Position Papers by Country

Position paper for Sweden

Committee:	GA Second
Topic:	Role of the United Nations in promoting development in the context of globalization and interdependence
Paper text:
As a country which definitely believes benefits brought by globalization and interdependence, Sweden believes the United Nations must promote globalization and interdependence. However, Sweden also recognizes that globalization and interdependence bring some negative effects which includes uneven distribution of welfare, resources and cost. Sweden calls upon all the member states to notice benefits brought by globalization and interdependence, and encourage, support the United Nations to improve the distribution of benefits and costs. In detail, Sweden believes the United Nations has to take advantage of private funds to implement the programmes relevant to the 2030 sustainable development goals (SDGs). That means the United Nations can attract private investment on development projects, and this method also can release the pressure on governments of member states to give more funds and assistance to the United Nations or other countries. Not only the funds problems that are necessary to be noticed, but also the techniques problems. As developing countries lack advanced technologies, they don’t have good tools to pursue SDGs, and that is why technology transfer is so important when it comes to development. Sweden believes that attracting private funds to invest in countries that lack techniques and comprehensive markets can solve partial problems. But it also needs the United Nations assistance. Sweden believes that lots of UN organizations have enough techniques and comprehensive projects to assist developing countries, but they still need the support from member states. Sweden considers that uneven distribution of funds and techniques causes a more serious uneven distribution repeatedly, which makes developing countries unable to reach SDGs, so the United Nations has to bridge the gap between countries. The solutions mentioned above are practicable and fit Sweden’s value. What’s more, Sweden considers gender equality and climate actions as two of the aspects that are included in SDGs but are not well discussed and pursued. Sweden believes that funds and techniques should be used on these two aspects more to really solve the problems. In conclusion, Sweden believes that by introducing private funds, taking more bold actions on technique transfer, and the most important, pursuing the SDGs, the world can keep developing as globalization and interdependence still brings welfare to the world. As a long-term supporter of multilateralism and globalization, the UN has to lead the world to develop with prosperity brought by globalization and interdependence.

Committee:	GA Second
Topic:	Protection of global climate for present and future generations of humankind
Paper text:
Sweden implements one of the world’s highest carbon taxes, which has significantly reduced fossil fuel use and supports the country’s goal of achieving 100% renewable electricity generation by 2040. Sweden’s 2017 Climate Policy Framework outlines the implementation of the Paris Agreement, aiming for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. The framework provides legally binding commitments for all future governments and ensures annual reporting to maintain accountability. The UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee (TEC) has made significant progress in carrying out its 2023–2027 rolling workplan. At its 31st meeting (TEC 31), the Committee advanced efforts to scale up climate technology innovation, accelerate technology transfer, and strengthen support for developing countries.As a major contributor to mitigation projects and the Green Climate Fund, Sweden facilitates technology transfer and the development of sustainable infrastructure through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). As a key supporter of the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), Sweden contributes financial and technical resources to enhance developing countries’ access to renewable energy and climate-resilient agriculture. To promote sustainable economic development, Sida issues financial guarantees that enable banks and other investors to fund small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries. These guarantees also support poverty reduction and advance the global goals of Agenda 2030. Furthermore, Sida maintains long-term humanitarian and development partnerships across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. The Climate Policy Council, in its 2024 annual report, recommended that Sweden develop a clear national position in support of a science-based EU-wide 2040 climate target. To ensure transparency and accountability, the Council emphasized that achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions will require comprehensive legislation and near-zero emissions across all sectors, including agriculture, aviation, and shipping

Committee:	GA Third
Topic:	Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination
Paper text:
The right of peoples to self-determination is a fundamental principle of international law, enshrined in Article 1 of both the UN Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). It affirms that all peoples have the right to freely determine their political status and pursue their economic, social, and cultural development. The realization of this right is essential for international peace, stability, and human rights. Despite progress over decades, many communities—especially Indigenous peoples, occupied territories, and ethnic minorities—still face political marginalization, cultural suppression, and economic inequality. Conflicts over autonomy, colonization legacies, and territorial disputes continue to hinder the universal implementation of self-determination. The United Nations has adopted resolutions such as GA Resolution 1514 (XV) on granting independence to colonial countries and peoples, and Resolution 2625 (XXV) on principles of friendly relations among states. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Goal 16, emphasizes promoting peaceful and inclusive societies and ensuring equal participation in decision-making. Sweden firmly upholds the universal right of peoples to self-determination as a core principle of international law and the UN Charter. This right is essential for peace, democracy, and sustainable development. Sweden believes all peoples must have the freedom to determine their political, economic, social, and cultural future without external interference. In its foreign policy, Sweden supports peaceful realization of self-determination through dialogue, inclusive governance, and respect for human rights. Sweden’s recognition of Palestine in 2014 reflects its commitment to international law and supporting peoples striving for legitimate self-governance. Sweden also promotes Indigenous rights in accordance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), emphasizing participation and equality within national frameworks. Sweden calls upon the international community to ensure that self-determination is realized through peaceful means, democratic participation, and multilateral cooperation. It encourages the UN and all Member States to work together to protect human dignity and uphold freedom and justice for all peoples. Sweden also proposes specific actions, including addressing self-determination movements through peaceful dialogue and UN mediation, supporting Indigenous and minority participation in decision-making, and strengthening UN monitoring and reporting mechanisms. Member States are encouraged to share best practices, promote education on international law, and cooperate through multilateral channels to prevent conflicts arising from self-determination disputes.

