Permanent Delegation of Sweden to the OSCE

As #WarsawHDC concludes, we thank Finland and @odihr.pl for organising this vital platform for following up on our joint obligations & commitments on #HumanRights & #Democracy. We highly value the chance to meet civil society & defenders from across the region.🙏
Photos: OSCE/Piotr Dziubak

European Human Rights Ambassadors (EE FI DE FR IS LT NL NO ES SE)🙏 @odihr.pl & Finland for organizing #WHDC2025. A crucial space to assess implementation of int’l obligations & #OSCE commitments on #humanrights & democracy. We listened carefully to your concerns, needs & recommendations.📸OSCE

Side event at #WarsawHDC by Group of Friends of Democratic Belarus on the continuously deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus. Repression must stop, and all political prisoners be immediately and unconditionally released.

2nd week of #WarsawHDC. Gender equality is a core value of the EU and cornerstone of OSCE's comprehensive approach to security. We thank civil society for its decisive work for gender equality, including the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

Photo: OSCE/Piotr Dziubak

At #WarsawHDC Sweden co-hosted side-event, Voices in Exile, with OSCE Group of Friends on the Safety of Journalists & @oscemediafreedom.bsky.social on threats faced by journalists in exile. Even in exile, they face harassment, surveillance & reprisals. Media freedom must be protected everywhere.

Confidence and security-building measures are crucial, especially under Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Sweden remains committed to the Open Skies Treaty and its role for European security. At the OSCE Open Skies Review Conference, we emphasize the importance of transparency & predictability.

Russia continues to target civil society, media and opposition. Vienna Mechanism still unanswered & accountability is urgently needed. Today, at #WarsawHDC, the Nordic and Baltic countries together with other delegations co-hosted a side event on repression in Russia. #HumanRights #Democracy

Today at #WHDC EU stressed the urgent need to protect freedom of expression, media freedom and journalist safety: ”Media freedom and pluralism are a vital part of democracy. Independent and pluralistic media are key in upholding the checks and balances that sustain democratic governance.”

Report under #MoscowMechanism was presented in September.
🔗Read full report: osce.org/odihr/598042
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Today at #WarsawHDC
📌Side event on Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian POWs amidst its war of aggression. Russia must & will be held to account for violations of international law. Sweden will support Ukraine for as long as it takes #StandWithUkraine (1/2)

The #WarsawHDC has officially begun - Europe’s largest forum for promoting accountability across the OSCE area, especially in light of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine. We’re ready for ten days of vital discussions on #HumanRights & #Democracy.

Finland and Sweden do not only share borders and history – we also share #fika traditions! Thanks to Finland
for adding a sweet touch to this week's
OSCE Permanent Council. You are the best of friends in getting ready for #CinnamonBunDay #Kanelbullensdag #Korvapuusti!

According to the report, these violations may constitute war crimes and, in some cases, crimes against humanity. Accountability for these and other crimes must be ensured. Russia must implement the report’s recommendations.
Sweden will #StandWithUkraine for as long as it takes. (2/2)

Arbitrary killings, torture, denial of fair trial rights, & unsafe detention & transfer conditions. Report under #MoscowMechanism presented today found that Russia committed widespread and systematic violations of IHL & #HumanRights in its treatment of Ukrainian POWs. (1/2)

Election observation is key to our work and our mandate.

So far ODIHR has observed some 460 elections, helping to improve the quality and transparency of elections across the OSCE region.

Find out more about how our election observation works ➡️ buff.ly/1rcWRCT

Sexual violence remains a concern in the OSCE area. Reports from @odihr.pl and the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine confirm repeated acts of sexual violence by Russian forces against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war, including both women and men. (2/2)

While gender-based violence affects different genders, women and girls are disproportionately impacted. This week’s OSCE Human Dimension Committee meeting focused on various manifestations of gender-based violence in the OSCE area and explored strategies on how to prevent and combat it. (1/2)

Russia’s aggression causes immense suffering in Ukraine, widespread environmental & climate damage and harms global economic development. Thanks @Finland_OSCE
for organizing the OSCE Forum on building a resilient future in a changing climate and thanks Minister Lipavský for a warm welcome in Prague.

OSCE Permanent Council

The 1st regular autumn OSCE Permanent Council addressed key issues such as:
➡️Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine #StandwithUkraine.
➡️Russia’s violation of Polish airspace.
➡️the deteriorating human rights situation in Georgia.
➡️our support for a free and democratic Belarus.

Invitation from Georgia less than a month before elections makes meaningful observation impossible: ODIHR statement WARSAW, 9 September 2025 – The invitation by the Georgian authorities to observe the local elections taking place on 4 October, less than a month before election day, leaves insufficient time for…

Invitation from 🇬🇪#Georgia less than a month before #elections makes meaningful observation impossible.

Read our full statement: buff.ly/kPhXguJ

Honored to host meeting w. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya &OSCE Group of Friends of Democratic Belarus.
Sweden continues to call on the Belarusian regime to:
➡️end violence & repression
➡️release all political prisoners immediately & unconditionally
➡️stop its support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine

#TeamSweden is happy gather for a pre-autumn-kick-off to:
➡️Prepare for @odihr.pl #WarsawHDC in October.
➡️Continue to #StandwithUkraine and work for #FreedomOfExpression, #Democracy and #HumanRights in the OSCE
➡️Welcome new colleagues!

Registration is open for the 2025 Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.

Join the 2025 OSCE Finnish Chairpersonship and ODIHR for 10 days of discussion on the challenges & opportunities for democracy & human rights across the OSCE region.

Register here: buff.ly/ZQA5XPJ

#WarsawHDC

The principles of Helsinki are under attack — but they remain our compass. 🙏 Finland for hosting the Helsinki +50 conference and for principled OSCE-leadership 2025.
➡️Statement by Sweden on the occasion of the commemoration of the #HelsinkiFinalAct 50 years: bit.ly/SE_HFA50

At this week's OSCE Human Dimension Committee on democratic elections and the role of youth in promoting democratic resilience, participants discussed the various barriers young people face and shared good practices for supporting meaningful youth involvement. 🙏 to all speakers!

Statement by the OSCE Troika to condemn Russia’s intensified attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine HELSINKI/VALLETTA/BERN, 18 June 2025 - Today, the OSCE Troika – Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE and Foreign Minister of Finland Elina Valtonen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs...

www.osce.org/chairpersons...

We’re proud of our Administrative Officer, Ms. Charlotte Wenhoda, who today received the Swedish Foreign Service Medal🏅. She’s been invaluable to the delegation for 17 years, supporting several Swedish OSCE and EU presidencies. Congratulations on this great honor!

#WPS remains high on the OSCE agenda. Thanks Estonia for highlighting women’s role in strengthening defense & ensuring resilience at the Forum for Security Cooperation. The Swedish Armed Forces is made up of soldiers, sailors, officers & others, rather than women or men. @mfaestonia.bsky.social

Our hearts are in #Graz and our thoughts are with the victims of the devastating school shooting, their families and loved ones, our host country #Austria and its people.

States have a legal obligation to protect #HumanRights of all without discrimination. Still, violence & discrimination against #LGBTIQ+ persons is prevalent.
🙏 @humanrightshouse.bsky.social for organising important discussions on #LGBTIQ+ person’s enjoyment of human rights in BY, RU, AM & GE.