Experts of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Commend Sweden on its Commitment to the Committee’s Work, Raise Questions on Gun Shots Fired at Persons with Mental Health Issues and on Institutionalisation
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities today concluded its review of the combined second and third periodic report of Sweden, with Committee Experts expressing appreciation for Sweden’s commitment to the Committee’s work and human rights in general, while asking questions on gun shots fired at persons with mental health issues and on institutionalisation.
Rosemary Kayess, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Sweden, appreciated Sweden’s commitment to the work of the Committee, through the State’s comprehensive report and response to the list of issues. Sweden had a long history of commitment to human rights and the rule of law, enshrining these principles in domestic law as far back as the fourteenth century.
A Committee Expert said a report revealed that one in four shots fired were related to persons with mental health problems. Was the police force specifically trained when it came to the use of force, particularly firearms, against persons with psychosocial disabilities? Was there adequate training in this regard?
One Committee Expert said countries including Denmark, Norway and Sweden were among the first to start deinstitutionalisation. However, the Committee had heard that institutionalisation was on the rise. Why was this trend on the increase? Was there a deinstitutionalisation strategy for persons with disabilities, including those with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities? Ms. Kayess asked if the residential settings were small? Could these people choose where they lived and with whom? Was a choice given about the staffing of these centres?
The delegation said although the police were better trained than ever to identify psychological illness, if a person threatened a policeman with violence, the last resort was to use the force of firearms. Every shooting was considered a tragedy for the perpetrator and the police officer. A special handbook was issued for interacting with psychologically disabled persons, which was created following a case in August 2018, where a person with a psychosocial disability was shot dead by the police. Within firearms training, officers were taught how to assess every situation quickly and make the appropriate decisions.
The delegation said institutions in Sweden for persons with disabilities were dismantled in the twentieth century, and were replaced by residential arrangements, which were regulated under the Disability Act. These centres aimed to enable those living there to live as others did. Normally there were two to five people living in each residential centre. The municipality was responsible for staff at the centres.
Minna Ljunggren, State Secretary to the Minister of Social Services, Ministry of Health and Social Services of Sweden and head of the delegation, introducing the report, said Sweden’s national objective for disability policy was based on the Convention, and set out to achieve equal living conditions and full participation for persons with disabilities. In times of crisis, providing adapted accessible information to all was essential. In the last few years, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency had improved its website to make information accessible for all and developed guidelines for accessible information in emergencies. An official government report on how to reform national care for children and young people would be presented in 2025, and would include proposals on how to ensure that abuse and sexual violence were prevented.
In closing remarks, Ms. Ljunggren thanked the Committee for two days of fruitful dialogue which had been positive and would guide Sweden in its continuous work to promote the rights of persons with disabilities. Sweden recognised the essential role that accountability mechanisms like the Committee played in a vibrant community and in safeguarding human rights.
Ms. Kayess expressed appreciation to the delegation for an open and frank dialogue. Sweden had a traditionally high standard of social welfare, but there had been a regression in standards. The Committee was concerned how Sweden would achieve a transformation when it did not appear to understand the principles of the Convention and its obligations in meeting these standards.
The delegation of Sweden was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs; the Ministry of Defence; the Ministry of Employment; the Ministry of Finance; the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Culture; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Rural Affairs; the Agency for Participation and Infrastructure; and the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s thirtieth session and other documents related to the session can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. this afternoon to consider the combined second and third periodic report of Azerbaijan (CRPD/C/AZE/2-3).
Report
The Committee has before it the combined second and third periodic report of Sweden (CRPD/C/SWE/2-3)
Presentation of Report
MINNA LJUNGGREN, State Secretary to the Minister of Social Services, Ministry of Health and Social Services of Sweden and head of the delegation, said the Minister of Social Services could not attend the Committee meeting due to Sweden’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but sent her best wishes for the dialogue. Sweden’s national objective for disability policy was based on the Convention, and set out to achieve equal living conditions and full participation for persons with disabilities. The implementation of disability policy targeted four areas: the principle of universal design; shortcomings in terms of accessibility; individual support and solutions for individual support; and preventing and countering discrimination.
