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/></td> <td> <p style="font-size:1.4em;">United Nations</p> </td> <td> <p> <span style="font-size:2em;">CCPR</span>/C/SWE/CO/7</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td> <p style="font-weight:bold;font-size:1.7em;">International Covenant onCivil and Political Rights</p> </td> <td> <p>Distr.: General</p> <p>28 April 2016</p> <p> </p> <p>Original: English</p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <div class="content"> <p style="font-weight:bold;font-size:1.2em;">Human Rights Committee</p> <h2>Concluding observations on the seventh periodic report of Sweden* </h2> <p>1.The Committee considered the seventh periodic report of Sweden (CCPR/C/SWE/7) at its 3238th and 3239th meetings (see CCPR/C/SR.3238 and 3239), held on 9 and 10 March 2016. At its 3258th meeting, held on 23 March 2016, it adopted the present concluding observations.</p> <h3>A.Introduction</h3> <p>2.The Committee is grateful to the State party for having accepted the simplified reporting procedure and for submitting its seventh periodic report in response to the list of issues prior to reporting prepared under that procedure (CCPR/C/SWE/QPR/7). It expresses appreciation for the opportunity to renew its constructive dialogue with the State party s high-level delegation on the measures that the State party has taken during the reporting period to implement the provisions of the Covenant. The Committee thanks the State party for the oral responses provided by the delegation and for the supplementary information provided to it in writing.</p> <h3>B.Positive aspects</h3> <p>3.The Committee welcomes the following legislative and other measures taken by the State party:</p> <p>(a)The entry into force on 1 January 2011 of amendments to the Swedish constitution (the Instrument of Government), inter alia, incorporating the protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation; </p> <p>(b)The launch in December 2015 of the Swedish Foreign Service action plan for a feminist foreign policy for 2015-2018;</p> <p>(c)The entry into force, on 1 July 2014, of legislative amendments intended to strengthen protection against forced and child marriage, including the introduction of a new offence, coercion to marry;</p> <p>(d)The entry into force, on 1 July 2014, of the Act on Criminal Responsibility for Genocide, Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes (2014:406);</p> <p>(e)The adoption in December 2013 of the first comprehensive strategy for equal rights and opportunities regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. </p> <h3>C.Principal matters of concern and recommendations </h3> <h3 style="font-size:1.2em;">Status of the Covenant in the domestic legal order </h3> <p>4.The Committee notes that the Covenant has not been incorporated in the domestic legal order and, as a result: (a) certain areas of domestic law are not fully aligned with the Covenant; and (b) domestic courts, while able in principle to apply the Covenant by way of an interpretative presumption, rarely invoke its provisions. The Committee also notes that municipalities and other local governance bodies seem to lack sufficient knowledge about the Covenant (art. 2).</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">5. The Committee reiterates its recommendation (see CCPR/C/SWE/CO/6, para. 5) that the State party should ensure that all rights protected under the Covenant are given full effect in domestic law and, to this end, should review its domestic legislation with a view to fully aligning it with the Covenant. It should also step up efforts to raise awareness about the Covenant among judges, lawyers, prosecutors and public officials, including those working in municipalities and other local governance bodies, to ensure that its provisions are taken into account and adhered to by all branches of government. </p> <h3>Reservations to the Covenant</h3> <p>6.The Committee notes that the State party maintains its reservations to articles 10 (3), 14 (7) and 20 (1) of the Covenant. It also notes that a review of those reservations will be undertaken as part of the forthcoming strategy for human rights (art. 2).</p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">7. The Committee reiterates its recommendation (see CCPR/C/SWE/CO/6, para. 6) that the State party review the justifications for, and the necessity of maintaining, its reservations to articles 10, 14 and 20 of the Covenant with a view to withdrawing them.</p> <h3>National human rights institution </h3> <p>8.The Committee notes that several bodies, such as the Parliamentary Ombudsman, the Chancellor of Justice and the Equality Ombudsman, have a mandate of promoting and protecting human rights; however, the scope of their authority remains restricted to specific instruments and does not include international norms, including the Covenant. Therefore, the Committee, while acknowledging the State party s continued efforts towards the establishment of an independent national human rights institution, remains concerned (see CCPR/C/SWE/CO/6, para. 4) about the slow progress in this regard (art. 2). </p> <p style="font-weight:bold;">9. The Committee reiterates its recommendation (see CCPR/C/SWE/CO/6, para. 4) that the State party establish, without undue delay, an independent national human rights institution invested with a broad human rights mandate and provide it with adequate financial and human resources, in accordance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles).</p> <h3>Anti-discrimination framework</h3> <p>10.While noting the legislative and institutional reforms in the area of non-discrimination, including the adoption of the 2009 Discrimination Act (2008:567) and its subsequent amendments of January 2013 and 2015, the Committee remains concerned about the limited scope of coverage and existing protection gaps owing to the fact that the existing anti-discrimin