Sweden

Sweden regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Hate crime reports are published every second year. Since 2016, the Government has implemented a national plan against racism, similar forms of hostility and hate crime. The plan takes an integrated approach and comprises strategies and measures to prevent and combat racism and hate crime through co-ordination and monitoring, education and research, and support for and co-operation with civil society. Three different victimization surveys are conducted at one, two and three-year intervals in order to measure unreported hate crime.

SELECT YEAR

OFFICIAL DATA

Year	Hate crimes recorded by police	Prosecuted	Sentenced
2022	-	-	-
2021	Not available	Not available	Not available
2020	3150	334	Not available
2019	Not available	Not available	Not available
2018	5858	218	-
2017	Not available	Not available	Not available
2016	4862	257	Not available
2015	4859	255	Not available
2014	4258	279	Not available
2013	3943	161	Not available
2012	5518	344	Not available
2011	5493	347	Not available
2010	5139	440	Not available
2009	5797	450	Not available

Hate crime recorded by police

Sweden reports hate crime statistics every second year. The national hate crime data for 2022 will be published in December 2023. ODIHR will add it thereafter.

National developments

In 2022, the Swedish Police Authority worked to improve its capacity to address hate crime, launched social media campaigns related to hate crimes, established stronger links between the police and religious communities, and tightened co-operation with the municipal police and the Security Service as part of "Redex" – a network of regional intelligence-oriented teams tasked with reducing extremism by flagging individuals of interest in hate crime cases. The Police also co-operated as part of special councils aimed at exchanging information on hate crimes and building trust with victimized communities.

In November 2022, the Swedish Prosecution Authority (Åklagarmyndigheten) held a conference for specialized hate crime prosecutors from across the country to exchange experiences.

The Prosecution Development Centre issued guidelines on how to investigate hate crimes.

The Swedish Crime Victim Authority (Brottsoffermyndigheten) celebrated the International day of Crime Victims by highlighting new research in the area and providing in-depth knowledge about the situation and rights of crime victims, including hate crime victims. It also provided financial support to civil society organizations specializing in hate crimes.

The Public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten) has launched research projects related to intersectional discrimination and hate crimes against members of victimized groups infected with HIV, bisexual people, members of the indigenous populations and national minorities.

The Living History Forum – a public agency established under the Ministry of Culture – continued to support the implementation of Sweden's "National plan against racism, similar forms of hostility and hate crimes" by co-ordinating the government's network of experts. The Police Authority, in co-operation with the Living History Forum organized an awareness-raising online seminar for police officers, focusing on anti-Semitic expressions and symbols. The Forum also ran research, educational (including with the Swedish National Agency for Education), awareness-raising and capacity-building projects.

The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR) continued to implement a programme on countering hate crimes and offering conflict management tools at a local level.

The National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) devoted its financial support to organizations that provide support to LGBTI people who have experienced intimate partner violence and undertake awareness-raising activities.

The Swedish Media Council (Statens Mediaråd) continued its awareness-raising efforts to prevent hate crimes.

The Swedish Agency for Support for Faith Communities (Myndigheten för stöd till Trossamfund), co-operated with the Swedish Police and Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) on community safety issues, and worked on projects to raise awareness of anti-Muslim hate.

The Swedish Defence Research Agency has been tasked with research on the prevalence of different forms of racism in digital environments in relation to Sweden. As of 2022, it has conducted a permanent survey and analysis of violent extremism and racism in digital environments.

KEY OBSERVATION

ODIHR recognizes Sweden's efforts to address hate crime in a comprehensive manner. ODIHR's main observation on data collection will be added here after the data for 2022 is submitted to ODIHR in December 2023. Otherwise, ODIHR observes that Sweden has met most of its OSCE commitments on hate crime.

ODIHR recalls that in Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, OSCE participating States have committed to collecting reliable data and statistics in sufficient detail on hate crimes, and to reporting such data periodically to ODIHR. ODIHR stands ready to support Sweden in meeting the relevant commitments through the provision of its comprehensive resources and tailored assistance.

Our methodology