The strategy identified 12 priority areas for Swedish disability policy, with government agencies tasked with following up developments. Regular meetings were held with Swedish disability organizations, including the Disability Delegation, the national coordinating body between the Government and disability organizations. The implementation of disability policy often differed across the country, due to Sweden’s municipalities and regions, sometimes leading to undesirable inequalities. To combat this, the Swedish Agency for Participation and county administrative boards provided support to the regions and municipalities in implementing their disability policy, strategies and plans.
In times of crisis, providing adapted accessible information to all was essential. In the last few years, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency had improved its website to make information accessible for all, and developed guidelines for accessible information in emergencies. The National Board of Health and Welfare mapped the pandemic’s consequences for persons with disabilities’ access and participation in services. Furthermore, the Swedish Agency for Participation was tasked with mapping the challenges and consequences of the pandemic for children and young people with disabilities. The Government was also working on a new national strategy for mental health and suicide prevention, which would include a clear disability perspective. In recent years, changes had been made regarding children in societal care, with the National Board of Institutional Care striving to decrease the number of seclusions. An official government report on how to reform national care for children and young people would be presented in 2025, and would include proposals on how to ensure that abuse and sexual violence were prevented.
The Swedish act concerning support and service for persons with certain functional impairments had been in place since 1994 and targeted people with severe difficulties due to disability, aiming to ensure self-determination, independence and full participation. The act was an important milestone in the history of Swedish disability policy, but its implementation had changed over the years, leading to fewer favourable decisions for persons with disabilities and to concerning local variations. In the last few years, the Government had initiated several reforms with the aim of strengthening the right to personal assistance. Ms. Ljunggren concluded by emphasising Sweden’s continued commitment to work for the full realisation of the Convention and looked forward to the constructive dialogue.
Statement by Independent Monitoring Mechanism
Independent Monitoring Mechanism said there were numerous challenges when it came to the implementation of the Convention in Sweden. Migrants, elderly, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons with disabilities faced additional obstacles in enjoying their rights. There needed to be a comprehensive review of the alignment of Swedish laws with the Convention. There was a worrying regression of rights in areas such as personal assistance and guiding services due to insufficient budget allocation. The State did not adequately ensure the active involvement of persons with disabilities in the Convention’s implementation. The use of violence, coercion and forced treatment in psychiatric care was deeply concerning, and Sweden lacked a deinstitutionalisation plan. The human rights model of disability had not yet fully been embraced in Sweden, and considerable efforts were needed to achieve inclusive equality.
Questions by Committee Experts
ROSEMARY KAYESS, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Sweden, appreciated Sweden’s commitment to the work of the Committee, through the State’s comprehensive report and response to the list of issues. She acknowledged and thanked civil society and organizations of persons with disabilities that contributed parallel reports. Sweden had a long history of commitment to human rights and the rule of law, enshrining these principles in domestic law as far back as the fourteenth century. This was true for Sweden’s engagement with the community of nations and international law.
A Committee Expert said in the last eight decades, Sweden had a history of attaining an unparalleled gender equality and economic equality. This was the interpretive backdrop against which the dialogue would take place; expectations were high. What role did the barriers faced by persons with impairments play in the assessment of their disability and what was the role of medical expert opinion? What was the concept of inadequate accessibility and how did it relate to the concept of reasonable accommodation under the Convention? There was a clear gap between Swedish legislation and what the Convention required. Did Swedish law guarantee that inadequate accessibility measures were defined in a dialogue with the person who requested them?
One Committee Expert asked about the steps taken to ensure the effective participation of organizations of persons with disabilities? Were the organizations run by persons with disabilities themselves? Another Expert had said that information had been received that persons with disabilities did not see the dialogue with the Government as useful or open. Was the State aware of this? What did the State party intend to do to make the follow-up process guided by the Convention, with clear markets to expedite its implementation? What was being done to improve implementation by the regions and municipalities that played a crucial role in this respect?
The budget for disability and sickness benefits had decreased in Sweden for decades. Would the State party take additional measures to fulfil its obligations of progressive realisation under the Convention? What specific measures had been taken to implement the recommendations handed down by the Committee on the Elimination on the Discrimination against Women around two years ago, relating to women with disabilities? What had been undertaken with respect to the recommendations by the Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding children with disabilities? Did the State party have a process where recommendations by United Nations treaty bodies were being followed up internally?
