23 September 2013
CERD/C/SWE/CO/19-21
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
1.The Committee considered the nineteenth to twenty-first periodic reports of Sweden (CERD/C/SWE/19-21), submitted in one document, at its 2251st and 2252nd meetings (CERD/C/SR.2251 and 2252), held on 22 and 23 August 2013. At its 2261st meeting (CERD/C/SR.2261), held on 29 August 2013, it adopted the following concluding observations.
2.The Committee welcomes the combined nineteenth to twenty-first periodic reports of the State party drafted in conformity with the Committee’s reporting guidelines and addressing its previous concluding observations. The Committee also welcomes the State party’s punctuality and regularity in submitting its periodic reports.
3.The Committee thanks the large delegation of the State party for its oral presentation and responses to the Committee’s questions and comments and the opportunity thus provided to engage in a constructive and continuing dialogue.
4.The Committee notes with appreciation a number of legislative and policy developments regarding the elimination of racial discrimination, including:
(a)The entry into force of the new Anti-Discrimination Act (2008:567) on 1 January 2009, prohibiting discrimination associated with, inter alia, ethnicity, religion or other belief and offering protection against racial discrimination;
(b)The establishment of the Equality Ombudsman (2008:568) on 1 January 2009, with the mandate to monitor compliance with the Anti-Discrimination Act and promote equal rights by, inter alia, investigating complaints of discrimination and representing complainants in settlements or courts;
(c)The adoption of the Introduction Act, which entered into force in 2010, and of the subsequent Integration Policy, with the objective of increasing newly arrived migrants’ access to the labour market, promoting more effective language acquisition, improving results in schools and creating a society in which everyone feels a sense of belonging;
(d)The adoption of the Act on National Minorities and National Minority Languages (2009:724), providing for measures to promote and revitalize national minority languages and improve the availability of mother-tongue teaching;
(e)The enactment of the new Education Act (2010:800), which entered into force on 1 July 2011, stipulating the right to mother-tongue tuition in the minority languages;
(f)The amendment to the Swedish Constitution (art. 2) confirming the status of the Sami as a people and providing for the right to self-determination;
(g)The adoption in 2012 of the Strategy for Roma Inclusion 2012–2032 with the overall goal of promoting equal opportunities in life for Roma, including enhanced participation in a public life;
(h)The adoption in 2011 of the national action plan to safeguard democracy against extremism 2012–2014, aiming to counter extremism by, inter alia, distributing funds for activities that seek to prevent individuals from joining violent extremist environments or that support individuals wishing to leave such environments.
5.The Committee welcomes the ratification, during the period under consideration, of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, on 15 December 2008.
6.The Committee welcomes that the protection against ethnic discrimination in the Constitution and the Anti-Discrimination Act extends to both Swedish citizens and others present in the country; however, it notes that the term “race” was deleted in the new Anti-Discrimination Act and the Instrument of Government, which may lead to difficulties with the qualification and processing of complaints of racial discrimination thus hindering the access to justice for victims (arts. 1, para. 1; 2, para. 1 (d); and 7).
The Committee recommends that the State party enforce the prohibition of discrimination associated , inter alia , with ethnicity as set forth in the Constitution and the Anti-Discrimination Act, ensuring that the new formulation of the prohibition of discrimination , which covers racial perceptions only indirectly under the term “ other similar circumstances” , does not diminish the protection of victims of racial discrimination , as requested by the Convention . The Committee also requests the State party to disseminate relevant information to the public, in particular to minorities, informing complainants about what constitutes discrimination and the legal remedies available to those facing racial discrimination.
7.The Committee welcomes detailed statistics provided by the State party on citizenship, country of birth and mother-tongue tuition, etc., and notes that the State party does not compile official statistics on ethnic origin, colour or other indicators of diversity as the Committee had previously requested it to do (art. 2).
Recalling its revised reporting guidelines (CERD/C/2007/1, paras. 10 and 12), the Committee recommends that the State party diversify its data collection activities, using various indicators of ethnic diversity on the basis of anonymity and self-identification of persons and groups, to provide an adequate empirical basis for policies to enhance the equal enjoyment by all of the rights enshrined in the Convention and facilitate the monitoring thereof . In this regard, the Committee recommends that the State party seek guidance from the study by the Equality Ombudsman on methods for determining the composition of the population in terms of relevant discrimination indicators, and living conditions of all components of society, including immigrants, foreign-born citizens and members of indigenous and minority groups, with particular reference to the fields of employment, housing, education and health.
