FREEDOM
Freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from fear and freedom from want. In 1941, the Four Freedoms were formulated and later developed and enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in subsequent conventions. The aim was to create a global system of rules for a world where people live in freedom and dignity.
These freedoms are as relevant now as they were then, even if the conditions and challenges have partly changed. In times marked by war, crises, poverty, increasing polarization and refugee flows, our freedoms and rights as well as our willingness to defend them are tested. Which freedoms are being violated today? Whose freedom is protected? Whose is limited, made conditional, or sacrificed in the name of security, public order, the collective, money, or preparedness?
FREEDOM is the theme of the 2026 Swedish Forum for Human Rights. The programme will highlight the challenges to rights and freedoms but also contribute with knowledge, methods and examples of how freedom can be promoted, strengthened and made available to more people.
Democratic rights and freedoms
Freedom of expression, assembly, right to protest, opinion, association and religion are fundamental freedoms in an open and democratic society. At the same time, these freedoms and rights are challenged and violated, in democracies around the world, also in Sweden. Peaceful demonstrations are suppressed, activists and journalists are surveilled, threatened or silenced, and the democratic space for civil society is shrinking. Around the world, people risk their freedom, their future and sometimes their lives for the right to express themselves, organise themselves or protest.
At the same time, the opportunity for people to make their voices heard has never been greater. Yet this expanded space for expression is largely shaped by digital platforms that can be controlled, restricted or monitored by states and platform owners, and is a space where hate and threats often thrive. How is the right to freedom of expression and information balanced with the protection of the individual’s physical and mental integrity? Which opinions and voices are silenced when AI and algorithms control the conversation and the flow of information? Are there limits to freedom of speech and demonstration, who is allowed to decide these limits and how? How are academic freedom, freedom of the press and free cultural expressions affected when researchers, journalists, artists and cultural workers work under threat, censorship and political control?
Who is affected when resources for civil society, popular education and development aid are reduced or allocated based on political positions? And how is freedom of religion being protected when hatred and threats are directed at religious leaders and places of worship, and when people’s choice to express their religion publicly is restricted? When is religion not a freedom but a coercion and how is the right to convert to another religion or the right not to believe protected?
Freedom from discrimination
Freedom entails a right to be yourself and be able to live your life without fear of hatred, threats or violence. Yet this freedom is often limited by discrimination linked to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, and more. When people encounter obstacles in the form of lack of accessibility, racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia or other forms of oppression, it affects their ability to exercise their rights and freedoms. When discrimination is normalised or made invisible, it aggravates the violation and hinders redress.
Discrimination has consequences, not only for the individuals but for society as a whole. Not only does it affect who is seen and heard in public places but also decides whose opinions matter and whose appearance and identity is accepted in society. When certain groups in society are exposed to discrimination and racism, how does it affect public health and democratic values? How do we ensure every person’s right to freedom from discrimination?
Freedom, preparedness and crisis management
The right to freedom is challenged the hardest in times of crisis. Pandemics, war and conflict, climate change, economic unrest and societal disruptions such as increased crime lead to quick decisions and growing demands for appropriate preparedness. Although the focus of the debate is often on police measures and military defence, preparedness is also about building up a civil defence and ensuring access to food, water, healthcare, information, security and social cohesion.
How is freedom affected when people worry about their lives, their livelihoods, their health or their future? What does food preparedness, energy security and social preparedness mean from the perspective of obligations and rights? Which groups are at risk of being excluded when resources are unevenly distributed or when support systems are inadequate? How can we create a sustainable preparedness that includes everyone in society, that takes everyone’s human rights into account and that respects the self-determination of indigenous peoples and the rights of minorities?
At the same time, various types of societal disruption often cause states to expand their control. Surveillance, increased repression and various forms of exceptional measures raise questions about integrity, the rule of law and democracy. Who is protected, who is prioritised and whose freedom is sacrificed? How do we prevent temporary crisis measures that restrict people’s freedoms from becoming permanent?
Freedom requires opportunities
Freedom is not only the absence of oppression, but also access to resources, self-determination and influence. Education, housing, work, freedom of movement, organisation and participation are crucial for people to be able to live a free life. But access to these resources is far from equal. For many people, freedom is restricted by socio-economic background, health, discrimination, where in the country one lives or by restrictive regulations and laws concerning residence permits and citizenship.
When social safety nets are weakened, vulnerable groups are hit hardest. To talk about freedom and opportunities is therefore also to talk about equality, inclusion and responsibility. What does society do to prevent people’s freedom from being restricted? What initiatives are being taken, what new methods and technologies can create greater freedom? What is the role of business, civil society, schools, authorities and the individual? Does the state live up to its responsibility to protect, respect and fulfil the conditions for freedom?
Be part of the conversation!
Choosing the theme FREEDOM, the Swedish Forum for Human Rights 2026 is aiming to be a platform for joint analysis, exchange of experiences and solutions. The event will bring together voices from civil society, the public and private sectors, academia, art and culture to explore how freedom can be defended and promoted in a time of crisis, uncertainty, development and change.
We invite your organization to be part of the program for the Swedish Forum for Human Rights 2026. To share knowledge, methods, perspectives, debates and good examples from the local to the global agenda. Together, we create the largest forum for human rights in the Nordic region.