Another Expert said the Committee was trying to remove stigma against people with disabilities. Some countries encouraged the abortion of pregnancies which had tested positive for Down’s syndrome and other genetic conditions. Could the delegation confirm that Sweden would allow all people to choose to have their child regardless of if they would be born with one of these conditions?
An Expert said there was a huge difference within the municipalities when it came to knowledge and support. Had the strengthening of support of municipalities in terms of the Convention requirements taken place?
A report revealed that one in four shots fired were related to persons with mental health problems. Was the police force specifically trained when it came to the use of force, particularly firearms, against persons with psychosocial disabilities? Was there adequate training in this regard?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the definition of discrimination was changed in 2015 to include a prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of inadequate accessibility for persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation and inadequate accessibility were often seen as synonyms in the Swedish context. Sweden had a large public sector and no social housing. The housing market was supposed to be open to all. Requirement for accessibility had existed in the planning and building legislation since the 1960’s. Since 2001, there had been regulations requiring that easily eliminated obstacles needed to be removed in buildings of premises where the public had access to. The building committee had an obligation to supervise that the rules of accessibility were met.
Three or four times a year, the Government held meetings together with representatives from Sweden’s disabilities’ movement and the Disability Delegation. The theme and agenda from each meeting were planned by the Government and the movement. As per the disability strategy, government agencies needed to report annually how they consulted with organizations of persons with disabilities. With the adoption of the disability strategy, many measures had been taken to engage disability organizations in various matters.
The national disability policy was the beginning of an effort to improve the monitoring of disability policy through enabling a more systematic follow-up and progress in meeting the national goals. The strategy was a tool to implement the Convention by identifying barriers, follow up progress, collect information, as well as to consult with disability organizations. The Swedish Agency for Participation had a crucial role in the follow-up work and reporting to the Government. An annual report was being prepared for the Government regarding the disability policy, involving conditions for persons with disabilities, the work of public actors, and the national strategy and framework.
There had been a decrease in relative poverty in Sweden, mainly due to policy measures targeting households below the poverty line. During the last two decades, economic standards had increased for all income groups. Several social security benefits were linked to the price base amount. Due to the rise in inflation, the indexation of sickness compensation had been high. In 2023, the adjustment of 8.7 per cent was the highest since 1982, and in 2024, the adjustment was 9.14 per cent. Persons with major functional impairments had the right to individual support. Since 2016, there had been a decrease in the number of persons granted personal assistance.
The follow-up of various conventions was made in a specific structure for each Convention. The national procurement strategy contained seven goals, including public procurement which contributed to a social and sustainable society. The procurement authority in Sweden provided support and had criteria guidelines on how to procure accessibility. Public procurement was a powerful tool to ensure accessibly and inclusion in society and was an important part of the national strategy.
Police training had been constantly improving in Sweden. Currently it was a three-year training period, which included psychological tests. Swedish police officers today were more highly trained and experienced than ever before. There had been an increase in shootings, as firearms in Sweden were more common, particularly among criminals. The Government was doing its utmost to decrease the number of illegal firearms in Sweden. Close to half of all shots fired were against persons with psychiatric disabilities. This was because criminals were often under the influence of alcohol or had psychological problems.
Although the police were better trained than ever to identify psychological illness, if a person threatened a policeman with violence, the last resort was to use the force of firearms. Every shooting was considered a tragedy for the perpetrator and the police officer. A special handbook was issued for interacting with psychologically disabled persons, which was created following a case in August 2018, where a person with a psychosocial disability was shot dead by the police. Within firearms training, officers were taught how to assess every situation quickly and make the appropriate decisions.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert asked what measures the State would put in place to implement the recommendations issued by the European Union on gender? Were there any appropriate programmes for sexual and reproductive health for persons with disabilities? A study of 160 Swedish parents who had children with Down’s syndrome found that 70 per cent of them did not have enough information from doctors. What measures was the State putting in place to solve this problem? In 2018, a man had died after spending 42 hours tied with a belt in a psychiatric care centre. What measures had been taken to prevent such situations? What sanctions did the workers in the care facility receive?