Committee:	GA Third
Topic:	Improvement of the situation of women and girls in rural areas
Paper text:
Approximately one-fourth of the world’s population are women and girls living in rural areas. They play a key role in agriculture, food security, and community development, yet face inequalities in access to land, credit, education, and technology. Poor infrastructure, such as unsafe water, limited transportation, and unreliable electricity, increases their caregiving burden and limits participation in education and economic life. Rural girls are also at higher risk of school dropout, child marriage, and gender-based violence. The United Nations has long focused on improving the situation of rural women and girls. Article 14 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) requires States to guarantee rural women’s equal rights in education, health, and economic activities. This issue is closely linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). UN Women and the FAO continue to promote programs supporting land rights, education, and economic empowerment. Sweden believes that empowering rural women and girls is central to achieving gender equality and sustainable rural development. Many women still face barriers in land ownership, financial services, and technology. Guided by its Feminist Foreign Policy and Policy for Global Development, Sweden integrates gender equality into all agricultural and development cooperation. Domestically, Sweden supports women-led farming, climate-smart agriculture, and digital innovation, and invests in education and research to encourage young women’s participation in green and digital transitions. Internationally, Sweden collaborates with UN Women, FAO, and IFAD to strengthen rural women’s economic rights and decision-making, particularly in Africa and Asia. It calls on all Member States to take concrete action, ensuring rural women and girls have equal access to land, technology, education, and leadership opportunities in line with SDG 2, SDG 5, and SDG 13. Sweden encourages Member States to include gender perspectives in agricultural policies, secure women’s land rights and equal pay, and increase funding and training for sustainable farming. It also supports expanding access to credit, insurance, and market information. In collaboration with IFAD, Sweden proposes regional “Women in Agriculture Hubs” to connect women producers with buyers and cooperatives. Finally, Sweden urges the UN and Member States to improve rural education and digital infrastructure, especially for girls, so they can participate fully in e-learning, entrepreneurship, and sustainable agricultural innovation.

Committee:	GA Plenary
Topic:	Our ocean, our future, our responsibility
Paper text:
The ocean is the foundation of our planet's ecological systems and the primary regulator of global climate, serving as an essential source of life and well-being for all humankind. This immense and vital resource, however, now faces an unprecedented crisis driven by unsustainable human activities. Recognizing the ocean as a powerful symbol of our interconnected world, the Delegation of Sweden expresses deep concern regarding habitat loss, ocean acidification, and ecosystem degradation. These challenges jeopardize the ocean’s crucial function in maintaining climate stability and ensuring food security for people worldwide. Our foremost goal, consistent with the Nice Ocean Action Plan, is to foster a unified, transparent, and ecosystem-based system for governing our oceans. Sweden believes that safeguarding the environment, while thoughtfully promoting sustainable economic opportunities, is essential to our shared future. To achieve these goals of long-term viability and judicious utilization, the United Nations must strategically focus on closing existing legal gaps. It is imperative that we urge all Member States to accelerate the ratification of the BBNJ Agreement to establish necessary Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) across the high seas. In addition, the UN should establish an independent "Blue Finance" mechanism that invites all countries—whether coastal, island, or landlocked—to contribute fairly and support scientific research and sustainable fishing practices. Sweden is also committed to advancing rigorous global emissions standards through the International Maritime Organization (IMO), working toward a full transition to zero-emission fuels in global shipping, with supportive measures such as a universal levy. Ultimately, the UN must build a robust and lasting framework to ensure that both States and the private sectors are fully accountable for environmental harm. The time for debate is eclipsed by the urgency of duty. Let the UN serve as the uncompromising anchor of global ocean governance, stabilizing a sea of challenges. Sweden stands ready to lead this voyage, ensuring the blue heart of our planet beats strongly for the benefit and prosperity of all humankind.

