The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities concluded its review of the combined second and third periodic report of Sweden. The Committee Experts expressed appreciation for Sweden’s commitment to the Committee’s work and human rights in general, while asking questions on gun shots fired at persons with mental health issues and on institutionalisation.
Rosemary Kayess, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator for Sweden, appreciated Sweden’s commitment to the work of the Committee, through the State’s comprehensive report and response to the list of issues. Sweden had a long history of commitment to human rights and the rule of law, enshrining these principles in domestic law as far back as the fourteenth century.
A Committee Expert said a report revealed that one in four shots fired were related to persons with mental health problems. Was the police force specifically trained when it came to the use of force, particularly firearms, against persons with psychosocial disabilities? Was there adequate training in this regard?
Minna Ljunggren, State Secretary to the Minister of Social Services, Ministry of Health and Social Services of Sweden and head of the delegation, introducing the report, said Sweden’s national objective for disability policy was based on the Convention, and set out to achieve equal living conditions and full participation for persons with disabilities. In times of crisis, providing adapted accessible information to all was essential.
Improvements during the last years
In the last few years, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency had improved its website to make information accessible for all and developed guidelines for accessible information in emergencies. An official government report on how to reform national care for children and young people would be presented in 2025, and would include proposals on how to ensure that abuse and sexual violence were prevented.
The delegation of Sweden was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs; the Ministry of Defence; the Ministry of Employment; the Ministry of Finance; the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Culture; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Rural Affairs; the Agency for Participation and Infrastructure; and the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s thirtieth session and other documents related to the session can be found here.