OHCHR (2024), Visit to Sweden: Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, A/HRC/55/47/Add.2, 2 April 2024.

Country

Sweden

Title

OHCHR (2024), Visit to Sweden: Report of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, A/HRC/55/47/Add.2, 2 April 2024.

View full research

Year

2024

Publication type

Other

Geographical coverage

National

Area/location of interest

Not applicable - national level

Type of Institution

UN body

Institution

United Nations (UN), Human Rights Council

Thematic focus

Religious freedom

Groups

General population

Key findings

In the report, the Special Rapporteur finds that Sweden largely possesses the requisite legal and policy frameworks for promoting and protecting the enjoyment by all persons of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief. However, politically expedient responses to a diversifying society, together with a lack of understanding of the full scope of freedom of religion or belief, pose challenges to the framework in place for the respect of human rights. The report underscores concerns raised by religious communities, including Muslim communities, about growing intolerance. According to the report, initiatives aimed at addressing the concerns outlined in the report are needed in order to generate the desired comprehensive and systematic change within all government entities and in society at large.

Methodology (Qualitative/Quantitative and exact type used, questionnaires etc)

Qualitative (Visit to Sweden from 11 to 20 October 2023, meeting representatives from the government, the parliament, public authorities, the Supreme Administrative Court, prosecutors, police authorities, civil society organisations, representatives of religious or belief communities and faith-based actors, academics, local authorities and the Swedish Institute for Human Rights.)

Sample details and representativeness

N/A - not applicable/available

DISCLAIMERThe information presented here is collected under contract by the FRA's research network FRANET. The information and views contained do not necessarily reflect the views or the official position of the FRA.