The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today concluded its review of the seventh periodic report of Sweden, with Committee Experts commending the State for aiming to become carbon neutral by 2045, while raising questions on the land rights of the Sami people and discrimination in the housing sector.
A Committee Expert said Sweden's target for being carbon neutral by 2045 was commendable. How was the State party planning to achieve greenhouse gas emission targets? Sami land was becoming a hot spot for the green transition; how was it ensured that their rights would be respected?
Another Committee Expert said concerns had been expressed about recent decisions to open new mines in Sami lands, and whether free, prior and informed consent had been taken. Could this be clarified? Aslan Abashidz, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, also inquired about the main concerns of Sami people that had been identified through consultations.
One Committee Expert said ethnicity and disability were the most common complaints of discrimination in the housing sector. Roma were often discriminated against in the housing market and lived in crowded conditions. Were these issues being addressed? What legislative measures had the State party adopted to strengthen protection against forced eviction?
Niclas Jacobson, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of Sweden and head of the delegation, presenting the report, said a well-functioning labour market was of crucial importance for a competitive economy and for securing prosperity in Sweden. The Government intended to implement a major reform of benefits within the social protection system, with the aim of increasing the incentives for persons to take on a job or return to the labour market.
The delegation said the Swedish Climate Act required that the Government produce a climate policy document every four years. By 2045, Sweden would have zero net emissions of greenhouse gases.
The right of the Sami people to utilise land was protected in law and in the Constitution, the delegation said. They had a right to compensation if their rights were impinged. The Swedish Government was committed to strengthening dialogue with representatives of the Sami people. The Act of Consultation, enacted in 2022, was an important instrument in this regard. Dialogues between the Government and the Sami Parliament on individual issues were frequently conducted. There had been a consultation on the strategy of climate adaptation.
The delegation also noted that discrimination in the provision of housing was prohibited. Individuals who believed they had been discriminated against could file court complaints. The Ombudsman had proposed measures for preventing discrimination in the housing market, including a revision of legislation. The Government was considering this.
On evictions, the delegation said municipalities were required to provide long-term housing solutions for vulnerable people. Landlords were obliged to notify social services if tenants were at risk of being evicted. In such cases, social services provided support to evictees. The Government had set up a housing strategy that ran until 2026, which included measures aiming to prevent evictions.
In concluding remarks, Mr. Jacobson said the dialogue provided the State party with an important opportunity to work constructively with the Committee to promote the implementation of the Covenant in Sweden. Sweden had an open society based on diversity and equality. There was room for improvement, however, and the delegation was thankful to the Committee for pointing out areas where improvement was needed.
Laura-Maria Craciunean-Tatu, Committee Chair, in her concluding remarks, congratulated the delegation for the frank, open dialogue, which would help the Committee to finalise concluding observations that would be useful for improving the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights in Sweden.
The delegation of Sweden consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs; the Ministry of Culture; the Ministry of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure; the Ministry of Employment; the Ministry of Education; and the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
All the documents relating to the Committee's work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session's webpage. Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here, and meetings summaries can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public at 5 p.m. on Friday, 1 March, to close its seventy-fifth session.
Report
The Committee has before it the seventh periodic report of Sweden (E/C.12/SWE/7).
Presentation of Report
NICLAS JACOBSON, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of Sweden and head of the delegation, said the fight against all forms of discrimination was one of the key human rights objectives of the Swedish Government. According to the Discrimination Act, all employers and education providers were obliged to actively prevent discrimination and promote resilience. In Sweden, discrimination was still an area of concern, despite attempts to counter it, and therefore the effort to combat discrimination was a lasting process. The State's national strategy described the need for a coherent structure to promote and protect human rights. The Institute for Human Rights, established as of 1 January 2022, had a central role in this work.
The Government was determined to secure the rights of the national minorities, which in Sweden were the Jews, Roma, Sami, Sweden Finns and Tornedalians. The Sami were also recognised as an indigenous people with special rights. The national minorities must be able to attain equal rights and opportunities. Long-term results in securing equal rights and opportunities for the national minorities could only be achieved through close cooperation between agencies, local councils and the national minorities themselves. Combatting anti-Semitism was a high priority.
