– The development of human rights in Sweden is going in the wrong direction. Instead of a rights-based perspective on our societal challenges, many of the political proposals risk leading to structural racism, collective punishment and suspicion of certain groups in society. It is completely unacceptable, says Anna Johansson, Amnesty International Sweden’s secretary general.
Freedom of demonstration is put to the test
Climate activists who carried out peaceful actions, in the form of civil disobedience, have continued to face harsh criminal charges, including sabotage. A crime that can lead to imprisonment and which was not used before 2022. In 2023, several activists were convicted of sabotage, of which one person was sentenced to prison. In April 2024, the Svea Court of Appeal exonerated twelve climate activists for previous convictions for sabotage.
As a response to the many Koran burnings in 2023, the government announced that it would review the Swedish public order law. But all restrictions on the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly must be compatible with international law, says Amnesty. And Sweden has an obligation to ensure that national or public security constitutes a necessary and proportionate limitation to achieve the legitimate goal. Only the least restrictive means that should be used to achieve that goal. Amnesty believes that the government’s one-sided focus on security interests completely misses several important rights issues. Addressing the underlying structural racism should instead be Sweden’s first and most urgent measure.
In October 2024, the Linköping district court for the first time convicted a person of incitement against a ethnic group for burning a copy of the Koran.
– Both the harsh criminal charges against peaceful climate activists and the government’s desire to limit the right to demonstrate are very worrying. Freedom of expression and assembly are fundamental rights for people to be able to make their voices heard and hold those in power accountable, says Anna Johansson.
Structural racism gets more space
Sweden has adopted a national action plan to combat racism. Despite this, several new criminal justice measures, which aim to combat crime, risk instead discriminating and violating the rights of refugees, migrants and people who are racialized. One of these concerns new legislation that expands the ability to use covert means of coercion such as digital surveillance, wiretapping and data breaching. Several reference bodies have raised concerns that the legislation risks being used disproportionately against these particular groups.
Other government initiatives risk reinforcing systematic racial discrimination if adopted. For example, an investigation that will review whether public employees should be obliged to provide information about undocumented persons, including children, to the Swedish Migration Agency and the police.
– Instead of working to protect those who are at risk of being exposed to racism and discrimination, Amnesty sees that several bills put forward by the Swedish government could instead lead to many more people being exposed to structural racism, also through the work of the police. It is completely unacceptable, all people have the same value and the same rights regardless of who they are, what they look like and where they come from, says Anna Johansson.
Not getting the care you are entitled to
In June, Amnesty and Läkare i världen reported Sweden to the European Committee for Social Rights. Many vulnerable EU citizens, who lack a European health insurance card and often may have been in Sweden for a long time, routinely receive sky-high bills for necessary care. In some cases, they are also denied basic care and many avoid seeking it due to fear of costs that cannot be paid. Not guaranteeing equal access to care for all people is in conflict with Sweden’s international commitments.
– All people have the right to care and EU citizens also have the right to necessary care on the same terms as everyone who resides in Sweden. Sweden not only exposes individuals to great suffering, but contributes to maintaining the serious discrimination that many in the group are subjected to in their home countries. This must be stopped now, says Anna Johansson.
Sami cultural survival is threatened
There is a large collective pressure on Sami traditional lands, while the limited protection that exists is far from sufficient. The pressure on the Sami traditional lands comes not only from mines, logging, wind power plants and other land exploitation, but also from the effects of climate change. In the long run, the survival of Sami culture is threatened. If the Sami people’s fundamental rights to influence over their traditional lands are not guaranteed, Sweden fails to live up to its international commitments regarding the rights of indigenous peoples.
– The UN has spoken clearly and called on Sweden to take comprehensive measures to protect Sami rights in large-scale land projects. Amnesty wants to see an end to old colonial patterns and believes that Sweden needs new legislation that clearly strengthens the protection of indigenous rights. The Sami people and their knowledge must be treated as part of the solution when we restructure our society, says Anna Johansson.
The annual report is attached as a PDF, with Sweden on pages 355-356
Tags: Amnestys annual report Sweden backs fundamental human rights issues
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