Delivered by: H.E. Ms. Helena Sångeland, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Sweden to UNESCO on behalf of the Nordic countries
APX Commission
Item 4.6, Resolution 43 C/20: UNESCO's Emergency Assistance Programme for Ukraine
UNESCO 43rd General Conference
Samarkand, 3 November 2025

Dear Excellencies, 

Dear Colleagues, 

It is my honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the five Nordic countries; Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and my own country, Sweden.

The Nordic countries remainfirmly committed to ensuring full accountability for the countless crimes and human rights violations of Russia in Ukraine. Eleven years after the illegal annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and four years into the full-scale invasion, Russia continues to target and murder journalists, deny children their right to education and destroy cultural and historical sites and objects. 

UNESCO’s role in the reconstruction and the critical work that lies ahead is imperative. Enabling children to access education through constructing and repairing bomb shelters in school and kindergartens, assisting teachers with psychosocial support, protecting cultural heritage, ensuring that journalists have the equipment, and the support needed to continue to report on the war- are of outmost importance. The scale and severity of the situation requires this Organization’s continued engagement, as Russia’s war of aggression continues. 

Madame Chair, 

In blatant violation of international law, Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war of aggression seeks to deny Ukraine its right to exist as a sovereign nation. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is not optional; it is a binding legal obligation and at the core of our international cooperation. 

The Nordic countries have a longstanding support to Ukrainewill continue to stand with Ukraine and with those who uphold international law. We strongly encourage other Member States to support UNESCO and Ukraine in their joint efforts. 

Thank you and Slava Ukraini.