As it is reflected in the UPR Outcome, Sweden’s efforts to combat racism and hate speech, to protect minority rights, and to repatriate Sami remains and artefacts. These initiatives should truly reflect respect for justice and cultural rights. We encourage Sweden to advance gender equality, safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities, ensuring the inclusion of migrants and refugees, and strengthening the protection of Sami culture, language, and historical rights.
The 60th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
8 September – 8 October 2025
Item 6: UPR Spain
(26 September 2024)
Joint oral statement on behalf of International-Lawyers.Org, the Union of Arab Jurists, the Association Ma’onah for Human Rights and Immigration (AMHRI), and the Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ)
Thank you,
We would like to express our gratitude to Sweden for its active participation in the Universal Periodic Review, which reflects its strong commitment to human rights, democracy, and equality. We welcome Sweden’s progress in implementing recommendations, which demonstrates genuine engagement with this process.
As it is reflected in the UPR Outcome, Sweden’s efforts to combat racism and hate speech, to protect minority rights, and to repatriate Sami remains and artefacts. These initiatives should truly reflect respect for justice and cultural rights. We encourage Sweden to advance gender equality, safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities, ensuring the inclusion of migrants and refugees, and strengthening the protection of Sami culture, language, and historical rights.
At the same time, Sweden’s responsibility does not stop at its borders. A true champion of human rights must defend them everywhere. In light of the International Commission of Inquiry’s confirmation of the genocide against the Palestinian people, and reports of repression of pro-Palestinian activists in Sweden, we urge the government to respect these voices, and protect them from any intimidation or threat.
We are also deeply concerned by Sweden’s decision to withdraw funding from UNRWA, which provides vital aid to millions of Palestinian refugees. This decision risks worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis, and undermines Sweden’s reputation as a defender of human rights. Sweden must urgently reinstate this support.
Equally troubling are the restrictions imposed on Palestinian human rights organisations, which silence their work and weaken civil society. By applying discriminatory standards, Sweden risks reinforcing systemic injustice and diminishing its credibility as a global advocate for rights. We urge Sweden to ensure its policies are firmly guided by international law and the principle of equal dignity for all peoples.
We urge Sweden to match its words with action and to lead with courage and consistency. It must act now to end complicity and stand with oppressed peoples everywhere.
Thank you!
Thank you,
We would like to express our gratitude to Sweden for its active participation in the Universal Periodic Review, which reflects its strong commitment to human rights, democracy, and equality. We welcome Sweden’s progress in implementing recommendations, which demonstrates genuine engagement with this process.
As it is reflected in the UPR Outcome, Sweden’s efforts to combat racism and hate speech, to protect minority rights, and to repatriate Sami remains and artefacts. These initiatives should truly reflect respect for justice and cultural rights. We encourage Sweden to advance gender equality, safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities, ensuring the inclusion of migrants and refugees, and strengthening the protection of Sami culture, language, and historical rights.
At the same time, Sweden’s responsibility does not stop at its borders. A true champion of human rights must defend them everywhere. In light of the International Commission of Inquiry’s confirmation of the genocide against the Palestinian people, and reports of repression of pro-Palestinian activists in Sweden, we urge the government to respect these voices, and protect them from any intimidation or threat.
We are also deeply concerned by Sweden’s decision to withdraw funding from UNRWA, which provides vital aid to millions of Palestinian refugees. This decision risks worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis, and undermines Sweden’s reputation as a defender of human rights. Sweden must urgently reinstate this support.
Equally troubling are the restrictions imposed on Palestinian human rights organisations, which silence their work and weaken civil society. By applying discriminatory standards, Sweden risks reinforcing systemic injustice and diminishing its credibility as a global advocate for rights. We urge Sweden to ensure its policies are firmly guided by international law and the principle of equal dignity for all peoples.
We urge Sweden to match its words with action and to lead with courage and consistency. It must act now to end complicity and stand with oppressed peoples everywhere.
Thank you!