Committee:	GA Plenary
Topic:	Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations
Paper text:
Effective humanitarian aid stands as a moral imperative, anchored in the universal goals of saving lives, alleviating suffering, and upholding the dignity inherent to every individual. However, with 305.1 million people in need and a target deficit of over $47 billion, the international community faces a systemic crisis of funding and coordination, exacerbated by donor fatigue and geopolitical security challenges. Effective coordination, led by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), is essential to make the most of limited resources and prevent duplication of effort or misaligned priorities. This becomes even more vital as ongoing conflicts and climate disasters place an ever greater burden on the world’s most vulnerable communities. To strengthen coordination and overcome these persistent deficits, Sweden proposes a multifaceted approach that focuses on resource mobilization, access, and proactive disaster preparedness. Firstly, to address the widespread decline in funding, Sweden advocates for establishing a predictable, multi-year funding mechanism that is mandatory for all economically capable Member States, thereby counteracting the debilitating effects of sudden funding cuts and donor fatigue. Secondly, the UN must improve its ability to navigate obstacles in conflict zones; we call for the creation of an impartial, high-level Humanitarian Access Mediation Unit within OCHA to negotiate directly with warring parties, ensure the neutral character of aid, and mitigate the weaponization of assistance. This unit would focus specifically on security challenges and barriers that prevent swift relief and the mobilization of support for rebuilding infrastructure. Thirdly, Sweden supports a fundamental Effective humanitarian aid stands as a moral imperative, anchored in the universal goals of saving lives, alleviating suffering, and upholding the dignity inherent to every individual. However, with 305.1 million people in need and a target deficit of over $47 billion, the international community faces a systemic crisis of funding and coordination, exacerbated by donor fatigue and geopolitical security challenges. Effective coordination, led by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), is essential to make the most of limited resources and prevent duplication of effort or misaligned priorities. This becomes even more vital as ongoing conflicts and climate disasters place an ever greater burden on the world’s most vulnerable communities. To strengthen coordination and overcome these persistent deficits, Sweden proposes a multifaceted approach that focuses on resource mobilization, access, and proactive disaster preparedness. Firstly, to address the widespread decline in funding, Sweden advocates for establishing a predictable, multi-year funding mechanism that is mandatory for all economically capable Member States, thereby counteracting the debilitating effects of sudden funding cuts and donor fatigue. Secondly, the UN must improve its ability to navigate obstacles in conflict zones; we call for the creation of an impartial, high-level Humanitarian Access Mediation Unit within OCHA to negotiate directly with warring parties, ensure the neutral character of aid, and mitigate the weaponization of assistance. This unit would focus specifically on security challenges and barriers that prevent swift relief and the mobilization of support for rebuilding infrastructure. Thirdly, Sweden supports a fundamental shift toward the dignity of prevention, advocating for further investment in proactive disaster preparedness—not merely reactive relief—by leveraging early warning systems and directing a greater share of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) toward pre-approved risk reduction projects in climate-vulnerable nations, ensuring communities can build resilience before suffering commences.

Committee:	IAEA
Topic:	Nuclear security
Paper text:
Sweden stresses the importance of strengthening international cooperation, cybersecurity, and the prevention of insider threats. As the international community prepares for the Nuclear Security Plan 2026–2029, Sweden believes the focus should be on setting realistic and measurable goals, improving information exchange among Member States, and building practical capacities that can endure over time. To achieve this, Sweden encourages the IAEA to expand the Nuclear Security Fund and to further develop peer-review and advisory programs that help nations translate ideas into plans. A secure nuclear future depends on how effectively the world manages emerging risks, which particularly are those tied to new technologies and human factors. For the next Nuclear Security Plan, Sweden considers it essential to help countries strengthen their own resilience and autonomy in terms of national nuclear security. One way forward is to create advanced knowledge-sharing platforms that make expertise more accessible. On top of that, Sweden suggests that the IAEA could take the lead in establishing a Cybersecurity Guidance Hub, which provides an occasion for experienced and mature nuclear states to share best practices, conduct joint threat simulations, and help train professionals from developing countries in securing both Information Technology and Operational Technology systems. Such exchanges would offer direct, practical support to regions facing technical or resource limitations, and narrow down the global cybersecurity gap. Cybersecurity should also become a core element of the Design Basis Threat (DBT) framework, through providing a clear risk index to evaluate possible threats, guiding all Member States toward stronger protection of critical nuclear infrastructure. The safe introduction of new technologies requires foresight, regulation, and thoughtful design. Sweden has shown its dedication to integrate the Security-by-Design approach into its future nuclear security facilities. To support this, any new nuclear program or major facility upgrade should be reviewed by an independent Risk Evaluation Committee composed of experts from security, engineering, and digital disciplines. Implementation should proceed only when the residual risk remains below a clear, nationally defined DBT threshold. A credible regulatory system also depends on regular, comprehensive inspections that evaluate both physical and digital protection measures. By embedding Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) into every stage of design, vulnerabilities can be addressed early, making facilities more strong and less exposed to cyberattacks. Sweden also calls for stronger international compliance mechanisms. The IAEA should enhance its legal assistance and monitoring capacity, ensuring that all Member States are able to meet the obligations set out in key instruments such as the Amended Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM) and the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT). To help countries implement these commitments, the Agency’s legal office could provide legal technical assistance, such as but not limit, expand its model legislation services and offer hands-on drafting assistance while maintaining its own will . Compliance is not only about legal frameworks—it is also about the ability to act. Sweden therefore proposes that findings from IPPAS missions be directly linked to the Technical Cooperation Programme, ensuring that identified gaps are promptly followed by tailored training, legal guidance, and equipment support. This would help turn “law on paper” into “security in practice.” Finally, Sweden highlights the need for a balanced, human-centered approach to managing insider risks. Sweden cautions against overly intrusive measures that could undermine trust or conflict with privacy rights. Instead, Member States should focus on strengthening Personnel Trustworthiness Programs, incorporating behavioral observation, psychological assessment, and early intervention where signs of warning appear. To mitigate risk, the consistent application of the Two-Person Rule in sensitive areas remains essential. In addition, Sweden recommends that national authorities establish Post-Exit Threat Assessment mechanisms to firmly monitor potential risk indicators among former employees for a limited period after their resignation.