Another Expert asked how reasonable accommodation was provided for women and children refugees with disabilities to ensure they had full access to health services? What was the criteria for forced hospitalisation or using restraints in psychiatric facilities?
An Expert asked what steps the State party had taken to review administrative gaps to ensure cohesion and non-discrimination? Did the law on gender equality legally prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability? What specific protection mechanisms were in place to prohibit domestic violence against women and children with disabilities?
Another Expert asked what had been the impact of the ratification of the Convention? Could the Convention be used in the course of law? Could a case be argued on the basis of the Convention?
A Committee Expert asked if persons with disabilities were included on the national housing board, to ensure matters relating to their interests were addressed?
Another Expert asked what measures had been taken to remove all barriers to employment for persons with disabilities?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said since 2015, the State party had entered into several agreements with the Swedish association of local authorities and regions on enhanced efforts for women’s health and maternity care, including to improve care for women with disabilities. One of the pillars also focused on persons with disabilities who had been exposed to sexual violence and female genital mutilation. A national plan was in place for maternity care which included developments for more equal care. The State party was highly committed to improving health conditions and health care, including for women and girls with disabilities.
Regarding the person who died at hospital, police officers were at the site, and police had learned how to handle these situations better in the future. Since 2023, the Swedish migration agency had introduced a policy and an action plan on how to address disability among asylum seekers, which included training courses for all staff on accessibility needs. During the first interview, an assessment of the asylum seeker was made to determine whether this person had any disabilities and if there was a need for adapted accommodation.
Governmental agencies were monitoring developments within the municipalities to ensure cohesion. A 10-year national strategy had been issued to counter violence against women, taking into account violence against women and girls with disabilities. A new strategy was being created for the years after 2026. A report published in 2023 found that women and girls with disabilities ran a higher risk of being exposed to physical, psychological or sexual violence, compared to men with disabilities and women without disabilities. The overall level of violence warranted an action plan to prevent and detect violence against persons with disabilities. The Swedish Agency for Participation had developed guidelines to prevent violence against persons with disabilities, including creating educational modules, webpages and films.
Much remained to be done before Sweden could be considered to have fulfilled all the commitments and requirements of the Convention. The national goal for disability policy now had the Convention as a starting point and several measures had been made to bring Swedish law in line with the Convention. An in-depth review of conformity between Swedish law and the Convention would be an important basis for more transformative work.
The working environment strategy 2021–2027 was based on creating a good working environment for the future. Accessibility had been integrated in the Swedish Work Agency’s strategic business plan.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said that during emergencies, persons with disabilities were often the last to be assisted. What was Sweden doing to ensure that persons with disability could be reached and extracted in emergency situations, particularly those with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities? What happened to persons with disabilities in the COVID-19 pandemic? How many people died due to services not operating and reduced staffing?
ROSEMARY KAYESS, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Sweden, asked if the disaster response plan was nationally coordinated? Was the emergency mitigation information communicated in accessible formats? What was the rationale behind allowing people living in State housing to be forcibly removed, in cases such as COVID-19? How were persons with disabilities included in the design, implementation and evaluation of the climate policy framework? Was it inclusive of persons with disabilities, including those from Sami communities?
A Committee Expert asked what steps were being taken to replace guardianships with supported decision making? Was there any training about supported decision making for persons with disabilities, their families and professionals? How long could a person have their legal capacity removed; five years, 10 years, or life? Once a person’s legal capacity was removed, could they ever get it back? Was a person given assistance to challenge the decision if they wished? What happened to people who were unable to stand trial due to neurodiversity or psychosocial disabilities? Were these individuals sent to institutions? How long did they stay in these places? There had been concerns raised that people with psychosocial disabilities were often deprived of their liberties. Could the delegation explain about the high number of children and adults in care in institutions? What was the process that an individual could take to appeal compulsory care?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said there were different ways of communicating during a crisis situation, with the first being an emergency call to 112. There was also the possibility to contact 112 via text. The national board of health and welfare was tasked with monitoring preparedness in social services and municipal healthcare. The Government had taken several measures to strengthen preparedness in social services within the municipalities, which included services for persons with disabilities. The pandemic had brought significant challenges to healthcare and persons with disabilities were highly affected. In some cases, daily activity programmes were suspended, the scope of activities were decreased, and there were experiences of increased isolation. A brochure had been produced to enable preparation in the event of a crisis or war. The Swedish agency for accessible media helped to make it available in braille, sign language and as an audio file.