A well-functioning labour market was of crucial importance for a competitive economy and for securing prosperity in Sweden. A cornerstone in the Swedish model was a strong welfare system, which was key to ensure equality and protect vulnerable persons. The Government intended to implement a major reform of benefits within the social protection system, with the aim of increasing the incentives for persons to take on a job or return to the labour market. The health care system was also a priority for the Swedish Government. Sweden was proud to have a system that was well developed, efficient and safe. Care was provided according to needs, not the ability to pay. The Government worked with regions and municipalities to create equal conditions for healthcare throughout the country.
The Government aimed to ensure that every individual had equal access to inclusive education, regardless of their background. Several initiatives had been introduced since 2021, concerning children, students with disabilities, and migrants. Following Russia's full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022, the Swedish Government also decided on measures to support displaced children and students from Ukraine.
The Swedish Government's initiatives helped to encourage citizens to actively participate in cultural and social life in all parts of the country. The Swedish Government continued to provide conditions that enabled children and young people throughout the country to have access to cultural activities characterised by diversity and quality. Mr. Jacobson stressed that the Swedish Government greatly appreciated the work done by the representatives of civil society. Sweden was prepared to answer any questions from the Committee.
Questions by Committee Experts
ASLAN ABASHIDZ, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said Sweden had no official definition of poverty. Why was this official definition absent? Was it not required, or were there better in-house ways to effectively capture individuals and groups in a position of poverty? Could low-income groups be classified as the "poor and vulnerable"? What public projects were funded through taxes? What percentage of the budget was allocated to social protection? What was the percentage of total income taxes collected from the richest per cent of the population? Swedish domestic legislation was required to be interpreted with Swedish international undertakings. What steps were being taken to improve understanding of the provisions of the Covenant among judges and law enforcement officials? Were there State mechanisms in place to monitor the implementation of the Covenant?
The Government had established the Swedish Institute for Human Rights in 2022. Was this Institute in full compliance with the Paris Principles? What was the coordination mechanism between the Equality Ombudsman and the Institute? How did the Government intend to strengthen this new Institute? Could information be provided on complaints of discrimination brought before the Equality Ombudsman? Some grounds for non-discrimination were not mentioned in the Non-Discrimination Act, including ethnicity. What steps was the Government taking in this regard?
What were the main concerns of Sami people that had been identified through consultations? In 2021, the Government appointed a committee to make decisions on hunting and fishing rights. Would this mechanism be provided with the necessary safeguards for effective functioning? What legislative steps had been taken in the case of the rights of Sami people to hunt small game and fishing? What was the status of the Nordic Sami Convention? Could updated information on the Climate Act be provided?
Responses by the Delegation
International treaties were required to be transformed into Swedish legislation. The material content of the Covenant was not directly applicable in Swedish courts. However, the Swedish case law and domestic legislation needed to be interpreted in accordance with Sweden's international undertakings. A judge was expected to have sound knowledge of the legal regulatory system. All public authorities were bound to comply with the human rights instruments which Sweden had signed. Sweden had conducted analysis on the possibility of acceding to the Optional Protocol, but was not convinced an individual complaints procedure was the best way to promote social, cultural and economic rights. Sweden was therefore not in a position where the ratification of the Optional Protocol was underway.
State-owned enterprises were subject to the same laws and regulations as private companies in Sweden. State-owned enterprises had to take a long-term approach to be efficient and profitable. To achieve this, it was essential that these enterprises promoted good corporate governance. The Swedish Climate Act required that the Government produce a climate policy document every four years. By 2045, Sweden would have zero net emissions of greenhouse gases.
Each year, the Government reported to Parliament on how human rights were being fulfilled, and aimed to ensure all actions were compliant with human rights. A letter had been received from the Human Rights Institute regarding the implementation of the Paris Principles. The Government was closely monitoring how the Institute was working in terms of the accreditation process. The number of complaints by public employees had seen the largest increase in 2022, and the Government was following this. One of the Ombudsman's core tasks was to provide replies to consultations held by the Government. These consultations were taken very seriously. When the statements were received, they were read, considered and reflected in the government bill.