8.While noting that the State party has taken steps to facilitate, inter alia, access by newly arrived immigrants to employment, and education and equal opportunities for members of national minorities, the Committee expresses concern at the State party’s position that “special measures is a controversial concept and is not defined in Swedish law” and that there is not an accepted definition of the concept of special measures (CERD/C/SWE/19-21, para. 62). The Committee recalls its previous concluding observations (CERD/C/SWE/CO/18) and general recommendation No. 32 (2009) on the meaning and scope of special measures (arts. 1, para. 4, and 2, para. 2).
The Committee recommends that the State party amend its legislation ( the Anti-Discrimination Act and other regulations ) to provide for the possibility of adopti ng special measures to promote equal opportunities , address structural discrimination and enhance strategies against inequality and discrimination faced by immigrants, foreign-born citizens, indigenous and minority groups , including Afro-Swedes and Muslims, in accordance with article 1, paragraph 4, of the Convention. Such special measures may take various forms , depending on their purpose.
9.While welcoming the establishment of the Equality Ombudsman on 1 January 2009, consolidating the four different ombudsmen offices, the Committee notes with concern the lack of a broad mandate for the Ombudsman that goes beyond the limits of the Anti-Discrimination Act, which does not include, for example, protection from the wrongful acts of private individuals or public officials, the Ombudsman Office’s accountability towards the Government and the limitations of its independence owing to the appointment and dismissal procedures. The Committee is also concerned at the very low number of cases in which discrimination was established, despite the reported prevalence of ethnic discrimination in the workplace, housing, access to goods and services and education (CERD/C/SWE/19-21, paras. 46–47) (art. 2, para. 2).
The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen the Equality Ombudsman by broadening its mandate to effectively protect the members of vulnerable groups from all forms of discrimination , providing it with adequate financial and human resources, and ensuring the operational and perceived independence of the Ombudsman by establishing proper appointment and dismissal procedures. The Committee requests that the State party undertake a thorough analysis of the reasons for the low number of cases in which discrimination was established by the Ombudsman and take steps to address this problem . Finally, the State party should assess the effects of the consolidation of the Ombudsman’s mandate on combating discrimination.
10.The Committee welcomes the functioning of the Ombudsman’s Office, but is nevertheless concerned about the absence of an independent national human rights institution in conformity with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles) (art. 2).
Recalling its general recommendation No. 17 (1993) on the establishment of national institutions to facilitate the implementation of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party also consider establishing an independent national human rights institution for the protection and promotion of human rights in conformity with the Paris Principles, and provided with adequate financial and human resources in order to efficiently fight against discrimination.
11.The Committee takes note of the enhanced data on xenophobic and racially motivated hate crimes and welcomes the State party’s efforts at the police, prosecution and justice levels to fight hate crimes by introducing, inter alia, the special hate crime investigators and on-call hate crime units. However, the Committee is concerned about the limited effectiveness of the measures against hate crimes, which are applied only in some parts of the country. It is also concerned at the reported discrepancy between increased reports to the police of hate crimes and the decrease in the number of preliminary investigations and convictions, in particular as regards “agitation” against a national or ethnic group. The Committee expresses further concern about the consideration of forms of hate speech under “agitation”, which may result in a restrictive interpretation and the use of differing definitions of hate crime by individual law enforcement agencies, and the State party’s information that it is not possible to track all reported hate crimes through the justice system (arts. 2, para. 1 (c) and (d); 4 (a); and 6).
The Committee recommends that the State party develop a clear strategy to ensure scrutiny of the way police and prosecutors deal with hate crimes and that it replicate measures such as hate crime units and special investigators in all parts of the country . The State party should extend to all parts of the country the training given to the police, prosecutors and judges to effectively investigate, prosecute and punish hate crimes, in order to clos e the gap between reported incidents and convictions. The Committee reiterates its request that the State party introduce a common and clear definition of hate crime so that it is possible to track all such reported crimes through the justice system. The State party should also follow up on the report of its special investigator on further measures to combat xenophobia and similar forms of intolerance.
12.The Committee expresses its concern about the increase in reports of racially motivated hate speech against visible minorities, including Muslims, Afro-Swedes, Roma and Jews, in particular by some far-right politicians. The Committee is also concerned about the reported increase of hate speech in the media and on the Internet, including by certain media professionals. The Committee believes that additional measures need to be taken to address the issue of hate speech in the media (arts. 2, para. 1(a);4(a),(b) and (c); and 7).
