Sweden

In 2024, Sweden's Criminal Code was amended in chapter 16, section 8, which proscribes the offence of incitement against an ethnic group. When assessing whether the crime is serious, special consideration shall be given to whether the message had particularly threatening or offensive content and was disseminated to a large number of people in a manner that was likely to attract significant attention.

In 2024, the National Operations Department of the Swedish Police Authority developed a module on hate crimes within the "crimes against democracy" course for all community police officers. The focus is on the legal framework, as well as on hands-on practice like victim support, co-operation with civil society orgnaizations, specialist groups for investigation, and what to remember when filing reports.

The Unit against Hate Crime and Violent Extremism (GDB) in Region South, together with the crime report centre 11414, conducted a project aimed at increasing hate crime reporting. The project included the launch of a continuous hate crime training for operators and investigation leaders, to ensure that hate crime reports are properly handled. The Unit was also involved in a project in the Syd Region, where hate crime statistics are shared with the municipality on the school environment and violent extremism. There are plans to hold training sessions for police officers in the municipality on the topics of hate crime, gaming, and violent extremism.

The Swedish Crime Victim Authority conducted an awareness-raising project targeting victims and potential victims of hate crimes, within which a brochure is being created on the subject. Among other things, the brochure will contain general information on hate crimes, victims' rights, how a police report is filed, and what compensation a victim may be entitled to.

In 2024, the Agency for Youth and Civil Society Affairs (MUCF) carried out efforts to increase awareness among decision-makers and officials regarding the vulnerability of young Roma to anti-Gypsyism. MUCF also published the report 'It must not exist – on the vulnerability of young LGBTQI people to honour-related violence and oppression and conversion attempts', as well as organized MUCF's regional network meeting titled "Counteracting Threats and Hate in a Regional Context". The content of the network meeting was based on the government's proposal to give municipalities and regions responsibility for preventing full- and part-time politicians from being exposed to ill health or accidents as a result of threats and violence.

The Swedish Agency for Support for Faith Communities has conducted research on faith communities' vulnerability to hate crimes. The research report will come out in 2025. Training sessions with faith communities and their municipality are planned.

At the beginning of 2024, the National Agency for Education (Skolverket) was tasked by the Government with researching experiences of - and efforts to address - anti-Semitism in schools in Sweden. During 2024, Skolverket included awareness of honour-related violence and oppression as a part of various initiatives to promote democracy and human rights. The Agency also assigned higher education institutions to implement training and teacher training against honour-related violence and oppression, and revised the guidance materials for schools on the topic.