The delegation, consisting of five independent experts appointed by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, called on Sweden to “fight systematic racism”.
The council’s independent experts urged Sweden to step up its efforts to “fight systematic racism” and focus on strategies to restore trust between the police and minority groups.
Racial justice and equality experts Tracie Keesee, Yvonne Mokgoro and Juan Mendez held several talks in Stockholm, Malmö and Lund.
In the interviews, experts gathered information on racial discrimination against people of color, systematic and structural racism, excessive use of force and other human rights violations.
As part of its five-day visit to the country, the delegation met with representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Crime Prevention Council, Parliamentary Ombudsman and Equality Ombudsman, members of the Swedish Police Authority, Prison and Probate Services, members of the Swedish National Human Rights Institution, civil society representatives, met with researchers, academics and representatives of different communities.
MINORITY STATEMENT FROM KEESEE
Keesee told AA that in meetings with “communities of color” and researchers, many people expressed concern over their community’s “interactions with the police”.
Noting the “unequal treatment” of the police against minority groups, Keesee underlined the need to begin to understand the nature of the “broken relationship” between the security forces and this community.
Keesee also stressed that the Swedish Police should broaden the definition of non-intrusive security and diversify its staff to reflect the multicultural society.
NO REAL TRUST BETWEEN MINORITIES AND SECURITY FORCES
Journalist, writer and human rights activist Alexandra Pascalidou, who is known for her opposition to the Swedish police on hate crimes and racism many times, also noted that there is “no real trust” between minorities and the security forces.
Expressing that the minorities are reluctant to even report the racist attacks to the police because they think that no action will be taken, Pascalidou said, “You know, unfortunately they are right because when I reported the threats against myself, nothing happened.” he said.
Pascalidou said that the fight against racism is not on Sweden’s agenda, but that he hopes the UN’s intervention will spark the discussion.
Noting that he even faced death threats in his struggle against this, Pascalidou said, “There were Nazis trying to kill me on my doorstep.” used the phrase.
PRISON VISITS
The delegation also expressed concern about the “too much use of solitary confinement” when visiting police detention and pre-trial detention centers in Stockholm and Malmö.
Mendez noted that Sweden has “legitimate security issues”, including increasing gang crime, and issues that focus on “unnecessary deprivation of liberty”.
Mendez also stated that they urged Sweden to fully comply with the “Nelson Mandela Rules”, the UN Standard Minimum Rules for prisoners, and to give privileges to alternatives to detention.
In the statement made by the UN, it was stated that the expert committee shared its preliminary findings with the Swedish government and that they would prepare a report to be published in the coming months and present it to the Human Rights Council. (AA)