UN General Assembly
2020

The 25th anniversary of the landmark “Beijing Declaration” and Platform for Action” offers an opportunity to intensify our efforts for gender equality. Sweden is ready to take on a leading role in UN Women’s “Global Action Coalition on Economic Justice and Rights”. I am delighted to see that others have joined Sweden in pursuing a feminist foreign policy. Excellencies, The pandemic is placing enormous pressure on the ability of democratic institutions to function and is having serious consequences for human rights. Far too many leaders and governments are using it as a pretext in their attempts to silence opposition, civil society and human rights defenders. Sweden will continue to promote our Drive for Democracy, which aims to strengthen respect for democratic principles and institutions, civil society and international law. We support the Secretary-General’s “Call to Action for Human Rights”. Excellencies,