Foreign ambassadors at reception on United Nations day
To mark the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Nyamko Sabuni invited foreign ambassadors to a reception on United Nations Day at which she also took the opportunity to tell them about the conference "Rights Work!"
Mr Hans Ytterberg
After opening remarks from Nyamko Sabuni, Jan Nordlander, Sweden's Human Rights Ambassador, and Hans Ytterberg, the Ombudsman against Discrimination because of Sexual Orientation, each gave a speech on the theme of human rights.
The reception was an opportunity for the foreign ambassadors to meet one another and representatives of Swedish civil society and other government agencies and organisations that are also invited to the "Rights Work!" conference, which will be held in Stockholm on 6-7 November.
"Rights Work!" is an international conference hosted by Sweden on systematic work to implement human rights. The conference is a measure under the National Action Plan on Human Rights (Govt. Comm. 2005/06:95) and is a Swedish initiative aimed at giving countries an opportunity to exchange experience and inspire one another to continue working systematically at national level.
English version of jubilee booklet launched
Nyamko Sabuni lauched the jubilee booklet "So which is the most important?"
The reception was also the occasion of the launch of the English translation of the jubilee booklet "So which is the most important?" The booklet, which is published jointly by the Ministry of Integration and Gender Equality and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, has been produced to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this autumn.
The booklet underlines the fact that all states have an obligation to stand up for the equal dignity and rights of all people and that Sweden is to be a clear voice for human rights in the world.
The booklet also contains thoughts and reflections on human rights by a selection of people from various sectors of society. The contributors include writer and comedian Jonas Gardell, the Chairman of the international Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission, Hans Blix, Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg, former High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, and writer and member of the Swedish Academy Kristina Lugn.
