A/HRC/41/44/Add.1 of foreign policy, is a commendable initiative and a good practice for the advancement of human rights-based international solidarity. 26. To implement its feminist foreign policy effectively, the Minister for Foreign Affairs appointed an Ambassador-at-Large on Gender Equality, who is also in charge of coordinating the implementation of the plan of action. Through the plan, Sweden aims to achieve concrete results to advance gender equality in its foreign, security, development, trade and promotion policies at the multilateral, regional and bilateral levels, and to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by all women and girls. Efforts to implement its feminist foreign policy have already led to some noteworthy results. 20 For example, the advocacy of Sweden in human rights forums has clearly contributed to the inclusion of a strong gender perspective, especially with regard to sexual and reproductive health and rights. On the latter topic, the Government has also provided core support to the United Nations Population Fund in the prevention of unplanned pregnancy and unsafe abortions. 21 Sweden is also the largest donor to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict, which develops gender-responsive early warning systems. 22 27. The Independent Expert acknowledges the essential role played by Sweden at the multilateral level within the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council in advocating and calling for a strong gender approach in international responses to such global challenges as migration and humanitarian situations. 23 Such strong support for cooperation and multilateralism to advance gender equality worldwide makes human rights-based international solidarity effective. 28. The Independent Expert also welcomes the adoption of a new global strategy for gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights within Swedish development cooperation and humanitarian aid. Through the strategy, the Government is allocating 1 billion Swedish kronor for the period 2018–2022. The strategy is being implemented by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. 24 Conflict-related policy and arms trade 29. Sweden was elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2016–2018 term. Seen as a “bridge builder” by several actors, including the SecretaryGeneral, because of its long-standing peacemaking efforts,25 Sweden received wide support for its Security Council membership. In July 2018, Sweden took up the presidency of the Council with the intention to promote its top priorities under the international peace and security agenda: conflict prevention; women, peace and security; and children in armed conflict. 30. As part of its feminist foreign policy, Sweden has a clear focus on supporting women as actors for peace and security. The Government has prepared three national action plans for the implementation of Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security, the most recent covering the period 2016–2020. 26 As part of its human rights-based international solidarity efforts, the third action plan defines the Government’s commitment and objectives to ensure the realization and implementation of the United Nations women, peace and security agenda, especially to ensure the participation of women and girls in conflict prevention and peacebuilding processes, to strengthen protection for women and girls in conflict situations, and to reinforce a gender perspective and expertise in the work 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 8 Ministry for Foreign Affairs, “Sweden’s feminist foreign policy: examples from three years of implementation”, 30 October 2017. Ibid. p. 14. Ibid. p. 7. Ibid. Sweden, “SEK 1 billion to Government’s first global gender equality strategy”, 13 April 2018. See www.unric.org/en/latest-un-buzz/31020-guterres-praises-sweden-as-a-bridge-builder-. Sweden, “Women, peace & security: Sweden’s national action plan for the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security 2016–2020”.