Silenced and Forgotten: Human Rights Challanges of the National Minorities that Sweden Forgot
Sweden is being reviewed in the Universal Periodic Review on the 5th of May in the United Nations’ Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. A stakeholders report has been submitted to the review of Sweden for the first time regarding the human rights situation of the national minorities Sweden Finns and Tornedalians, and the intrusive language shift facing these minorities in Sweden. Sweden has not recieved any recommendations on these minorities and minority languages in previous UPR cycles.
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Universal Periodic Review
The Universal Periodic Review
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was established in 2006 by the UN General Assembly with the aim to prompt, support, and expand the promotion and protection of human rights. Each state undergo a peer review of its human rights fullfillment every 4.5 years in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
In the review states have the opportunity to report on actions it has taken to improve the human rights situation. Since the mechanism is based on an interactive dialogue between states, all UN Member States may ask questions and give recommendations to states under review for continous improvement. The review is based on the national report, stakeholders report and compilation from UN bodies.
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Sweden and Minorities in Previous Cycles
Sweden in the First Cycle
Recommendations to Sweden (2010)
Accepted
- Complete the work on clarifying the legal consequences of the
ratification of ILO Convention No. 169 as a matter of priority (Norway);
- Consider ratifying ILO Convention No. 169 as a matter of priority
(Norway);
- Amend the Swedish Constitution so as to give explicit recognition to the
Sami people (Greece);
- Incorporate into its domestic law norms protecting all children,
including indigenous children, in line with the Convention on the
Rights of the Child (Bolivia);
- Take additional measures to combat discrimination against national
minorities, in particular the Sami and the Roma […] (Russia);
- Continue to develop and institute effective mechanisms for improved
dialogue and consultation with the Sami people in all areas of Government
policy that affect them and in the development of legislation (Canada);
- Implement effectively the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples, and establish mechanisms for its full implementation
in full cooperation with the Sami people (Iran);
- Implement measures aimed at eliminating discrimination against the
Sami people, with particular focus on ensuring access to basis services in
education, employment and health, as well as access to land, and ensuring
that their right to land and cultural life is preserved (South Africa);
- Initiate further studies on methods by which Sami land and resource
rights could be established, taking into account the culture of the Sami
community (Austria);
- Develop measures in order to ensure that affected Sami communities
can take part and participate actively in consultations held between
federal government and municipalities on issues related to land rights,
water and resources (Austria);
- Remain proactive in combating discrimination against Sami and Roma
and in protecting their economic, social and cultural rights in consultation
with the communities concerned (Netherlands);
Sweden in the Second Cycle
Recommendations to Sweden (2015)
Accepted
- Consider ratification of the ILO Convention No. 168 on indigenous peoples
(Brazil, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Uzbekistan);
- Adopt special measures to promote equal opportunities, address structural
discrimination and enhance strategies against inequality and discrimination
faced by […] indigenous peoples […] (South Africa);
- Pursue strategies and policies to prevent discrimination, in all spheres of
public life, against its indigenous people […] (Trinidad and Tobago);
- Continue efforts to combat discrimination and promote greater social
integration of […] indigenous […] groups (Costa Rica);
- Investigate, prosecute and punish all hate crimes against […] Roma
and Jews (Azerbaijan);
- Do everything in its power to continue to live up to its well-deserved
reputation, particularly by working actively to combat […] anti-Semitic […]
acts which are tending to increase in the country (Comoros);
- Enhance efforts to curb hate crimes against […] indigenous people (India);
- Take measures to improve enforcement of existing laws prohibiting
discrimination, including against the Roma (Canada);
- […] provide access to justice to Roma people […] and ensure their social
inclusion (Pakistan);
- Guarantee effective protection, in law and practice, […] Jews as well as
the Sami (Russian Federation);
- Consider additional measures for improving the socioeconomic conditions
of the Swedish Roma population (Serbia);
- Take measures to improve the situation of persons belonging to the Roma
and other minorities (Iran);
- Remain proactive in combating discrimination against Sami and Roma and
in protecting their economic, social and cultural rights, in consultation with
the communities concerned (Netherlands);
- Continue the implementation of policies pertaining to national minorities
such as the Sami and the Roma with a view to improving their living
conditions (Lebanon);
- Consider ways to ensure the meaningful involvement of the Roma community
in the implementation of the strategy and to focus more on efforts to change
negative attitudes in Swedish society towards the Roma (Hungary);
- Undertake a deeper dialogue with representatives of the Sami Parliament
and increase efforts to give additional responsibilities to this Parliament to
strengthen the self-determination of the Sami people (Albania);
- Continue developing measures in order to ensure that affected Sami
communities can participate actively in consultations on issues related to
landrights, water and resources (Austria);
- Continue implementing measures and funding programmes to combat
anti-Semitism (Israel);
- Continue to work towards ratification of ILO Convention No. 169 and thereby
secure the Sami people’s rights (Norway);
Sweden in the Third Cycle
Recommendations to Sweden (2020)
Accepted
- [Shortly]
Sweden’s International Obligations on the Rights of National Minorities:
- Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
- European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages
- European Convention on Human Rights
- Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
- Convention on the Elimination of All Froms of Racial Discrimination
Background Information
Sweden's Policies on National Minorities and Minority Languages
The Riksdag recognised the national minorities and national minority languages in 2000. Sweden joined the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Sweden Finns and Tornedalians were recognised as national minorities, and Finnish and Meänkieli as national minority languages.