Social assistance was a right that ensured a certain standard of living if no other income could be obtained. An individual was entitled to reasonable costs for housing and insurance. This national norm was adjusted annually, and depended on changes in the Swedish price index. The number of recipients of social assistance decreased in 2022 to under 161,000 households. The Government had taken further steps to promote measures for people to enter the employment market in order to reduce the dependence of households. All persons who lived and worked in Sweden were covered by the social assistance system. The maximum amount of benefit which could be received was also adjusted annually based on the price index. Due to the recent increase in cost of living, a supplementary allowance was introduced, which would be paid out until the end of June 2024.
The Government was obliged to consult a Sami organization when it came to decisions relating to the Sami people. A new act was underway to ensure the Sami people's participation in issues which concerned them. Recently, there had been a consultation on elections to the Sami Parliament. There had also been a consultation on the strategy of climate adaptation. A commission was tasked to increase awareness of Sami history, and to promote avenues for redress and reconciliation for the Sami people. In January 2023, Ministers of Sweden, Norway and Finland met with the Sami President in Stockholm to discuss a way forward for the Nordic Sami Convention.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert congratulated Sweden for its contributions to official development assistance. What was the criteria being used to determine the amount? Why had Sweden diverted partnerships away from the United Nations to other sources? Concerns had been expressed about recent decisions to open new mines in Sami lands, and whether free, prior and informed consent had been taken. Could this be clarified? Muslims, people of African descent and the Roma community were the biggest victims of discrimination in Sweden. Was this an area of concern? What special measures was the State party taking to ensure this issue was addressed? There had been a striking decline in gender equality in Sweden, which was surprising. Was this an area of concern which was being addressed by the State party?
Another Expert said Sweden's target for being carbon neutral by 2045 was commendable. How was the State party planning to achieve greenhouse gas emission targets? Sami-land was becoming a hot spot for the green transition; how was it ensured that their rights would be respected?
Another Expert asked what Sweden thought about the mandatory discussions in the European Directive on a ban on forced labour? Which groups did Sweden aim to incentivise to work?
Could more information be provided about the methodology used to draft reports, and consultation mechanisms? What were the steps being taken to implement the recommendations of the Committee?
Responses by the Delegation
The Gender Equality Index had placed Sweden at the top of all European States, but there were decreases in some areas. Work to ensure gender equality was a continuous effort. A public enquiry was ongoing which included an extended exchange of authorities on undocumented migrants. Migrants in Sweden had access to subsidised health care and maternity care. There were difficulties and challenges when it came to the Sami people. The right of the Sami people to utilise land was protected in law and in the Constitution. They had a right to compensation if their rights were impinged.
Ukraine was the largest recipient of Swedish development aid, which accounted for the shift from United Nations partnerships. The Government's Sami policy aimed to boost the cultural rights of the Sami people. The Government would present a strategy to Parliament later this year on climate adaptation, which was in line with the Paris Agreement. Sweden appreciated the good dialogue with civil society.
The Sami Parliament was the Swedish Government's main partner on Sami issues. The Parliament could present proposals of particular interest when it came to promoting Sami culture. The Swedish Government was committed to strengthening dialogue with representatives of the Sami people. The Act of Consultation, enacted in 2022, was an important instrument in this regard. Dialogues between the Government and the Sami Parliament on individual issues were frequently conducted.
Questions by a Committee Expert
A Committee Expert said the unemployment rate for young people was relatively high in Sweden, at 16.6 per cent in 2020. What measures were being taken to promote youth employment? What was being done to promote equal access to education for young people? Discrimination in the labour market remained a barrier for many, including people perceived to be Muslim, women wearing hijabs, and transgender people. What preventative measures had been taken to combat discrimination in employment? What remedies were available in cases of discrimination in the labour market? What specific legal measures had been adopted to combat labour exploitation, distinct from anti-trafficking measures? What was the impact of the measures taken so far in reducing the employment of migrants in sub-standard working conditions? What measures had been taken to ensure victims had access to support and effective remedies?
What measures had been taken to combat occupational segregation? Workers in the platform and gig economy were not guaranteed protection; what measures were being taken in this regard? What inspections were carried out in this sector? What specific measures had been taken to address the problems of in-work poverty? What steps had been taken to bring the daily allowance for asylum seekers to a level which ensured a decent standard of living?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said there were structural problems in the labour market where some groups were at risk of getting stuck in long-term unemployment, including those born outside of Europe, and those with disabilities. Sweden had the highest labour force participation rate in the European Union after the Netherlands. Unemployment rose during the pandemic, and by 2023 was below pre-pandemic levels.
