A/HRC/41/44/Add.1 for peace and security. The women, peace and security agenda was a top priority for the Government’s work during its Security Council presidency. 31. The Independent Expert noted with appreciation the appointment of an Ambassadorat-Large for Children and Armed Conflict, whose role is to advocate for children’s rights in conflict and post-conflict situations. This area is a key priority in Swedish foreign policy, and was one of the main priorities during the Swedish presidency of the Security Council in 2018. 32. A major exporter of weapons, Sweden has recently amended its export control regulatory framework regarding the arms trade to reinforce its intent that States to which its arms are sold must be democratic and respect international human rights. In line with the Government’s human rights approach to foreign relations, it is important that a systematic monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of this framework be conducted regularly to ensure that it is effective. IV. International cooperation and humanitarian aid as forms of international solidarity 33. Sweden demonstrates its international solidarity mainly through its development cooperation and humanitarian assistance efforts. Sweden participates in several multilateral and regional cooperation partnerships. It is one of the very few countries worldwide to meet and exceed the United Nations target set in the Monterrey Consensus of the International Conference on Financing for Development, requesting States to allocate 0.7 per cent of their gross national income for official development assistance (ODA). Since 2006, Swedish foreign development aid has amounted annually to around 1 per cent of gross national income.27 In 2017, the net ODA of Sweden represented 1.01 per cent of its gross national income.28 34. Every person paying taxes in Sweden funds Swedish development aid. In 2018, the Government allocated 49 billion Swedish kronor (approximately $5.7 billion) for its total development aid budget. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs generally allocates half of the annual budget for development aid to the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the governmental agency in charge of implementing the State’s development cooperation agenda.29 A. Policy framework for international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance 35. The State’s agenda for development cooperation and humanitarian assistance has long been driven by a commitment to “create preconditions for better living conditions for people living in poverty and under oppression” 30 around the world. The objective for Sweden in providing humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity. Sweden has been a ubiquitous voice and supporter globally on development issues and international humanitarian operations at the international, multilateral and regional levels. 36. After the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Goals, the Government redefined its policy for international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance of 2016 accordingly, also integrating the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development and the Paris 27 28 29 30 Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, “Swedish development cooperation and its results in figures” (2016), p. 3. OECD, Development Co-operation Report 2018: Joining Forces to Leave No One Behind (Paris, 2018), p. 391. See www.sida.se/English/how-we-work/about-swedish-development-cooperation/. Policy Framework for Swedish Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance, Government Communication 2016/17:60, p. 4. 9