In the preparatory works to the recognition in parliament several criteria were defined for what constitutes a national minority in Sweden. National minorities are groups that demonstrate their own religion, language, culture, and traditions, as well as a striving to maintain their identity, and have historical ties with and in Sweden.
Sweden Finns and Finnish
Finnish has been spoken in Sweden for at least 600 years. Northern Sweden has historically been primarily Finnish- and Sámi-speaking before the colonisation of Sweden. Forest Finns were resettled to Sweden during the 17th century. In 1939 – 1944 about 70,000 – 80,000 Finnish war children were evacuated to Sweden. In 1968 – 1971, over 112,000 Finns moved to Sweden for work. Today, more than 700,000 people in Sweden have Finnish roots.
Tornedalians and Meänkieli
Meänkieli and its various dialects are spoken by Tornedalians, Kvens and Lantalaiset. Meänkieli
is a Finno-Ugric language with a strong oral tradition and shares close similarities with the Finnish language. Speakers of Meänkieli experienced repressive and harmful language policies, discrimination and racism during the 19th – 20th centuries, which led to assimilation, language loss and language death. There is an urgent need for language revitalisation and further efforts to develop the language’s grammar and vocabulary.
Sweden Finns and Tornedalians in
UPR cycles
Recommendations in Previous Cycles
Report Organisations
Minoritetslyftet Consulting
Minoritetslyftet is a social consultant firm supporting civil society and public authorities in the practical implementation of Sweden’s international obligations and policies on national minorities and minority languages. The key aim is to raise awareness and understanding of the rights of national minorities in Sweden.
Met Nuoret
The Tornedalian Youth Organisation Met Nuoret was founded in 2014. Met Nuoret is an organisation for children and youth who feel an affinity to Meänkieli and the culture and history of the original language area. It supports the identity, language and culture of young Tornedalians, Kvens and Lantalaiset and is a politically independent voice for children and youth in the Swedish Minority Politics.
Sweden Finnish Youth Organisation
The youth organisation was founded in 1993. It is an organisation for Sweden Finnish children and youth, and a national alliance for Sweden Finnish youth associations across Sweden. A vision for the organisation is a society where Sweden Finnish children can keep and develop their minority language, culture and identity. The key aim is to support the participation of young Sweden Finns by giving minority children and youth a voice in the Swedish Minority Politics.
Information
Name
Silenced and Forgotten: Human Rights Challenges of the National Minorities That Sweden Forgot
Year of Publication
2024
Language
English
Organisations
Minoritetslyftet Consulting, Met Nuoret and Sweden Finnish Youth Organisation.
Writers
Dennis Kronholm
Kalle Kinnunen
Karin Keisu
Recommendations and Suggested Questions to Sweden
List of Recommendations in the Report
On the Right to Culture, Language and Minority Identity
- Remind Sweden of its obligation in the Framework Convention to promote the conditions necessary for Sweden Finns and Tornedalians to maintain and develop their culture, and to preserve the essential elements of their identity.
- Intensify the promotion of Finnish and Meänkieli by all practical and legislative measures necessary to guarantee the survival of the languages in Sweden.
- Take firm, long-term, and permanent measures to ensure access to education in Finnish and Meänkieli.
- Ensure that the minority language education meets the requirements of Sweden’s international obligations and offers adequate language tuition, enabling pupils to achieve mature literacy in the languages.
- Ensure the right to effective remedies for National Minorities by ensuring the right to appeal decisions in the School Act.
On the Right to Equality and Non-discrimination
- Amend the Swedish Constitution by giving explicit recognition and protection to the National Minorities (Sweden Finns, Tornedalians, Roma and Jews) and the National Minority Languages (Sami, Finnish, Meänkieli, Romany Chib and Yiddish).
- Recognise the existence of linguistic discrimination and note its consequences on the national minorities’ abilities to uphold its rights set out in domestic law.
- Take legislative measures to eliminate discrimination on the ground of national minority languages.
- Recognise discrimination, prejudice and similar hostility facing Sweden Finns, Tornedalians, Kvens and Lantalaiset in the new Action Plan against Racism and Similar Hostility.
- Ensure the rule of law concerning rights on National Minorities by taking steps to adequate sanctions in the Minority Act.
On the Right to Self-determination
- Take adequate measures for reconciliation with Tornedalians and develop an action plan in close cooperation and dialogue with the minority for implementing proposals set out in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report.
- Take further measures on a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Sweden Finns.
- Take further investigative measures on indigenous peoples’ recognition of the Tornedalians, Kvens, and Lantalaiset in Sweden.
Suggested Questions to Sweden
- Is the Government Offices planning to set up structural and recurrent consultations with Sweden Finns and Tornedalians aiming to give them effective participation similar to the consultations already functioning for the Sami, Roma and Jewish National Minorities? If not, why?
- Is Sweden planning to take any prepatory measures to eliminate linguistic discrimination and investigate any new provisions in the Discrimination Act concerning National Minority Languages?
What’s Included
13 Recommendations
3 Thematic Areas
2 Questions
2 National Minorities
Documents
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