The Government had carried out an inquiry on guardianship, with the result being to consider the capacities of persons with disabilities, their wishes and their capacity to make decisions. In Sweden, there were several different initiatives, including training care staff, to ensure a person was able to express their will. The Ombudsman could help to support someone who wanted to change something about their situation, although this was not supported decision-making. Assessments were made on an individual level depending on the disability of the person.
Under the European judicial training network, judges underwent significant training on how to address and meet people in the courts. There was a close cooperation between courts and civil rights defenders in Sweden. Every year, there was an organised, structured hearing between law enforcement agencies, the prosecutor agency and the court agency.
A child, including those with psychosocial disabilities, could only be placed in foster care or in an institution against their will by means of a court order. The hypothesis was that children should always be reunited with their parents, but an assessment was always made in the best interest of the child. A person in psychiatric coercive care could appeal either to the administrative court or to the health and social care inspectorate, to make a formal complaint.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said countries including Denmark, Norway and Sweden were among the first to start deinstitutionalisation. However, the Committee had heard that institutionalisation was on the rise. Why was this trend on the increase? Was there a deinstitutionalisation strategy for persons with disabilities, including those with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities?
ROSEMARY KAYESS, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Sweden, asked if the residential settings were small? Could these people choose where they lived and with whom? Was a choice given about the staffing of these centres? Since 2013, 1,500 people had lost personal assistance funding from the State. Why was this the case? Had there been any analysis on how the increased police powers would have an impact on minority groups, including persons with disabilities? What actions had been taken to limit the use of chemical and physical restraints and non-confinement in care institutions?
A Committee Expert said measures had not been taken to prevent the deprivation of liberty of persons with psychosocial disabilities. Residential services continued to be institutions. Could information be provided on plans to oppose the adoption of the draft protocol of the Council of Europe, and instead develop efforts in line with the Convention? What measures would Sweden take to prevent the use of electro-shock therapy in institutions, and ensure people had access to recourse? What actions were taken against those who caused the death of a patient in 2018?
Another Expert asked about the steps being taken to prevent the use of force on persons with disabilities who were also ethnic minorities?
A Committee Expert asked about forced sterilisation, particularly for migrant and Sami women with disabilities? What was being done to investigate such cases?
ROSEMARY KAYESS, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Sweden, asked what measures were taken to address violence and abuse against women and children with disabilities in institutions and the general community? Were steps being taken to include persons with disabilities in hate crime legislation? Were there legislative or other measures to protect intersex children from unnecessary medical interventions until they could provide consent? Citizenship in Sweden required a person to support themselves for up to one year; was this revised for persons with disabilities?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said institutions in Sweden for persons with disabilities were dismantled in the twentieth century, and were replaced by residential arrangements, which were regulated under the Disability Act. These centres aimed to enable those living there to live as others did. Normally there were two to five people living in each residential centre. The municipality was responsible for staff at the centres.
Regarding personal assistance, there had been a decrease in the number of people receiving the allowance. This was regulated in law and was not a funding issue.
The new “stop and search” power from the police was very recent, having only entered into force a few weeks ago. Police could now establish certain zones where stop and search could be done; previously this could only be done under suspicion. This rule was strictly fine-tuned, addressing criminal and gang members. Police had extensive training in identifying these people.
Criticism had been received in reports regarding compulsory psychiatric care. Sweden had taken this critique very seriously and had mandated the follow up of this issue. A mission had been launched to ensure improvements to supervised care and a proposal was being developed in mental health and suicide prevention. The Government was closely following this work and was willing to take all measures to further develop the supervision of care and prevent all forms of ill treatment.
Electro-shock therapy was a treatment used for some of the most serious psychiatric conditions. It was recommended for adults and young people in clinical guidelines, but not for children younger than 12. The guidelines detailed who should be treated with this therapy and the outcomes of the treatment. Police had created a handbook on how to interact with persons with psychosocial disabilities, which stipulated that no one should be subjected to violence that was not absolutely necessary.
Forced sterilisation had been forbidden in Sweden since 2013, and no longer took place. Swedish legislation was based on free and informed consent of a person as long as was possible in compulsive care.