Education was available for adults to supplement their learning. A total of 372,000 students studied basic and upper secondary adult courses in 2022. This was a way for those who had not passed through the secondary school to gain the required knowledge to study at university.
From July this year, it was possible to use parental benefits simultaneously, so both parents could stay on leave together for a longer period of time. From the age of one, children in Sweden were offered places at preschool when necessary to help parents continue their work or studies. There was a maximum fee for preschool in Sweden; a ceiling was set so that fees were paid at a reasonable level.
There had been significant issues of abuse of foreign workers, particularly in low skilled sectors. In 2022, measures were taken to improve provisions of labour migration. At the joint inspections, inspectors had the authority to identify workers who had been exploited, and to offer them the chance to take part in a court case against the employer. Ongoing work was being done at the European Union level regarding a directive which aimed to improve working conditions in the platform economy. The Discrimination Act regulated legislation in discrimination, and covered several grounds of discrimination, including sex, gender, ethnicity, disability and age. There were 922 complaints of discrimination to the Ombudsman in 2022, which was slightly higher than the number in 2021. The Equality Ombudsman was looking closely at how this developed.
The Government was undertaking reforms to speed up the asylum process, and saw no need to increase the daily allowance. Asylum seekers received an allowance and could apply for a special grant to receive money for additional items. The social security system was divided between resident-based benefits and work-based benefits.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert asked how the State assessed the measures taken to promote youth employment? Was legal aid provided to victims of discrimination? If workers in the platform economy could not become a member of social security, what happened to them?
Another Expert asked if Sweden had ever discussed having a minimum wage regulation for different sectors? What strategies were being taken to address the groups most affected by poverty?
An Expert said Sweden had the lowest level of material poverty in the European Union, but had the highest figures when it came to foreigners living in poverty. Just over 10 per cent of residents born abroad were living in material and social poverty, compared to just over one per cent of people born in Sweden who were living in poverty. Why was this the case? Had research been done on this situation? What was being done to bridge the gap?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said work was underway to review the labour migration system. When the Equality Ombudsman legislated on behalf of an individual, this was provided free of charge. Non-discrimination organizations also provided funding to support individuals in court cases with their employer. Most cases of labour disputes were resolved without going to court. It was also possible to lodge a claim in the small claims court to limit exposure to legal fees.
Social assistance was designed for everyone to ensure non-discrimination. However, there were certain benefits which targeted specific groups. For example, the Government aimed to strengthen the economic situation of pensioners, and had raised the guaranteed pension by 1,000 Swedish krona. This was paid to those with a low or no pensionable income. The housing supplement paid to pensioners was also strengthened in 2022.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said the State was confronted with challenges when it came to adequate housing. The existing law was not sufficient to ensure all residents had their right to housing fulfilled. Had an action plan been adopted for effectively tackling this issue? What was the eligibility criteria for social housing? How many social housing units had been provided? What had been done to assist those in household debt due to high mortgages? The Committee had received information that available support was intended to address emergency homelessness, rather than provide long-term solutions. How was homelessness defined in Swedish regulations? Had there been evidence-based research to inform policy decisions and monitor results in reducing homelessness? Could statistical data on homelessness be provided? What effective measures were adopted by the State party to tackle root causes of homelessness?
Sweden's report did not include information on discrimination against Afro-Swedes and Muslims in the housing market, even though ethnicity and disability were the most common complaints of discrimination in the housing sector. Roma were often discriminated against in the housing market and lived in crowded conditions. Were these issues being addressed? What were the main obstacles faced by Afro-Swedes, Muslims and Roma in accessing the housing market? What was being done to remove these obstacles? What was the State doing to ensure the right to housing? What legislative measures had the State party adopted to strengthen protection against forced eviction? How many evictions had been carried out during the reporting period? Would the State party consider increasing the daily allowance for asylum seekers? What measures had Sweden taken to guarantee that its poverty reduction policy covered everyone, including migrant workers and asylum seekers?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Sweden was one of the most generous donors in the world, meeting the United Nations target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income for official development assistance. Deductions for the cost of receiving asylum seekers were limited to eight per cent of official development assistance per year. Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to a paradigm shift in Sweden's development assistance, but it retained strong partnerships with all regions of the world. There were no plans to reduce the volume of Sweden's contribution to the United Nations.
