A/HRC/41/44/Add.1 Agreement on climate change. The Independent Expert was pleased to learn that the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental – had been integrated and that human rights, democracy and the rule of law held a central place within that new policy framework for the expression of international solidarity through international cooperation and development. 37. Sweden takes a multidimensional approach to international cooperation, development and humanitarian assistance, taking into consideration that “poverty encompasses not only a shortage of material assets but also a lack of power and influence over one’s own situation, choices and safety and over respect for human rights”.31 A human rights-based approach is therefore seen by Sweden as a point of departure for, among other criteria, effective development cooperation and humanitarian assistance policies and strategies with the aim to eradicate poverty worldwide. 32 The Government clearly states in its policy that human rights and democracy are seen as “fundamental to development”,33 driven by the State’s international and regional commitments in this area. Development cooperation 38. The Government explained to the Independent Expert that its development cooperation is defined by several thematic pillars: human rights, democracy and the rule of law; global gender equality; environment and climate change-oriented development; peaceful and inclusive societies; inclusive economic development; migration and development; equal health; and education and research. All of these thematic priorities relate to the Sustainable Development Goals, and Sweden often sets objectives that are more ambitious than the ones set in the 2030 Agenda in these sectors.34 For each priority area, a long-term policy direction has been designed with the common aim to provide better living conditions for people living in poverty or under oppression. 35 39. The Government informed the Independent Expert that, in line with its policy framework and the 2030 Agenda, it had recently adopted a new strategy for development cooperation in the areas of human rights, democracy and the rule of law for the period 2018–2022.36 The objective of this strategy is to “contribute to secure, just and inclusive democratic societies that protect and respect the equal rights of all” and will apply to activities with a “global added value”. Sweden further commits through the strategy to stand up for human rights and democratic principles when other international cooperation actors dismiss these aspects. 37 The Independent Expert believes that this approach is essential to the realization of international solidarity based on the principles of human rights. The strategy will also apply to the funds allocated to the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. Humanitarian assistance 40. The Independent Expert was informed that, in Sweden, the humanitarian assistance policy was based on five key priorities defined in the Policy Framework for Swedish Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance. Guided by the principles of “good humanitarian donorship”,38 these priorities are (a) to ensure greater respect for international humanitarian legal principles and standards; (b) to build a stronger, more efficient and coordinated humanitarian system to better respond to humanitarian needs worldwide; (c) to strengthen cooperation with civil society; (d) to ensure greater cooperation and increased synergies between humanitarian initiatives and long-term development cooperation to avoid 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 10 Ibid., p. 5. Ibid. Ibid., p. 14. Ibid., p. 19. Ibid., p. 17. Ministry for Foreign Affairs, “Strategy for Sweden’s development cooperation in the areas of human rights, democracy and the rule of law 2018–2022”. Ibid., pp. 9–10. See principles at www.ghdinitiative.org/ghd/gns/principles-good-practice-of-ghd/principles-goodpractice-ghd.html.