Political prisoners

The plan wants Sweden to be a steady voice in the world for human rights and has high ambitions in international work, and it marks particularly against regimes that commit violations of human rights. That the government acts directly for the release of named political prisoners and human rights defenders is a concrete expression of that commitment. The plan gives no support for refraining from pointing out individual cases.

• steady voice for human rightsdecisive»en stadig röst i världen som talar för mänskliga rättigheter, fred och« (party programme ↗)“a steady voice in the world that speaks for human rights, peace and”
• high HR ambitions internationally»vara ett land med höga ambitioner i det internationella arbetet för en« (party programme ↗)“be a country with high ambitions in international work for a”
• mark against HR violations»regimer som begår brott mot de mänskliga rättigheterna.« (party programme ↗)“regimes that commit violations of human rights.”
• defend international law»Folkrätten behöver försvaras och« (party programme ↗)“International law needs to be defended and”

The party programme establishes that the party refuses to accept those in power violating human rights and that individual people's right to life in freedom and security must always be defended, with clear support to those fighting for democracy. The election manifesto promises continued work for human rights and a rules-based international order. To work for the release of imprisoned opposition leaders follows from this.

• individual's freedom is defendeddecisive»människors rätt till liv i frihet och säkerhet måste alltid försvaras.« (party programme ↗)“people's right to life in freedom and security must always be defended.”
• support for democracy movements»Internationell solidaritet innebär att stå upp för de mänskliga rättigheterna, vidga kretsen av« (party programme ↗)“International solidarity means standing up for human rights, widening the circle of”
• human rights work in foreign policy»Vi kommer att fortsätta arbetet för att öka respekten för de mänskliga rättigheterna, demokratin och en regelbaserad världsordning och global säkerhet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We will continue the work to increase respect for human rights, democracy and a rules-based international order and global security.”
• uncompromising human rights position»Socialdemokratin vägrar acceptera att någon makt på grund av politiska eller ekonomiska« (party programme ↗)“Social democracy refuses to accept that any power on the basis of political or economic”

The plan establishes that Sweden shall work for human rights internationally and that international law is placed at the centre, and that domestic and foreign policy must rest on the same values. Acting concretely for the release of persons imprisoned on political grounds is a direct application of this, as is the plan's protection of freedom of expression and support for human rights defenders. The plan provides no support for refraining from pointing out individual cases.

• HR internationallydecisive»Sverige ska arbeta för mänskliga rättigheter nationellt och internationellt.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall work for human rights nationally and internationally.”
• consistent values»Inrikes- och utrikespolitik måste vila på samma värdegrund.« (party programme ↗)“Domestic and foreign policy must rest on the same values.”
• freedom of expression»Yttrandefriheten och den fria åsiktsbildningen är ovärderliga.« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of expression and free opinion formation are invaluable.”
• support for human rights actors»Organisationer som arbetar för demokrati, mänskliga rättigheter, jämställdhet och hållbar utveckling bör ges stöd genom svenskt utvecklingssamarbete.« (party programme ↗)“Organisations working for democracy, human rights, equality and sustainable development should be supported through Swedish development cooperation.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan explicitly states that citizens of democratic countries have a particular responsibility to stand up for those who risk their lives struggling for freedom in countries with oppressive regimes, and that we must not compromise our ideals. That the government acts directly for the release of named imprisoned opposition leaders and human rights defenders is precisely that responsibility put into action. The stated purpose of foreign policy to protect universal freedoms and rights confirms the conclusion.

• responsibility for the oppresseddecisive»har ett särskilt ansvar att stå upp för dem,« (party programme ↗)“have a particular responsibility to stand up for those,”
• no compromise on human rights»Därför är det särskilt viktigt att vi, medborgare i de demokratiska länderna, inte kompromissar med våra ideal utan förenas i en strävan efter alla människors fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“This is why it is particularly important that we, citizens of the democratic countries, do not compromise on our ideals but unite in a quest for all people's freedoms and rights.”
• human-rights-driven foreign policy»Utrikes- och säkerhetspolitiken syftar ytterst till att värna universella mänskliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Foreign and security policy ultimately aims to protect universal human freedoms and rights.”
• struggle against authoritarian forces»Runtom i världen pågår en kamp mellan anhängare av den liberala demokratin och auktoritära krafter. Den måste vi vinna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Around the world, a struggle is taking place between supporters of liberal democracy and authoritarian forces. We must win it.”

The plan establishes that Sweden shall be a voice for global freedom and support the courageous people working for democratization of the world's dictatorships, which directly supports the requirement to act for the release of imprisoned opposition figures and human rights defenders. The election manifesto also requires that Sweden does much more for freedom and rights, both as an individual country and in international cooperation. That particular prisoners are named, however, is not mentioned, so the conclusion is inferred.