Many students registered with public unemployment services. Real youth unemployment stood at about 10 per cent. The Government was offering support to young unemployed people to enter the workforce or participate in education. In 2023, the Government made changes to legislation to ensure that secondary and higher education was based on the needs of the labour market. More than 90 per cent of people who participated in vocational education obtained jobs. The Government had made efforts to expand vocational education programmes.
Sweden did not have a single definition of poverty; it used several metrics to measure poverty. The gender pay gap had steadily decreased recently, as women's average wages had increased. Legislation prohibited pay discrimination, enforcing equal pay for equal work. Employers were obliged to conduct pay surveys to ensure that equal pay was being provided. There had been a steady increase in men's involvement in unpaid care work. The Government provided equal parental leave to men and women that was non-transferable.
Public institutions were required to secure the right to employment, housing and health, to combat discrimination and promote equality, and to promote economic opportunities for the Sami people and other indigenous groups.
The Government had abolished the investment aid scheme for housing for students, as it was costly and not beneficial for vulnerable students. The Government had commissioned an inquiry to change the rules for assessing rent for students. It was developing measures to use existing housing more efficiently and relaxing regulations on student housing. A new "rent-to-buy" model was also being developed and proposals were being considered for measures to support first-home buyers. It was mandatory for municipalities to provide rental guarantees to families with children. Reforms were needed to remedy structural problems in the housing market and increase the availability of land.
Households had high levels of debt, which had increased in the past decade. A loan cap for mortgages had been introduced in 2014. A public inquiry to analyse this measure was being conducted.
The National Board on Health and Welfare carried out a survey on homelessness every six years and was conducting one in 2024. The latest survey showed a decrease in homeless persons from 2017. Around 9,000 children were homeless. The enforcement agency had carried out around 2,400 evictions in 2023, a 10 per cent increase from the year before. Municipalities were required to provide long-term housing solutions for vulnerable people. Landlords were obliged to notify social services if tenants were at risk of being evicted. In such cases, social services provided support to evictees.
The Government had set up a housing strategy that ran until 2026. The strategy included measures aiming to prevent evictions. Private landowners could apply for the removal of camps set up on their property without their permission. However, social services provided support for vulnerable settlers, including supporting travel to the country of origin. Drug abuse, mental illness and the lack of a steady income were the most common causes of homelessness, and domestic violence was a major cause of homelessness for women. The Government was developing a new social services law that aimed to tackle the causes of homelessness, and measures were being developed to strengthen housing solutions for people subjected to domestic violence. The housing allowance was provided to young people and families with children who needed help to pay rent. Pensioners could be eligible to receive a housing supplement.
Sweden did not compile data on ethnicity in the housing sector due to historical reasons. Discrimination in the provision of housing was prohibited. Individuals who believed they had been discriminated against could file court complaints. The Government had conducted a study into discrimination in housing, which found that income thresholds could in some circumstances lead to discrimination. The Ombudsman had proposed measures for preventing discrimination in the housing market, including a revision of legislation that the Government was considering.
The proportion of pensioners with low finances had been stable in recent years. Around 25 per cent of single women pensioners had a low financial standard. The rate of pensioners overall who had a low financial standard was at its lowest level ever, at 12 per cent, thanks to Government support.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert called for data on the proportion of people aged 25 to 35 who owned a home in 2023 compared to 2013.
The Committee was pleased to see reports that access to healthcare was generally good in the State party. However, there were barriers to accessing health services in remote regions, where waiting times were long. What measures were in place to address regional disparities in accessing healthcare services? Had the State party adapted health measures to the needs of rural areas? What measures would the State party take to ensure the right of all to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and to combat discriminatory treatment in the health sector? Asylum seekers reportedly could only access emergency health care services. Medical staff were often unaware of how to deal administratively with undocumented migrants. How affordable were health care services provided to asylum seekers? How was the State party ensuring that undocumented migrants and asylum seekers had full access to health care in all regions?
Every year, more than 12,000 people died in Sweden due to suicide. There was also a high rate of people with mental health issues in Sweden. Had an assessment of the national mental health strategy been carried out? How was the State ensuring a high standard of mental health for all residents?
