Democracy and human rights

An important objective of our foreign policy is that the circle of democracies become wider. Work to promote freedom and justice also includes efforts in Europe and the countries in our immediate vicinity.

A mere seven hundred kilometres from Gotland lies Belarus, where free elections cannot be held and where citizens are persecuted for their political opinions. The Government's policy towards Belarus seeks to strengthen respect for democracy and human rights in this country and ultimately to help Belarus become integrated into European cooperation and the European community of values.

The Government is therefore now strengthening its commitment to Belarus. We are increasing our development assistance and expect to open a Swedish embassy in Minsk later on this year.

Just as we have welcomed Ukraine's development that has brought about free and fair elections, we have had reason to clearly express our regret that the Russian parliamentary elections in December last year were not conducted in a manner that meets the requirements of democratic elections.

Through the European Union and other channels, we criticised the severe limitations placed on the work of the international election observers. We deeply regret that these continued limitations have not allowed our common institutions in the OSCE to monitor the forthcoming presidential election.

The UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights will celebrate its 60th anniversary this year. The importance of promoting democracy and human rights underlies all Swedish foreign policy. Our standpoints on foreign policy issues are based on international law. We are working to ensure that the rule of law also applies to international activities. Extensive human rights violations continue to occur in certain countries, including China. Sweden is pursuing dialogue, bilaterally, in the European Union and in the UN system, so as to combat human rights violations in different parts of the world.

We are committed on a broad front to giving support to democratic forces and to contributing to positive change in countries like Cuba and Zimbabwe, where people's freedoms and rights are grossly and systematically violated.

In the autumn of 2007, the Government took vigorous measures to support the democracy movement in Burma. In the European Union, we pressed for the introduction of effective sanctions, and at Sweden's initiative the Union established a Special Envoy for Burma. This work will continue to be given high priority in the future.

Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and an essential condition for being able to fight all forms of oppression. We are working determinedly for a world in which the freedom to hold opinions and the right to spread one's ideas are guaranteed. During the spring, the Government will present two communications to the Riksdag, one on human rights in foreign policy and the other on democracy and human rights in development assistance. These will describe new initiatives enabling Sweden to contribute further to strengthening freedom of expression.

In far too many parts of the world, the freedom, independence and equality of women still leave much to be desired. Efforts to increase women's power over their lives have a central position in Sweden's global development policy.

The cornerstones of today's Europe are the protection of democracy and respect for human rights. This year Sweden will build further on this foundation through our chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Free and fair elections are fundamental principles in a democracy. The election observers of the OSCE must continue to receive unconditional invitations to perform their task.

The Government is also increasing Sweden's contribution to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. We demand that the UN Human Rights Council live up to expectations and become an effective, strong organisation for the human rights of all people.

Sweden welcomes the UN General Assembly's adoption - at the initiative of the European Union and for the first time since 1977 - of a resolution condemning the death penalty.

In the past year the Government has regularly underlined its support in connection with demonstrations for the rights of LGBT people. We will continue to show active commitment to the promotion of respect for these rights.

Human rights and democracy will be given greater emphasis in the design of our development assistance. Stable democracies with functioning political parties are a precondition for sustainable social and economic development.