Permanent Delegation of Sweden to the OSCE

Sweden commends Ukrainian women soldiers’ participation in their country’s rightful self-defense against Russia’s war of aggression and for standing up for international law. Thanks to France for highlighting women’s important role in armed forces at today's @OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation.

2026 @OSCE conference on combating antisemitism is underway! Important discussions on preventing & countering antisemitism and other forms of intolerance ahead. Thanks to
@switzerlandosce.bsky.social and @odihr.pl for organizing.

Today we mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day. By raising awareness about the Holocaust and never forgetting it, we can try to prevent something similar from happening again.
#WeRemember

A heartfelt thanks to Finland for an outstanding
OSCE Chairpersonship 2025! Your leadership stood for principles, brought warmth and creativity—and even Santa🎅! Happy Holidays to all our followers, colleagues, and friends!

Our sincere thanks to all human rights defenders and civil society representatives from across the OSCE area for sharing your valuable recommendations during this year’s OSCE Human Dimension Committee meetings.

OSCE Human Dimension Committee’s final 2025 meeting, chaired by Sweden addressed International Humanitarian & Human Rights Law & the right to health during & after conflict. In Ukraine, Russia’s war of aggression has been widely documented involving attacks on medical infrastructure.
📸M.Kroell/OSCE

New report by ODIHR: 40% increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine compared to previous 6 months, Russian attacks on humanitarian operations, arbitrary detentions, torture, IHL violations in occupied areas, and much more. 🙏ODIHR for your work and contributions to accountability.

Many trafficked women are in plain sight and yet still unseen, unheard and unprotected.

ODIHR has worked to develop survivor-informed indicators that show how often warning signs are missed.

Let's work together to end this crime. Read more: buff.ly/GcJ8soW

#16Days

On this #HumanRightsDay, we must remember that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is the only pathway to lasting peace and security in Europe and beyond.

Upholding OSCE human rights principles ensures peaceful, inclusive and resilient societies.

It’s a wrap. #OSCEMC2025 has concluded. We reiterated our support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Lasting peace and security require accountability. The world has changed since the signing of #HelsinkiFinalAct, but its principles remain valid.

Brutal repression & human rights violations persist in Belarus since the fraudulent presidential election 2020. At OSCE Ministerial Council #OSCEMC2025 37 countries called on Belarus to end its support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, stop repression, & release all political prisoners.
📸OSCE

Sweden at #OSCEMC2025: “Our support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity remains unwavering … the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act are clear: sovereign rights, political independence, and territorial integrity must be respected. Borders cannot be changed by force.”
Photo: OSCE

Fruitful meeting between Dag Hartelius, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden and Sasha Romantsova of Center for Civil Liberties ccl.org.ua/en/. Civil society make crucial contributions to accountability efforts in Ukraine and should be supported. #OSCEMC2025

The OSCE was established to keep war away from Europe.

Yet, Russia blatantly violates international law and OSCE principles.

The EU will stay the course.
Only more pressure on Russia and more support to Ukraine will change the balance.

My statement at OSCE Ministerial Council ↓

ODIHR:s work to protect and promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law deserves our strongest support.

Dag Hartelius, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden, had a fruitful meeting with Director of @odihr.pl Maria Telalian at the OSCE Ministerial Council. #OSCEMC2025

Peak of OSCE year! Sweden's priorities for the Ministerial Council #OSCEMC2025:
✅Defend the European Security Order
✅Support Ukraine
✅Hold Russia accountable for its aggression against Ukraine
✅Promote & Protect #HumanRights & #Democracy

We thank members of the Civic Solidarity Platform for your courage, invaluable work and recommendations to OSCE States on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Your message from the Parallel Civil Society Conference in Vienna this week is heard loud and clear.
📷Andreas Tischler

Photos: OSCE/Piotr Dziubak

Photo: Markku Pajunen

As the @OSCE Ministerial Council nears, we thank Finland for principled leadership and for standing up for shared commitments. You spared no effort - even a screaming Finnish men’s choir has reminded us on the importance and value of the #HelsinkiFinalAct principles.

Every 10 minutes a woman is killed. Women and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights need to be protected. Sweden stands up against gender-based violence in the OSCE region and beyond. We strongly condemn all kinds of reprisals, violence, threats and attacks against women and girls.

The Helsinki Final Act is a blueprint for the European Security Order. Sweden reiterated our unwavering support for Ukraine and its right to independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity at today’s @OSCE Security Dialogue.

Russia’s illegal deportations of Ukrainian children violate international law, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and international humanitarian law.

Sweden is working to ensure that the children can return home and that those responsible are held accountable.

ODIHR deeply deplores Russia’s latest attacks on 🇺🇦#Ukraine, which have killed numerous civilians and injured many more, including children. Such actions constitute a clear violation of international humanitarian law & fundamental human values, and must stop immediately. #IHL

Interns play a key role in our work – bringing fresh perspectives and gaining invaluable experience within the
OSCE community. We thank Finland for inviting our and other EU member states’ interns this week to discuss youth involvement in international diplomacy.

We thank Finland for marking 25-years of #UNSCR1325 at today’s OSCE FSC-meeting and for launching the OSCE-wide roadmap earlier this year to support the effective implementation of commitments on Woman, Peace & Security, #WPS.

The latest UN Commission of Inquiry report concludes that Russia’s systematic drone attacks targeting civilians in Kherson may amount to crimes against humanity.

Supporting Ukraine and holding Russia accountable for its grave violations of international law remains a top priority for Sweden.

Thank you, dear Ulf Kristersson, for inviting me to the Nordic Leaders Meeting.

I see the Nordic countries as the Polaris of Europe.

You often show us the way forward.

As we take greater responsibility for our common defence, your experience will guide all of Europe.

We’ve entered an age of competitive geopolitics and geoeconomics.

The global order is fraying.

The Nordics stand right at the frontier of it.

As Europe takes more security into its own hands, the role of the Nordics is central.

Russia is intensifying its attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Putin aims to inflict maximum suffering on Ukrainians as winter approaches.

Europe is ready to support Ukraine further – new measures are in the works.

Extract of my press remarks with President Zelenskyy ↓

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