Another Committee Expert asked about steps taken to move away from the institutionalisation of older persons and promote social care. There were shortcomings in the social protection programme provided for platform workers. What was being done to address these? Was the amount of basic insurance provided to unemployed persons sufficient to keep such persons above the poverty line?
One Committee Expert expressed concerns about indirect taxation, which could erode the enjoyment of an adequate standard of living for some segments of the population. The global cost-of-living crisis was ongoing. The Expert called on Sweden to focus on the crisis in its foreign investments and to work to fully obtain the purposes of the Covenant.
A Committee Expert asked about standards for temporary shelters, and average lengths of stay in such shelters. What were the criteria used by the State in considering evictions?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said health care was a high priority in the Government's 2024 budget. There were regional disparities in waiting times for health services that the Government was working to address. The Government was providing three billion krona in 2024 to expand regional health care and training for regional health workers. The Health Services Act stipulated that care should be provided equally, with priority given to those most in need. Children seeking asylum had the same right to receive subsidised health care as Swedish citizens. Undocumented adult migrants received subsidies for health care that could not be postponed, maternity care and contraception.
The national mental health strategy ran until 2023; 150 million euros were invested annually in implementing the strategy at a regional level. The strategy had increased the availability and quality of mental health care. The Government was currently developing a new mental health strategy. It was making major investments in primary care, a major tool in preventing suicide, and in child and adolescent psychiatry. The Government was also conducting awareness raising campaigns to promote positive mental health among the Sami people and national minorities.
The basic unemployment benefit was around 1,000 euros. Most workers were members of an unemployment insurance fund, which gave them 80 per cent of their former salaries up to a certain ceiling when they lost their jobs. There was no connection to the poverty line in the provision of social assistance, but the payment needed to ensure a reasonable standard of living.
Places of emergency accommodation such as hostels were available to persons in crisis situations to stay for short periods of time. The State had commissioned a project to map emergency accommodation and was currently preparing a report on the conditions in such accommodation. There were also shelters for victims of domestic violence. The Government had developed regulations regarding such shelters, which required that staff and facilities were able to accommodate children.
The Government was creating spaces for the elderly to socialise and providing targeted mental health services for elderly people. There were no institutions for elderly people in Sweden. Most elderly people lived independently in their own homes with extensive home help and health care.
Questions by a Committee Expert
A Committee Expert noted several positive initiatives taken by Sweden in the field of education. There had been amendments to the Swedish Education Act and the Discrimination Act to promote equitable access to all students to education in Sweden. However, there had been a reported rise in segregation in education, resulting in poorer performance and outcomes for vulnerable students. How was the State party combatting segregation in schools? What measures were in place to assist vulnerable students and ensure equal access to higher education for all students? Many children of asylum seekers and stateless persons faced barriers to accessing education. How was the State party promoting their access to education?
There were reports of harassment of Roma children within the education sector and limited access to Roma language education. How was the State party promoting access to education for Roma children? Only one out of 10 students with disabilities found work after graduating upper secondary school. How was the State party ensuring that children with disabilities had access to inclusive education tailored to their needs? There were also cases of harassment of students in schools who wore religious veils. Afro-Swede students were reportedly victims of Afrophobia, while lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex students faced various forms of victimisation and stereotypes. What steps were being taken to eradicate stereotypes and discrimination of these groups?
In Sweden, students under 18 could undergo drug testing conducted by the police on school premises. Some students in vulnerable situations had been expelled for failing drug tests and criminally charged. How many students had been expelled for failing drug tests? What measures were in place to protect students from undue abusive treatment as a result of drug testing?
There were numerous challenges faced by persons from national minorities in accessing education in their languages. What measures were in place to ensure access to textbooks and teaching in minority languages in schools, including for the Sami people and other national minorities? What measures were in place to preserve cultural heritage? There were Sami ceremonial objects and human remains in the possession of Swedish museums and institutions. What measures had the State party taken to facilitate the repatriation of Sami human remains and cultural heritage objects?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Sweden had implemented several initiatives to address inequalities in education outcomes among students of differing socio-economic backgrounds. One reason for the problem was that, in the last 10 years, Sweden had received a large population of migrants. Larger grants were allocated to schools with higher numbers of students from low socio-economic status. Grants were also provided to encourage teachers to work at such schools.
The Government had taken many initiatives to ensure access to inclusive education for children with disabilities. It had conducted studies on additional funding support needed by schools to provide inclusive education. In 2023, the Government invested in increasing the number of special needs teachers.
Several measures had been taken to strengthen education in minority languages. One measure was the promotion of distance education in minority languages. Minority language education had been included in training programmes for teachers. The Government had provided the Sami School Board with additional funding to develop Sami language teaching materials. The Minorities Act was amended in 2019 to strengthen the right to preschool education and elderly care in minority languages. The Government would provide 20 million krona in 2024 to support public minority language services. An action plan to promote language revitalisation was also in place, under which universities received funding to provide education in minority languages.
The Discrimination Act prohibited discrimination in education. The Equality Ombudsman could take disciplinary measures in response to reports of discrimination in schools. In 2022, there were around 760 complaints made to the Ombudsman related to education, an increase from the number in 2021. This could be due to the Ombudsman advertising their role in the education sector more prominently. Schools were required to take preventative action whenever discrimination occurred. Drug testing by police in schools was not recognised by the State party.
Sweden was committed to taking appropriate measures to build relationships between museums and indigenous peoples. Decisions on repatriations had to be made case-by-case through dialogue with the parties concerned. In 2022 and 2023, the Government consented to the transfer of ownership of objects originating in Benin, Bolivia and Mexico. The Government had conducted a study to propose a regulatory framework for the repatriation of Sami cultural objects and human remains.
In 2023, 58 per cent of persons aged 25 to 35 owned their own houses.
Questions by Committee Experts
Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on the types of remedial actions undertaken by the Equality Ombudsman in response to complaints of discrimination in education; measures to promote access to education for Roma children; initiatives to empower the Sami people to access their cultural objects held by museums; the rights of municipalities to demand funds from the Central Government for implementing programmes related to economic, social and cultural rights; whether Sweden ensured that United Nations treaties took precedence over European Union directives; the number of people detained by the police in connection with drug consumption activities; and programmes in place promoting safe drug use, including for prisoners.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said municipalities had far-reaching self-determination and taxation rights, but the State party had a responsibility to promote economic, social and cultural rights.
In cases of discrimination in education, the Equality Ombudsman could implement non-binding remedial measures, take cases to courts, or order school providers to correct education measures or face fines. The most frequent grounds of discrimination complaints in the education sector were disability and ethnicity.
The Government pursued a public health-based drug policy. Fines were issued for use of recreational drugs. There were no plans to change drug legislation. A higher number of patients had enrolled in care programmes for drug users in recent years. All regions in Sweden provided needle exchange services to prevent infections. The number of patients in the opioid treatment programme had increased in recent years through the expansion of the programme. In prisons, persons with drug addictions were required to participate in rehabilitation programmes.
The Swedish National Heritage Board was identifying obstacles to the repatriation of Sami artifacts and investigating who should be empowered to make the process run smoothly. There was a need for a coordinating body to support both sides in the repatriation process. Museums were financing a large portion of the process of repatriating remains. The Government did not have the mandate to force the repatriation of Sami objects, but there was ongoing dialogue between concerned parties regarding repatriation.
There was a long-term strategy for Roma inclusion in Sweden that aimed to secure equal opportunities in life between Roma and non-Roma. The strategy contained goals and measures in social care, health and language. Grants were provided to municipalities to support local initiatives for the inclusion of Roma.
Concluding Remarks
ASLAN ABASHIDZ, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, thanked the delegation for the constructive dialogue.
NICLAS JACOBSON, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of Sweden and head of the delegation, said the dialogue provided the State party with an important opportunity to work constructively with the Committee to promote the implementation of the Covenant in Sweden. All lived in a time when democracy, human rights and the rule of law were more important than ever. Sweden had an open society based on diversity and equality. There was room for improvement, however, and the delegation was thankful to the Committee for pointing out areas where improvement was needed.
LAURA-MARIA CRACIUNEAN-TATU, Committee Chair, congratulated the delegation for the frank, open dialogue, which would help the Committee to finalise concluding observations that would be useful for improving the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights in Sweden.
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