International law and human rights

Sweden makes respect for international law and human rights a top priority. For a small country like Sweden, respect for international norms is a prerequisite for our foreign policy action.

Concern for international law and human rights permeates Sweden's actions, both multilaterally in the United Nations, regionally in the EU and other bodies, and bilaterally with individual states.

Priorities

To safeguard international law including human rights, promote its development and ensure its compliance, the Government takes action by

• acting to ensure that people in other countries are also able to benefit from the human rights established in the framework of the UN and other international forums,
• working to ensure that international law and human rights permeate Swedish and EU foreign policy positions,
• promoting a modern interpretation of the Charter of the United Nations in which the security and rights of the individual are central,
• continuing to actively safeguard the International Criminal Court (ICC),
• acting to ensure that the international fight against terrorism is conducted with full respect for international law, human rights and the rule of law,
• promoting improved monitoring of international humanitarian law.