The report from Amnesty highlights, among other things, that climate activists who carried out peaceful protests through civil disobedience have been accused of crimes, and that the government risks restricting freedom of expression when they try to strengthen security through new initiatives.
New laws to curb crime and increase penalties could also lead to more structural racism in society, the organization warns, by discriminating against migrants and the ratified. They mention, among other things, the law that expands opportunities for the judiciary to use covert means of coercion. Government initiatives, if not yet adopted, such as forcing public employees to register undocumented, may also contribute to the development.
– All these proposals are very clearly linked to the Tidö Agreement, which we have been very critical of, says Anna Johansson.
Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT
Amnesty also mentions that many EU citizens without a European health insurance card have to pay dearly to receive care, some are denied necessary care altogether. This, not guaranteeing all people the same right to care, is against international commitments.
– The most fundamental problem that we see in Sweden is that you have a number of commitments that you do not follow. Swedish politicians treat human rights as something you can choose to follow. Sometimes you put it forward as an argument, sometimes you ignore it, says Anna Johansson.
Sweden is also criticized for threatening the rights of the Sami. Their lands are exploited when mines and facilities are built and forests are felled, the human rights organization believes. In the long run, the entire Sami culture may be threatened.
Given the world situation gives Amnesty a gloomy picture. War in many places has forced people into battle on an “unprecedented scale”. At the same time, authoritarian winds are blowing all over the world and many states are taking an increasingly tight grip on their population. The organization also warns of the development of artificial intelligence that could contribute to increasing polarization and discrimination in society, including through surveillance and the spread of disinformation.
– States and governments ignore international law that protects civilians. It leads to civilians having to pay a terribly high price and has resulted in what I would call mass death in 2023. Homes, schools and hospitals have been attacked on an unprecedented scale, says Anna Johansson.
