A/HRC/41/44/Add.1 III. Human rights at the international level A. Foreign policy and human rights, democracy and the rule of law 14. Sweden has a long tradition of defending human rights and democracy internationally. These concepts and principles have been cornerstones of Swedish foreign policy for decades. The Government adopted its first communication on Human Rights in Swedish Foreign Policy (1997/1998:89) in 1997. The same year, a communication on democracy and human rights in Swedish development cooperation was submitted to the Riksdag. Two further communications on human rights in Swedish foreign policy, one in 2003 (2003/04:20) and one in 2007 (2007/08:109), followed. Freedom from Oppression − Government Communication on Swedish Democracy Support (2008/09:11) was submitted to the Riksdag in 2008, focusing on support for democracy as part of development cooperation. 15. In the most recent government communication on human rights and foreign policy, from 2016,8 the Government set out its strategy, aims and priorities for its foreign policy in the areas of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. In addition to providing an analysis of current global trends, in the communication the Government explains the State’s approach to “equal rights for all” and “security, justice and accountability”. It also defines the State’s rights-based, integrated approach to address current global challenges, including migration and refugee flows, conflict and climate change. The Government emphasizes that human rights, democracy and the principles of the rule of law have to be an essential driver and objective in all Swedish foreign policy. It also affirms the position of Sweden as a global leader in furthering, preventing and influencing developments in those three areas. In addition, the Government sets out the State’s position and approach in multilateral forums, including in the context of the United Nations system and the European Union, and how recommendations made by international and regional human rights mechanisms should be integrated at the national level. 16. Furthermore, in its communication of 2016 the Government recognized the importance of the 2030 Agenda and highlighted that human rights, democracy and the principles of the rule of law were prerequisites to its implementation. The Government considers the 2030 Agenda a key reference tool for the realization of its foreign policy, especially in terms of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, as well as regarding gender equality. While embracing the Sustainable Development Goals in every aspect of its foreign policy, including its international development cooperation policy, the Government specified in the communication that its aims with regard to human rights, democracy and the principles of the rule of law were considerably more ambitious than the goals set in the 2030 Agenda. Those efforts, made at all levels of government to mainstream and go beyond the 2030 Agenda from a human rights perspective in all government policy areas, are noteworthy. 17. As an outspoken defender of human rights on the international stage and in line with its integrated approach, the Government has put in place a number of initiatives and mechanisms to pursue its objectives. Sweden has played a leading role in the promotion and protection of human rights and the advancement of gender equality. For this purpose, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs regularly monitors the situation of democracy, human rights and the rule of law worldwide. It published 135 country reports on these issues in 2017. As explained by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, these reports provide a strong basis for dialogue with the countries concerned. 9 18. The Independent Expert noted with appreciation the appointment of thematic ambassadors-at-large, especially on issues within the scope of his mandate, highlighting the 8 9 Human Rights, Democracy and the Principles of the Rule of Law in Swedish Foreign Policy, Government Communication 2016/17:62. “Statement of Government Policy in the Parliamentary Debate on Foreign Affairs, Wednesday 14 February 2018”, p. 5. Available at www.government.se/49170e/contentassets/da51ffff1e3848 b4bc5597190bdd8c4e/Statement-of-Foreign-Policy-2018. 5