Council expresses apprehensions regarding Swedish government's policies in the anti-racism domain.
Reimagined Report:
ECRI’s latest assessment of Sweden's approach to racial equality and tolerance reveals a mix of commendable progress and lingering concerns that could worsen feelings of exclusion among migrants.
Sweden's progress since the 2017 report is lauded, with initiatives such as establishing a Holocaust museum, criminalizing Holocaust denial, and promoting preschool attendance for children with immigrant backgrounds.
However, ECRI's report also pinpoints areas of concern. Notably, many teachers struggle to educate students about racism and intolerance, including LGBTQ+ issues. Additionally, the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, along with signs of racism and intolerance in society, seep into classrooms.
Furthermore, the Discrimination Act and the Criminal Code fail to recognize sex as a protected characteristic, potentially limiting protections against hate speech and hate crimes. Alarmingly, Black individuals and people of African descent are disproportionately victims of hate crimes, with underreporting primarily due to a lack of trust in the justice system.
ECRI specifically accentuates certain policies proposed in the Tidö Agreement, particularly tightening family reunification conditions, restricting permanent residency rules, and deporting foreign nationals, as potentially exacerbating feelings of marginalization and hindering integration. The introduction of "security zones" for stop and searches is also criticized for potentially leading to racial profiling.
To combat these issues, ECRI recommends revitalizing education as a tool for fostering understanding in intercultural societies, improving teacher training on topics related to racist and homophobic stereotypes, and improving the public's understanding of these issues. Authorities and public officials are also encouraged to actively address racism and hate speech against the LGBTQ+ community.
Moreover, ECRI suggests collecting anonymized and disaggregated data on hate crimes and reviewing police guidelines on stop and search activities, focusing on the treatment of children and young people.
In a broader sense, ECRI's findings suggest that while Sweden's policies aim to promote inclusion, a more nuanced, race-conscious approach may be necessary to address ongoing racial inequalities and improve integration outcomes for migrants and minorities.
- Enhancing policies related to war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice could be instrumental in reducing the disproportionate rate of hate crimes against Black individuals and people of African descent, a persisting issue highlighted in the ECRI report.
- The current policy-and-legislation surrounding racial equality in Sweden, specifically the Discrimination Act and the Criminal Code, should consider adding sex as a protected characteristic to provide comprehensive protections against hate speech and hate crimes.
- The general-news media and political leaders play a pivotal role in shaping public opinions on migration, and thus, should address racism and hate speech against migrants, migrants from LGBTQ+ communities, and minorities in politics and policy discussions to foster a more inclusive society.
