign policy identity.
What are the key trends and challenges that need to be addressed right now?
After decades of progress, there is a marked shift in global affairs. Democracy is under pressure and human rights are questioned and challenged in all regions of the world, as is the rule of law. The space for civil society including human rights defenders is shrinking. More countries regress than those who progress. Many emerging democracies are beginning to show signs of backsliding. Last year the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs published reports on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in 135 countries. Unfortunately, the reports show that the situation is deteriorating in many parts of the world. At the same time, there are more armed conflicts and violence in the world today than in a long time. A particular concern for Sweden is women’s and girls’ enjoyment of human rights and freedom of expression in its largest sense; for human rights defenders, for journalists and bloggers, for academia and for political actors such as the opposition.
What role can the OSCE play?
In many parts of the OSCE area the trend for human rights, democracy and rule of law is negative. We are concerned about the shrinking space for civil society, including human rights defenders, activists, journalists, bloggers and other media actors. I think that the OSCE has an important role to play, not least the autonomous institutions ODIHR and RFoM (note: Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media). The OSCE principles and commitments related to the Human Dimension have been agreed by all participating States and it is up to all of us to live up to them and hold each other accountable. In addition to the assistance by the institutions and the work of participating States, civil society plays a particularly important role in scrutinizing implementation and holding governments to account.
During my visit here in Vienna, I am discussing these important issues with ODIHR Director Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Ambassador Luca Fratini of the Italian OSCE Chairmanship as well as with the recently established informal Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists.