Sweden

Sweden has come a long way regarding respect for human rights, but serious shortcomings still exist. The country has gained a reputation for being a vocal defender of human rights internationally but fails to address serious human rights violations at home.

We works to combat discrimination, racism, and hate crimes, as well as strengthen the indigenous Sámi people’s rights. Through legal processes, advocacy efforts, and raising the issues at a political level, we hold those in power to account.

News from Sweden

Lack of protection against hate crimes, discrimination, and for indigenous rights – our shadow report to the UN

News, Sweden
8 November 2024

In the spring of 2025, the UN will review how Sweden respects human rights. Ahead of the review by t…

Nordic Rule of Law Forum 2024

Sweden
4 October 2024

6 DECEMBER | STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN | INVITATION ONLY 2025 will mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption…

Rule of law continues to deteriorate in Europe – new report by 37 European organisations

News, Publications
18 March 2024

Democracy and rule of law continued to weaken across Europe in 2023, and restrictions on the right t…

Debate: Establish a special rapporteur for democratic elections

News, Sweden
26 January 2024

The following op-ed was first published in Swedish in Global Bar Magazine on 25 January 2024: If the…

More news from Sweden

Core International Crimes

Grave violations of human rights, such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, are committed all over the world. The perpetrators rarely face prosecution and are often able to continue to commit crimes with impunity. Through legal means, we work to keep dictators awake at night and to hold them accountable in order to achieve justice for their victims.

Locked Up – But Not Without Rights

Civil Rights Defenders monitors the human rights situation in Sweden’s locked institutions, such as jails, prisons, and custody or compulsory treatment institutions. We are involved in a number of legal cases in which our position is that human rights violations have taken place.

Sami Rights

Civil Rights Defenders collaborates with Sámi civil society to promote Sámi rights and enhance respect for Indigenous peoples’ rights. This is a major focus of our work, as advancing these rights requires both political and legal reforms. While Sweden often sees itself as a global standard-bearer for human rights, it simultaneously fails to respect its own Indigenous people.

The Right to a Fair Trial

Civil Rights Defenders conducts advocacy aimed at authorities, politicians, and other decision makers to ensure that the right to a fair trial is respected. We offer training and litigate when people’s rights have been violated.

Tackling Anti-Gypsyism against Roma EU Migrants

The number of hate crimes reported in Sweden remains high, as does the number of those that go unreported. Despite the high number of cases, only a few lead to prosecution or conviction. To change this, we are working together with Skåne City Mission to prevent hate crimes against Roma EU migrants in Malmö.

Historic Victory in the court of Appeal

In 2017, the Swedish Court of Appeals ruled that a police registry of Roma people, revealed in 2013, was illegal and that the Swedish State is guilty of ethnic discrimination in the case and ordered the payment of historic damages. The ruling was a major victory for Civil Rights Defenders and for the approximately 4700 Roma who had been included in the registry.

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Press and media

Are you a journalist and want to book an interview with one of our experts on the situation for human rights in the country or interview human rights defenders from Sweden?

For more information and inquiries, please contact us here:
+46 (0)76 576 27 62 / press@crd.org

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