• support for democracy fightersdecisive»Sverige ska vara en röst för global frihet och ge stöd åt de modiga människor som verkar för demokratisering av världens återstående diktaturer.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a voice for global freedom and support the courageous people working for democratization of the world's remaining dictatorships.”
• Sweden shall do much more»Därför vill vi att Sverige gör mycket mer, både som enskilt land och inom internationella samarbeten, för fri- och rättigheter, frihandel, fria val och samarbete i den fria världen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore we want Sweden to do much more, both as an individual country and within international cooperation, for freedom and rights, free trade, free elections and cooperation in the free world.”
• support those who challenge oppression»Sverige ska vara en stark röst för dessa värden och ge stöd åt de människor som utmanar förtrycket.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a strong voice for these values and support those who challenge oppression.”
• active human rights diplomacy»Sverige ska verka för att dödsstraffet avskaffas i världen.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall work for the abolition of capital punishment in the world.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The protection of human rights and freedoms is, according to the plan, a main goal for foreign policy, and the human rights concept is based on the individual being protected against abuse regardless of country. The plan explicitly advocates bilateral dialogue on human rights with individual countries, which is the means the counter-proposal wishes to use for named prisoners. Strong protection for freedom of expression and association is fundamental to the plan.

• human rights as a main goal for foreign policydecisive»Människovärdet ska stå i fokus och arbetet för att skydda och värna mänskliga fri- och rättigheter ska vara ett huvudmål för utrikespolitiken.« (party programme ↗)“Human dignity shall be in focus and the work to protect and safeguard human rights and freedoms shall be a main goal for foreign policy.”
• bilateral human rights dialogue»En dialog om mänskliga rättigheter bör även föras bilateralt med enskilda länder.« (party programme ↗)“A dialogue on human rights should also be conducted bilaterally with individual countries.”
• the individual is protected»Begreppet mänskliga rättigheter bygger på tesen att den enskilda människan ska värnas mot övergrepp i alla olika kulturer och religioner i världen.« (party programme ↗)“The concept of human rights is based on the thesis that the individual shall be protected against abuse in all different cultures and religions in the world.”
• freedom of expression and association»Ett starkt skydd för yttrande- och meddelarfriheten samt anonymitetsskyddet, liksom för mötes- och före- ningsfriheten, är av stor vikt för en levande demokrati.« (party programme ↗)“Strong protection for freedom of expression and information, as well as anonymity protection, as well as for freedom of assembly and association, is of great importance for a living democracy.”

flags: citat_migrerat

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan wants efforts for democracy and human rights to be prioritised and that values about democracy, rule of law and individual freedom to a greater degree guide the foreign policy engagement; it also establishes that authoritarian states should not be able to play off individual democracies against each other. Working for the release of named political prisoners is a concrete expression of this. However, the plan does not take a position on the method, so the support is derived.

• democracy and human rights prioritiseddecisive»Prioritera insatser som stödjer arbetet för demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prioritise efforts that support work for democracy and human rights”
• values-driven foreign policy»Svenska intressen och värderingar om demokrati, rättsstat och individuell frihet ska i högre grad styra valet av biståndsinsatser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish interests and values about democracy, rule of law and individual freedom shall to a greater degree guide the choice of aid efforts.”
• resistance against authoritarian states»Stora auktoritära länder ska inte kunna spela ut enskilda små västerländska demokratier mot varandra.« (party programme ↗)“Large authoritarian states shall not be able to play off individual small Western democracies against each other.”
• protection of journalists»Stärka det straffrättsliga skyddet för journalister, i syfte att värna tryck- och yttrandefriheten, motverka hot, våld och andra olagliga angrepp mot journalister och medieredaktioner« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the criminal law protection of journalists, with the aim of protecting freedom of the press and freedom of expression, counteract threats, violence and other illegal attacks on journalists and media organisations”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan wants Sweden to become a clearer voice for democracy and human freedom and rights and clearly mark against violations of these, and that Sweden works for sanctions against states with negative development. The government acting directly for the release of named imprisoned opposition representatives and human rights defenders is a concrete application of that stance.

• clear voice for human rightsdecisive»Sverige ska bli en tydligare röst för demokrati, yttrandefrihet och grundläggande mänskliga fri och rättigheter i världspolitiken.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should become a clearer voice for democracy, freedom of expression and fundamental human freedom and rights in world politics.”
• marking against rights violations»Sverige ska tydligt markera mot kränkningar av grundläggande fri- och rättigheter och av suveräna staters territorium.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should clearly mark against violations of fundamental freedoms and rights and of sovereign states' territory.”
• pressure on oppressive states»Sverige bör verka för tydliga sanktioner mot Turkiet, Belarus, Ryssland och andra länder med en negativ utveckling.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should work for clear sanctions against Turkey, Belarus, Russia and other countries with negative development.”
• defense of the democratic model»Vara en tydlig röst för den västerländska demokratimodellen och mänskliga fri- och rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Be a clear voice for the Western democratic model and human freedom and rights”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.