Recalling its general recommendation s No. 7 (1985) on legislation to eradicate racial discrimination and No. 30 (2004) on discrimination against non - citizens, the Committee recommends that the State party effectively investigate, prosecute and punish all hate crimes and take effective measures to combat hate speech in the media and on the I nternet , including by prosecuting the perpetrators , where appropriate, regardless of their official status . The Committee urges the State party to take the necessary measures to promote tolerance, intercultural dialogue and respect for diversity, aim ing those measures at journalists , inter alios .
13.The Committee notes with concern reports that racist and extremist organizations continue to function despite the State party’s position that its legislation effectively prohibits all forms of racist expression, including the operation of groups advocating racial discrimination (CERD/C/SWE/19-21, para. 120). In this regard, the Committee is concerned that the State party’s legislation does not fully respond to the requirements of article 4 of the Convention, taking into account the absence of any explicit legal provisions declaring illegal and prohibiting organizations promoting and inciting racial hatred (arts. 2, para. 1 (a) and (d); and 4 (a), (b) and (c)).
Drawing attention to general recommendation No. 15 (1993) on a rticle 4 of the Convention, the Committee reiterates its previous recommendation that the State party amend its legislation to declare illegal and prohibit organizations promoting and inciting racial hatred, in line with article 4 (b) of the Convention.
14.The Committee is concerned by reports that several metropolitan areas show a stark division in the type and areas of residence along ethnic and socioeconomic lines, which division impacts mostly on foreign-born persons, and in particular Afro-Swedes and Muslims. It is also concerned by similarly stark discrepancies along ethnic and socioeconomic lines in access to employment between native Swedes and foreign-born persons, which prevails even after a long stay by the latter in Sweden and disproportionately affects the next generation. The Committee is particularly concerned by the increased likelihood that foreign born-persons will be unemployed, occupy unskilled, low-paying jobs, or live in a de facto segregated area, the consequences of which surfaced during the May 2013 riots which started in the Stockholm suburb of Husby (arts. 3 and 5 (e) (i) and (iii)).
The Committee recommends that the State party study the cause s of the 2013 riots with a view to assessing the effectiveness of its strategies against prevailing de facto segregation in Sweden along ethnic and socioeconomic lines , and the need for those strategies to be adjusted . T he Committee also recommends th at the State party take further leg al and policy measures to address the problem of social exclusion and segregation along ethnic lines.
15.The Committee welcomes the steps taken by the State party as part of its Comprehensive National Strategy for Integration 2008–2011 to increase newly arrived migrants’ access to the labour market, facilitate effective language acquisition by and improve results in schools of persons of foreign origin and enhance their sense of identity within the Swedish society. However, it remains concerned that persons of foreign origin continue to suffer from de facto discrimination in employment, demonstrated by them occupying more low-income jobs and having lower employment rates. The Committee is also concerned by the limited access of immigrants to higher education and skills and their higher dropout rates from schools (arts. 2, para. 1 (c); and 5 (e) (i) and (v)).
The Committee recommends that the State party evaluate the results of the Comprehensive National Strategy for Integration with a view to addressing prevailing discrimination against persons of foreign origin throughout the country . The State party should in particular take further effective measures to increase access to education and employment by persons of foreign origin .
16.While noting that the State party’s legal system requires a high level of proof in cases of the arrest and detention of a suspect, the Committee is concerned about the reported discrepancy between the number of arrests and the number of convictions under the Swedish Terrorism Act, which gives rise to concerns as regards unwarranted arrests due to racial profiling (arts. 2, para. 1 (a) and (c); 4 (c); and 6).
Recalling its general recommendation No. 31 (2005) on the prevention of racial discrimination in the administration and functioning of the criminal justice system , t he Committee recommends that the State party take measures to evaluate the effects of the application of the Terrorism Act, including on minority communities, and ensure the application of relevant guarantees to prevent possible police profiling and any discrimination in the administration of justice .
17.The Committee notes with concern that a bill on Sami rights was to be submitted to the Parliament in March 2010 reflecting on the outcomes of various inquiries into Sami land as well as resources rights, but the draft bill was rejected by the Sami Parliament and other interest groups during the preparatory process. The Committee also expresses its concern that the State party allows major industrial and other activities affecting Sami, including under the Swedish Mining Act, to proceed in the Sami territories without Sami communities offering their free, prior and informed consent (arts. 5 (d) (v)).
18.The Committee notes the problem of inadequate compensation by the State party for damages due to the killing of Sami herders’ reindeer by predators protected under the Swedish wildlife policy (art. 5 (d) (v) and 6).
The Committee recommends that the State party continue its efforts to find ways to compensate the Sami reindeer - herding communities for damages caused to them by predators, based on a negotiated settlement.
