Sweden - April 2024

On 10 April, Parliament approved an amendment to the Police Act, allowing the police to create so-called “Security zones.”  The security zones are temporary, geographically limited areas in which the police are allowed to conduct a body search or search a vehicle without concrete suspicion of crime. The decision to search a person or vehicle could instead be based on certain risk profiles, such as wearing clothing brands that are associated with gangs. The law's purpose is to make it easier for the police to find weapons or explosives and to combat rising gang violence. The law has been heavily criticized including by the Equality Ombudsman (DO) and the Swedish Institute for Human Rights, which each expressed strong concerns that the law can lead to ethnic profiling, that it is too extensive in terms of the power it gives the police, and that there is a risk of arbitrary use. The law entered into force on 25 April. 

Sources: The Equality Ombudsman, Institute for Human Rights, the Swedish Government, Svt Nyheter (1), Svt Nyheter (2), the Police Act 

A public meeting organized by the Left Party (V) and the Green Party (MP) was attacked by three masked men on 24 April. The meeting was about the growth of fascism and featured speakers from the anti-racist foundation, Expo as well as the Swedish journalist and activist, Mathias Wåg. The attackers deployed a smoke bomb and physically assaulted speakers and attendees. The Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, as well as leaders of the other major political parties, expressed their concern about such an attack on a political meeting. The attack comes as part of a longer trend of increased political violence, with a notable example being the murder that occurred during Almedalen Political Week in 2022.  

Sources: SVT, Reuters (1), Swedish Radio, Swedish Security Service, Euractiv, Reuters (2), Government Offices of Sweden 

On 17 April, Parliament passed a new law making it easier for people to change their legally recognized gender in Sweden’s population register. The law was introduced by the Health and Welfare parliamentary committee and passed with 234 votes in favour and 94 against. The legislation ensures that changing legal gender no longer requires a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria but means a shorter consultation with a doctor is sufficient. Additionally, the age limit for legal gender changes was lowered from 18 years to 16 years with a guardian’s approval. Proponents, such as the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Rights (Riksförbundet för homosexuellas, bisexuellas, transpersoners, queeras och intersexpersoners rättigheter - RFSL), say the law can contribute to improved personal safety for transgender people. The law will enter into force in July 2025.  

Sources: Sveriges Riksdag, RFSL, The Local (1), The Local (2), Svenska Dagbladet