Swedish statement deliverd by Ambassador Anna Karin Eneström at the General Debate of the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee, 76th session of the UN General Assembly, United Nations, 4 October 2021.
Mr. Chair,
Sweden aligns itself with the statement by the European Union.
In many parts of the world defending human rights comes with great and unacceptable risks. We see democratic space shrinking, not least for civil society. We see human rights defenders, journalists and media actors being intimidated, harassed and exposed to violence. We see LGBTIQ persons, environmental defenders and trade union representatives being denied their rights and representation, silenced, arbitrarily arrested or even killed.
Mr. Chair,
This is why Sweden continues to mobilize through our initiative Drive for Democracy – a global and cross-regional initiative spanning across all aspects of Sweden’s foreign policy, including security, development and trade policy aiming to promote and strengthen human rights, including labour rights, democracy and the rule of law worldwide. At its core lies ensuring the respect for the right to freedom of opinion, expression, and information – online as well as offline.
We have all committed, most recently in the UN75 declaration, to promote respect for democracy and human rights, to enhance democratic governance and the rule of law, and place women and girls at the centre.
Seven years ago, Sweden launched its feminist foreign policy in order to translate words into action to truly ensure that women and girls in all their diversity fully enjoy human rights. Gender equality is a matter of equal rights, representation, and access to resources.
As long as women’s and girls’ enjoyment of human rights – including sexual and reproductive health and rights – is considered less important to that of men and boys, the world stands to lose. It is our firm position that every person should have the right to decide freely over their own body, sexuality and reproduction, free from discrimination, coercion and violence. Comprehensive sexuality education for all is necessary for making informed choices. Sweden will never stay quiet as long as there are women and girls suffering from unsafe abortions or harmful practices such as female genital mutilation or child, early and forced marriages.
Mr Chair,
Sweden’s position is crystal clear: human rights are universal and should be fully enjoyed by all, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity. Yet LGBTIQ persons continue to suffer human rights violations and abuses in every part of the world. Transgender and gender diverse persons are especially exposed to violence, discrimination, and stigmatization.
Rather than being protected by the law, consensual same-sex relationships remain criminalized in almost 70 countries – in some cases even by death penalty. This is unacceptable. Love is love, not a crime.
Promoting gender equality, LGBTIQ persons’ full enjoyment of human rights and combatting racism or different forms of discrimination cannot be the task solely of those exposed. This fight must be fought by all who firmly believe in the equal value of all persons.
Mr Chair,
To combat antisemitism, Prime Minister Löfven will host the Malmö International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism this month.
Mr. Chair,
In these challenging times, when human rights are increasingly under pressure, international cooperation and a strong multilateral human rights system are more important - and needed - than ever. As Chair of the OSCE in 2021, Sweden has made the protection and promotion of human rights, which lie at the core of the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security, a top priority.
Finally, - standing up for human rights also means holding those responsible for violations and abuses, accountable – including through the ICC. Impunity can never be accepted. Accountability is key.
Mr. Chair,
When human rights are being challenged, we need to strengthen our resolve. Today and every day. You can count on Sweden to do our part.
I thank you.