19.The Committee is concerned at the lack of progress on developing a Nordic Sami Convention and at the State party postponing ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 169 (1989) on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries (art. 5 (e) (vi)).
The Committee reiterates its previous encouragement to the State party to contribute to the timely negotiation and adoption of a Nordic Sami Convention and to ratify ILO Convention No. 169.
20.While welcoming the steps taken by the State party to prevent discrimination against Roma, including the efforts of the Ombudsman and the adoption of the Strategy for Roma Inclusion 2012–2032, the Committee is concerned about the lack of progress in the equal enjoyment of rights by Roma, in particular about the continued stigmatization of and discrimination against Roma in access to services, their ongoing precarious socioeconomic situation due to low levels of employment, inadequate enforcement of the Education Act and the Anti-Discrimination Act regarding discrimination in education, and the prevailing lack of access of Roma to adequate housing (arts. 2, paras. 1 (c) and 2; 3; and 5 (e) (i),(iii) and (v)).
In the light of its general recommendation No. 27 (2000) on discrimination against Roma , the Committee recommends that the State party:
Enhance its efforts to combat discrimination against Roma , including by implementing temporary special measures in accordance with general recommendation No. 32 (2009) on the meaning and scope of special measures, to improve the enjoyment of e conomic, social and cultural rights by Roma ;
C o mbat prejudice and stereotypes and provide redress to individuals on the basis of the Anti-Discrimination Act;
Take further steps to alleviate the precarious socioeconomic situation of Roma , including by increasing their access to public and private employment through training, requalification and counselling;
( d ) E nsure the effective and systematic enforcement of the Education Act :
( e ) Increase access to adequate housing for Roma without discrimination and segregation, including by facilitating access to public and low-cost housing and improving the living conditions of Roma .
21.The Committee is concerned at reports that the compensation in discrimination cases is relatively low, which may deter victims of discrimination from claiming their rights instead of deterring discrimination. The Committee also notes with concern a report by the Ombudsman stating a lack of measures to encourage actors to litigate in discrimination cases (art. 6).
The Committee recommends that the State party guarantee remedies – including compensation – to the victims of discrimination, by making app rop riate use of the Anti-Discrimination Act. To that end, the Committee encourages the State party to consider increasing the compensation available to victims of discrimination and to implement the measures proposed by the Ombudsman in order to provide financial assistance to individuals and associations to facilitate litigation in discrimination cases, increase resources for the local and regional anti-discrimination offices and strengthen the legal aid system.
22.Bearing in mind the indivisibility of all human rights, the Committee encourages the State party to consider ratifying international human rights treaties which it has not yet ratified, in particular treaties with provisions that have a direct relevance to communities that may be the subject of racial discrimination, such as the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
23.In the light of its general recommendation No. 33 (2009) on follow-up to the Durban Review Conference, the Committee recommends that the State party give effect to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted in September 2001 by the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, taking into account the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference, held in Geneva in April 2009, when implementing the Convention in its domestic legal order. The Committee requests that the State party include in its next periodic report specific information on action plans and other measures taken to implement the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at the national level.
24.Welcoming the broad consultations with the civil society undertaken by the State party in the context of preparation of the present report, the Committee recommends that the State party continue consulting and expanding its dialogue with organizations of civil society working in the area of human rights protection, in particular in combating racial discrimination, in connection with the preparation of the next periodic report and the follow-up to these concluding observations.
25.The Committee recommends that the State party’s reports be made readily available and accessible to the public at the time of their submission, and that the observations of the Committee with respect to these reports be similarly publicized in the official and other commonly used languages, as appropriate .
26.In accordance with article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention and rule 65 of its amended rules of procedure, the Committee requests the State party to provide information, within one year of the adoption of the present concluding observations, on its follow-up to the recommendations contained in paragraphs 12, 14 and 16 above.
27.The Committee also wishes to draw the attention of the State party to the particular importance of the recommendations in paragraphs 6, 9 and 11 above and requests the State party to provide detailed information in its next periodic report on concrete measures taken to implement these recommendations .
28.The Committee recommends that the State party submit its twenty-second and twenty-third periodic reports in a single document by 5 January 2017, taking into account the specific reporting guidelines adopted by the Committee during its seventy-first session (CERD/C/2007/1), and addressing all the points raised in the present concluding observations. The Committee also urges the State party to observe the page limit of 40 pages for treaty-specific reports and 60–80 pages for the common core document (HRI/GEN.2/Rev.6, chap. I, para. 19).