International cooperation

The international agencies in which the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs represents Sweden include the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Council of Europe and the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Within the UN, the Ministry is most active in the Commission for Social Development. The Ministry also pursues issues relating to drugs, HIV and AIDS, and human rights for people with disabilities.

The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs has the overall responsibility for Sweden's involvement in WHO, the specialised UN agency for health issues. WHO's task is to work towards the best possible health for all people.

The main task of the Council of Europe is to safeguard democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law in Europe. Within the social sphere, cooperation embraces issues such as childrens rights and rights for people with disabilities. The Council of Europe also cooperates over health, drugs and social security issues.

The Nordic Council of Ministers is an inter-governmental forum for the Nordic countries. Cooperation in the health and social fields shall promote equal treatment of all citizens and the accessibility and quality of necessary services. The Nordic Council of Ministers seeks to make it easier for Nordic citizens to work, study and live in the country of their choice, and deals with other transnational issues such as social protection, health and medical care. Cristina Husmark Pehrsson is Minister for
Nordic Cooperation.

The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs also collaborates with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and cooperates with the Baltic Sea countries and the Barents Region under the umbrella of the Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being (NDPHS).