Sweden’s UN ambassador, Anna Jardfelt, stated that countries must respect their commitments. In a speech before the Human Rights Council on 24 September 2020, Jardfelt called on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ensure freedom of expression, opinion, assembly, and association for all, including human rights advocates.
Along with 29 countries, Sweden participated in a statement during the opening of the 45th session of the Human Rights Council, voicing their concerns about Saudi human rights violations and the country’s ongoing detention of men and women human rights advocates. Sweden has long criticized Saudi Arabia’s violations before the HRC, including its misuse of terrorism laws.
Despite repeated international criticism before the HRC, Saudi Arabia has not put forward any real change, and it continues to detain dozens on charges related to expression of opinion, some of whom are facing the death penalty. Moreover, the country continues to forbid the establishment of any human rights associations and detains and punishes those who participate in them.