By Elia Bartlett

Humanitarian law is an international set of rules with the goal of limiting the effects of armed conflicts. Most nations in the world are bound by it in some way, and much of it is included in four Geneva Conventions from 1949. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, it covers “the protection of those who are not, or no longer, taking part in fighting,” and “restrictions on the means of warfare – in particular weapons – and the methods of warfare, such as military tactics.”

Sweden has reported on their development of humanitarian law since the addition of two protocols to the Geneva Convention in 1974-77. Specific articles were added to protect the wounded, medical vehicles and personnel, women and children, personnel in relief action, and more. In 2021, they launched the Guidance Document for Armed Forces on the Protection of Health Care in Armed Conflict, which had the goal of protecting healthcare and respecting humanitarian law while still carrying out military operations.

In Sweden’s 2022 report on human rights, it was noted that there had been a lack of COVID-19 regulations in the prison system, causing people who were already higher risk than average to be exposed to it. However many other aspects of the report were positive– Swedish law provides for the granting of asylum for refugees, freedom of expression, speech, and religion, and access to reproductive healthcare, as well as criminalizes government corruption and prohibits discrimination, violence, and hate crimes.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström speaks at the Foreign Ministers’ Conference on European Union Enlargement and Reform.

Despide Sweden’s current efforts to further humanitarian law, they have a history with genocide. In 1915, Armenian people were killed by Ottoman forces during World War I, and in 2010 Sweden recognized this event as the Armenian genocide. This sparked conflict between Sweden and Turkey, who condemned the decision. Turkey withdrew their ambassador from Sweden, saying they rejected the decision due to “major errors” and the fact that it was “without foundation.”

Sources:

https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/assets/files/other/what_is_ihl.pdfhttps://www.un.org/en/ga/sixth/77/protocols/sweden_e.pdfhttps://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2010-03-16/sweden-parliament-approves-resolution-on-armenian-genocide/