Democracy and human rights

(New version) The objective of Sweden’s international development assistance is to create preconditions for better living conditions for people living in poverty and under oppression. Internationally agreed principles on aid and development effectiveness will be applied.

The Government has decided to appoint an inquiry to examine the extent of religious radicalisation in Sweden, with a focus on political Islam, sometimes referred to as Islamism. The inquiry will analyse the consequences of religious radicalisation on integration and social exclusion, as well as how institutions and the functioning of a democratic society are affected. The aim is to provide the Government with a more in-depth knowledge base to support efforts to improve integration and reduce social exclusion in Sweden.

The Government has presented a new support package with a focus on democracy and strengthened civil society in Eastern Europe for SEK 30 million for 2026–2028, of which SEK 17 million is earmarked for 2026. The support includes well-established civil society organisations in Europe, with which Sweden has had excellent cooperation over a long time.

Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States of America condemn the lethal plotting and other malign actions in Europe, North America and Australia by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Intelligence Organisation, Quds Force and Ministry of Intelligence and Security, including those against Iranian dissidents, journalists and Jewish and Israeli communities and interests. We stand united in our determination to protect our countries and our people against these threats. The Islamic Republic of Iran must halt these actions now.

The Government has presented a support package focused on democracy and free and fair elections in Eastern Europe for 2026 and 2027. The democracy support totals SEK 13.35 million and will go to local elections observation and greater integrity of elections and resilience against disinformation in Armenia and Moldova.

On 17 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in Gothenburg. During the visit, the leaders held bilateral meetings and participated in discussions with European business leaders on innovation, climate and trade. HRH Crown Princess Victoria, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, and India’s Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also participated in the programme.

On 11 May, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, is organising a conference in Stockholm on youth and gender equality issues for a future democratic Belarus. The forum gathers youth representative of the Belarusian democratic movement and civil society representatives, decision-makers and experts from the EU and Sweden. The aim is to highlight the importance of young people’s political participation to the democratic development of Belarus.

Statement at the Conference on ”Abolition in Action, 10th anniversary of French abolitionist law” in the French Parliament, Paris, 13 April 2026. Check against delivery.

On 13 April, the French and Swedish Ministers for Gender Equality Aurore Bergé and Nina Larsson met in Paris. They discussed their national experiences in preventing and combating sexual exploitation and reaffirmed their commitment to the French - Swedish joint strategy to combat human trafficking for sexual exploitation in Europe and globally.

The Swedish Government is presenting a new 10-year national strategy for combating men’s violence against women, domestic violence, exploitation in prostitution and human trafficking, and honour-based violence and oppression. In parallel, the Government has decided on two Government Commissions tasking several government agencies to take part in a national collaboration structure and to monitor progress in relation to the gender equality subgoals to combat violence, oppression and exploitation.

The 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will take place on 9–19 March. Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson is attending the first week of the session. The session on women’s rights and gender equality is held annually and is the second largest in the UN system. Sweden’s participation is important, given the need for strong voices on gender equality in the world. For the first time, the Swedish Armed Forces will be part of the Swedish delegation.

Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson will lead the Swedish delegation attending the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York on 9–19 March, the world’s largest conference on women’s rights and gender equality. Ms Larsson will take part during the first week and will be advocating for stronger international alliances against online threats and hatred. The conference on women’s rights and gender equality is held annually and is the second largest in the UN system.

The Government’s task force for Jewish life in Sweden gathered for its first meeting of the year on 30 January. On this occasion, it was held at the Swedish Police Authority’s premises in Kungsholmen, Stockholm. The meeting was attended by Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer, National Police Commissioner Petra Lundh and representatives of the Swedish Institute for Human Rights and the National Agency for Education.

Sweden aims to take a leading role in artificial intelligence. The Government is now presenting a new AI strategy with the aim of providing more effective government agencies, clearer rules for businesses and better conditions for research. The objective is for Sweden to be among the world’s top 10 countries in the field of AI.

In connection with Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27 January 2026, the Government decided to task the Living History Forum with highlighting civilian action along the Swedish-Norwegian border to assist those escaping Norway to Sweden during the Holocaust. The assignment will draw attention to traces of the Holocaust as part of the Swedish-Jewish cultural heritage.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU.

Jewish culture is an integral part of Swedish culture, and Jewish history in Sweden is an essential thread in the fabric of our shared cultural heritage. It should be self-evident that Jews in Sweden can wear their Star of David or kippah openly and with pride. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

On 12 December 2024, the government adopted an action plan to combat racism and hate crime to ensure that work in this area can be better targeted and easier to evaluate, and for it to have a long-term focus. Particular focus is given to the areas Schools, the Judicial system, the Welfare system and Working life. A large number of efforts against racism and hate crime have been decided upon, contributing to the work under the Action Plan.

Draft speech for an event on remembrance trips to Holocaust memorial sites to Norway at the Embassy of Norway in Stockholm, Sweden on 6 November, 2025. Check against delivery.