National statement at the International Migration Review Forum

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Madame President,

[Excellencies, Delegates]

Sweden supports the Global Compact for Migration and its comprehensive, 360-degree approach. International migration governance needs improving. I am also pleased to announce that Sweden will rejoin the Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund with a financial contribution.

International cooperation is a central priority. Effective migration governance depends on cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination. Sweden underlines the importance of clear distinctions in the migration framework. We must distinguish between regular and irregular migration, and between migration governance and refugee protection.

Such cooperation must be grounded in mutual respect for shared and different priorities, in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights laws. Women and girls may face heightened risks of trafficking, sexual and gender-based violence, exploitation and other forms of abuse. A route-based approach will guide prevention, protection, access to services, anti-trafficking efforts and reintegration measures which will improve protection for women and girls.

It is especially important to cooperate to combat human trafficking and smuggling networks, to protect migrant’s lives and end the impunity of criminal activity.

Return policy is another core element of effective and credible migration governance. We also believe that discussions should allow space to recognize new and innovative approaches to migration governance, without framing them as normative or divisive.

Every State have an obligation to accept the return of its citizens. Sweden stands ready to work with every state for effective return and reintegration cooperation, respecting human rights and human dignity.

Madame President,

Sweden is country built on entrepreneurship and innovation. Some of the world’s best and leading companies and universities are Swedish.

We warmly welcome international talents and researchers to Sweden.

In this regard, Sweden supports a continued focus on regular migration pathways, particularly labour and talent migration, when clearly linked to economic growth, competitiveness and skills needs.

Madame President, 

Last year in Sweden a 16-year-old girl was on her way home from work, when she was raped. The criminal, a recognised refugee was not expelled because the crime was not considered serious enough to meet the high threshold set by the Refugee Convention and interpreted by existing guidelines. 

Her case has deeply touched many. The fact that criminals are not deported is a betrayal of all victims of crime.

We take men’s violence against women, very seriously. As Sweden’s Minister for Migration and as a father of two daughters, I cannot defend a system that put the rights of criminals, before the rights of victims and law-abiding migrants.

Sweden wants the guidelines to be reviewed, to better reflect an obvious position: Rape in all circumstances is a particularly serious crime. Such crime must be subject to expulsion – even if the persecutor is a recognised refugee.

We must do it for the sake of the victims, but also to preserve the public trust in the migration system.

I hope that you will support us in this effort. No legislation is given from above, not even these guidelines. And they need to reflect the world today.

Madame President,

Sweden stands ready to work with you to improve international migration governance – a system that reflects the needs of today and works for all peoples concerned.

Thank you.