An authority was commissioned to ensure that instances of violence and abuse did not occur in State-owned youth care. In 2022, special supervision was carried out on the authority that cared for girls under compulsory care, with the overarching goal of strengthening this entity. The new legislation around personal assistance aimed to strengthen the right to personal assistance. All deaths in psychiatric hospitals were considered to be a police matter.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert asked about accessible information, particularly for those in Sweden who spoke different languages. What was the existing criteria regarding the privacy of persons with disabilities? What resources were dedicated to realising the right to family life if the parents or children had disabilities? What support was provided in rural areas? How had this situation improved since Sweden presented its last report to the Committee?
How was it ensured that there was no discrimination against persons with disabilities when it came to family reunification, specifically refugees from Afghanistan? Many persons with disabilities did not have the financial background or economic situation required by the Government for family reunification.
Could information be provided on the steps taken to ensure inclusive education for students with disabilities? How was it ensured that students with all types of disabilities could attend general schools? How were vocational training courses made accessible to all, including those with intellectual disabilities and autism? What plans were in place to prevent cases of suicide among persons with disabilities? How was the worsening of medical conditions among persons with disabilities, compared to the general population being monitored?
Was a person with reduced work capacity entitled to the same salary as their colleagues in the same position? How was this process being more streamlined? How did the State realise the right to employment for persons with disabilities, including refugees and immigrants? How did the State provide accessible information regarding the election process, particularly for persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities? How did the State enforce the implementation of the right to vote with accessibility and training of guardians? How did the State guarantee accessibility to culture and sport to persons with all types of disabilities?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said there were five ethnic minority groups in Sweden, and the Government aimed to ensure they were able to fulfil their rights. Hate speech against persons with disabilities was prosecuted under Swedish penal law.
Within social services, there were different parental support systems. The support varied depending on need. Regions provided support for parents and children with disabilities. Since January 2019, it was possible to receive childcare allowance for children with disabilities. The Social Welfare Board needed to make an overall assessment of applicants’ suitability when it came to adoption. There was a handbook for social services that were handling international and national adoptions. There were many different opportunities for social services to provide support to families, dependent on their needs, the age of the children, and whether they lived in urban or rural environments. This was regulated under the Social Services Act.
Swedish migration policy had undergone a paradigm shift in recent years, with the new objective being to reduce the number of migrants coming irregularly to Sweden. The Swedish Parliament had decided on new rules which stipulated that certain requirements needed to be fulfilled to be granted family reunification. The main rule was that the sponsor must show sufficient income. Sweden’s regulations were in line with international conventions and did not discriminate.
The Education Act stated that every private school must be open to all pupils. The Education Act had no provision to deny children with disabilities their preferred school. The Government aimed to ensure all pupils received adequate support, including those with special needs. The Swedish education system was based on inclusion, and stipulated that all learners had the same right to personal development and learning. Sweden had a decentralised higher education system, where the institutions themselves were responsible for the use of resources, delivery of research, and higher education.
Several agreements had been made with the regions in Sweden to improve work in the area of accessible care. A proposal had been made for a national plan to reduce the shortage of hospital beds, with dialogue on reducing waiting times and healthcare queues. Financial support had been promised to the health care system to prevent redundancies of staff and the impact on patients. Official suicide statistics were not disaggregated based on disability, however, several mental health conditions, including depression, led to an increased suicide risk.
Reports showed that knowledge on mental health among pupils was too general. To combat this, the Government ensured that State grants were provided for health personnel caring for students. Amendments aimed at strengthening student mental health services were added to the Education Act. Last week, the Government appointed an enquiry tasked on how to improve support for students with special educational needs. The State party had launched several initiatives to improve the health situation among persons with disabilities. It had made major investments in primary care, including rehabilitation measures.
In 2024, the Public Employment Service had been tasked with significantly shortening the time it took to identify and report on a disability which reduced the ability to work. The Service ensured young people with disabilities received the right support at the right time, and were tasked with ensuring that the labour market assessment was current and uniform. An introduction programme targeted young immigrants who had been granted a resident permit.
