The government is investing heavily in racism

Racism is a problem that affects many Swedes in everyday life – at work, at school or in healthcare. The government is now presenting five action programs against racism.

The action programs that are now being presented are part of the commitments Sweden made in connection with Malmö’s international forum on the commemoration of the Holocaust and the fight against anti-Semitism this autumn. They concern Afrophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, racism against the Sami and anti-Gypsyism.

– Now we strengthen and deepen the work against racism. We are also adding extra funds to be able to make this as concrete and powerful as possible, says Minister of Culture Jeanette Gustafsdotter (S) as responsible for the work against racism.

The action programs are to complement the national plan against racism and contain a number of targeted measures, including against the work environment and school.

– When it comes to school, you see that many are exposed to various forms of racism. There may have been a lack of clarity about where to turn for support and help, says Deputy Minister of Labor Johan Danielsson (S) who is responsible for the work against discrimination

– Now the Discrimination Ombudsman is given a clear task to work with information to clarify where to turn and what kind of help you can expect to receive from society.

The measures have been developed in dialogue with civil society and identified as important. On the one hand, they are general for meeting racism, but also specific for meeting the needs of specific groups, Jeanette Gustafsdotter explains.

– That whole means that we now have the opportunity to really take a broad approach to breaking racism in our society.

Facts

Action program against racism

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