Committee:	IAEA
Topic:	Strengthening the Agency's activities related to nuclear science, technology and applications
Paper text:
Sweden reaffirms its strong support for the IAEA’s mission to advance the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health, and prosperity. In a world facing the combined pressures of climate change, energy transition, and food insecurity, this mandate is more crucial than ever and ever after. Domestically, Sweden’s confidence in nuclear energy remains firm. The government’s recent decision to encourage the construction of new reactors which includes Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), reflecting its determination to achieve a fully fossil-free power system. This renewed national commitment provides the foundation for Sweden’s engagement within the Agency. For Sweden, the Technical Cooperation (TC) Programme should serve as more than a channel for equipment supply, in contrast, it should be a long-term strategy for building human and institutional capability. Developing countries can gain the most when their national priorities are clearly reflected in their Country Programme Frameworks (CPFs), aligning nuclear applications with their broader social and economic goals. Examples such as mutation breeding to improve crop resilience or isotope hydrology for groundwater management demonstrate how peaceful nuclear science can deliver lasting benefits when the nations have abilities to control. Sweden also encourages a greater emphasis on Fellowships and Scientific Visits, which strengthen local expertise and foster independence in operation, maintenance, and innovation, enhancing self-reliance and reducing dependence on external technical sources through strengthening interdependence on knowledge exchange and capability-building. In this context, South-South and Triangular Cooperation should continue to expand. Sweden is ready to provide financial and technical support to regional leaders who, in turn, can train neighboring countries and share experience through peer networks. Sweden remains committed to helping the IAEA implement its Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) 2024–2029, both through predictable financial contributions and by promoting excellence in regulation. The Agency’s goals cannot be achieved without reliable funding, Member States must therefore make timely and full payments to the TC Fund and consider additional voluntary contributions to the Peaceful Uses Initiative (PUI). These resources underpin essential projects such as ZODIAC and NUTEC Plastics, which address global health and environmental challenges. At the same time, Member States with advanced nuclear experience have a shared responsibility to help the IAEA strengthen harmonization, particularly in the fast-evolving SMR sector. Greater consistency in licensing and security review processes would reduce costs, accelerate deployment, and enable more countries to safely benefit from new technologies. Sweden also supports broadening the Collaborating Centres Scheme, encouraging nations to nominate qualified institutions to serve as regional anchors of expertise, in line with the MTS objective of partnership and decentralization. Sweden believes that safety and security must always precede development. The peaceful use of nuclear technology depends on ensuring that every innovation introduced is safe, secure, and resilient to emerging risks. The IAEA should therefore continue integrating safety and security requirements into all assistance for new technologies—SMRs, AI-assisted nuclear operations, and by promoting a Safety and Security by Design approach from the earliest planning stages. Sweden also welcomes the Agency’s ongoing work to update the Nuclear Security Series (NSS) guidance, particularly on cybersecurity for Operational Technology (OT) systems and on preventing misuse of Artificial Intelligence. Finally, the IAEA’s legal and regulatory support remains essential. Many developing countries still need help in establishing strong, independent regulatory bodies that can oversee their nuclear programs with authority and transparency. Sweden encourages the Agency to deepen its legislative assistance efforts, ensuring that as nations build domestic capabilities, they also gain the capacity to regulate and enforce international norms effectively. This, ultimately, is how the global community can foster a durable culture of safety, security, and non-proliferation.

Back to the list of countries