To promote a higher voter turnout, the Government had allocated funds in this regard, intended to target groups of voters with low participation in previous elections, including persons with disabilities. A chat function was available online where people could ask questions about the elections.
The objective for the Swedish cultural policy was to ensure that culture was challenging and dynamic and accessible to all. Institutions in the performing arts were instructed to reach out to persons with disabilities. The Swedish Arts Council and the Swedish Heritage Board were part of the strategy for follow-up for the national disability policy. Sweden annually allocated more than two billion Swedish krona to support the sports movement. Twenty million Swedish krona had been allocated to the Scouts movement in 2024. To break involuntary loneliness and isolation, resources to sports for the elderly had significantly increased. Over 700 million Swedish krona were invested to introduce an activity card to increase access to sport, culture and outdoor life.
Some people were more vulnerable than others when it came to disinformation, which was becoming increasingly common in elections. A parliamentary committee had been appointed for those with visual disabilities.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said information had been received that children with disabilities did not receive adequate support in school. What inspection process was there to ensure that children with disabilities were coping with their education delivery? What mechanism was in place to monitor the transition from studies to work?
An Expert asked how the State guaranteed that students with disabilities arriving through the Erasmus programme received sufficient support?
Another Expert said persons who were deaf were not being hired by employers, as there were no provisions to pay for sign language interpreters; what measures would be put in place to correct this?
A Committee Expert said one in three persons with disabilities felt discriminated against in their working life due to their disability, including by not getting a job that they were qualified for. What measures had the State been implementing to eliminate discrimination in employment for persons with disabilities? What was being done to eliminate the gender pay gap?
Another Expert said there was a stark difference among the 21 regions concerning the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. What was being done to ensure equal attention was given to all?
An Expert said great efforts had been made to hire persons with disabilities. What was the budget for these positions? What were the obligations of the private sector to employ persons with disabilities?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said students with disabilities must be provided with sufficient support in line with the Education Act. If this was not possible, the school needed to outline clearly why other education methods should be considered. All universities in Sweden had coordinators for students with disabilities, and they could discuss whether special support could be received for study abroad. This also included students coming into Sweden through the Erasmus programme. According to the Education Act, the municipalities had a responsibility to offer suitable individual measures to young people who did not go to upper secondary school. The Government was supporting this work.
Free and informed consent was a fundamental principle in Swedish health care. As part of care for pregnancy, a parent was offered various tests which provided information about the foetus. If the patient decided to complete an abortion, they needed to have support talks with a psychologist beforehand. Parents who found out that they were going to have a child with Down’s syndrome were connected to centres where they could receive special support.
The public employment services offered special grants for persons who were deaf or had a hearing disability. The election law was amended in 2022, and now stated that voters with a disability must have the right to assisted voting. The Electoral Authority was providing training material to regions, municipalities and those who wished to assist voters with disabilities.
Approximately 63 per cent of persons with disabilities were in the labour force. Working full time was less common among persons with disabilities. Women with disabilities had lower labour market participation and higher unemployment rates than men with disabilities.
Healthcare providers were obliged to offer persons with disabilities medical care if needed. Several agreements had been made with the Swedish association to strengthen work with the municipalities to develop primary care and rehabilitation measures.
Concluding Remarks
Independent Monitoring Mechanism appreciated the insightful questions by the Committee and the Government’s responses. It was evident that Sweden still had a considerable distance to travel before implementing the Convention. The Government needed to take measures to achieve full inclusion; take urgent action to ensure self-determination for persons with disabilities in all areas of life; and to ensure coherent strategic efforts to implement the Convention.
MINNA LJUNGGREN, State Secretary to the Minister of Social Services, Ministry of Health and Social Services of Sweden and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for two days of fruitful dialogue which had been positive and would guide Sweden in its continuous work to promote the rights of persons with disabilities. Sweden recognised the essential role that accountability mechanisms like the Committee played in a vibrant community and in safeguarding human rights.
ROSEMARY KAYESS, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Sweden, expressed appreciation to the delegation for an open and frank dialogue. Sweden should work closely with organizations of persons with disabilities and the national human rights institution. Sweden had a traditionally high standard of social welfare, but there had been a regression in standards. The Committee was concerned how Sweden would achieve a transformation when it did not appear to understand the principles of the Convention and its obligations in meeting these standards.
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