On 27-28 November, Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson is visiting Lebanon and refugee camps close to the Syrian border to monitor the humanitarian needs that have arisen as a consequence of the conflict in Syria.

Lebanon is one of the countries that has clearly been affected by the conflict and has received more than 100 000 Syrian refugees. Sweden is one of the largest humanitarian aid donors to Syria and its neighbouring countries. This year, it has donated SEK 246 million, of which a significant portion has gone to Lebanon.

The Government is allocating one per cent of estimated gross national income (GNI) to development cooperation in 2013. This means SEK 38.2 billion in total, an increase of around SEK 2.4 billion compared with 2012.

The Government is to spend over one billion kronor on special initiatives in the poorest countries, to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals concerning reduced infant mortality and increased access to water and sanitation, but also to strengthen engagement in democratisation and freedom of expression, and adaptation to climate change in the poorest countries.

Sweden is deeply concerned about the recent serious deterioration of the security situation in the provinces of North and South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. More than 200 000 civilians are estimated to have been forced to flee their homes since the beginning of April as a result of fighting between armed groups and the country's army.

In total, there are more than 2.1 million internally displaced people in the country who have significant and acute humanitarian needs. The possibilities of reaching them with aid consignments are however seriously limited.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Today, the Government adopted a regional strategy for regional efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and address sexual and reproductive health. The strategy also contains guidelines detailing how Sweden will contribute to improving sexual and reproductive health and efforts to improve human rights for homosexual, bisexual and transsexual people in sub-Saharan Africa, the region in the world most affected by HIV/AIDS. Worst afflicted are the countries in southern and eastern Africa.

Sweden and Germany agreed to enhance their common efforts to support the Government of Kenya’s transformation of the Judiciary system to promote judicial reforms as part of the implementation of the Kenyan Constitution from 2010. A memorandum between the three parties was signed by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, German Ambassador Margit Hellwig-Boette and Swedish Ambassador Ann Dismorr, who was quoted in Kenya’s first daily newspaper, the Daily Nation, saying that she was impressed by the “comprehensive and holistic approach” to the Judiciary reforms.

"The Government is seriously concerned about today's judgment against the two Swedish journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson in Addis Abeba.

"Our starting point is and remains that they have been in the country on a journalistic mission. They should be freed as soon as possible and be able to rejoin their families in Sweden. "We are examining the judgement and the situation also in consultation with the journalists and their families.

"But we are already making high-level contact with the Ethiopian government in this matter."

The Government today adopted a revised and extended cooperation strategy for Swedish aid to Afghanistan. This is an important part of the gradual transition from military to increased civilian involvement. Sweden will increase its aid to northern Afghanistan, strengthen support to civil society in Afghanistan and intensify efforts to fight corruption.

Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson will visit Libya today, Tuesday 1 November. During her visit, Ms Carlsson will meet representatives of the Libyan National Transitional Council, the UN and civil society.

"Sweden has a broad commitment to Libya. I am going to Tripoli to highlight Sweden's support for a free and democratic Libya and to discuss our future cooperation. I also want to follow-up our extensive humanitarian initiatives," says Ms Carlsson. Sweden's contribution