The Tidö government invests heavily against “anti-Muslim racism, anti-gypsyism, anti-black racism, anti-Semitism and racism against the Sami”

Published 13 December 2024 at 12.13

Domestic. The government has today presented a new and comprehensive national action plan to combat so-called racism against a number of different groups – but not against Swedes. On the other hand, the Swedes' “racism” is the subject of a comprehensive study.

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“Through this gathering of forces, the government is taking important steps forward in the work for a Sweden free from racism and hate crimes. The work in the area must be accurate, evaluable and long-term,” writes the government.

A particular focus is placed on the areas of school, justice, welfare and working life.

In addition to general efforts against racism, the action plan also has targeted efforts against “anti-Semitism”, “anti-Muslim racism”, “anti-gypsyism” and “racism against the Sami”.

On the other hand, there will be no initiatives against Swedish hostility and racism against Swedes.

The Holocaust Authority Forum for Living History is tasked with coordinating and following up the implementation of the new action plan. That work includes developing a follow-up system and submitting a consolidated report of the work to the government every year.

– Racism is still a serious problem in our society. In the new action plan, clearer goals are formulated for the work against racism, which also facilitates better follow-up. Forum for living history welcomes this as an important step in the work to strengthen respect for everyone's equal value and a Sweden where we can together forcefully fight racism and hate crimes. It is gratifying that the government is giving the Forum for Living History a renewed mandate to coordinate and follow up on this important work, says Petra Mårselius, superintendent at the Forum for Living History, in a press release.

Forum for Living History has since 2016 been tasked with coordinating and following up the previous national plan against racism, including in the form of annual reports.

To contribute to increased knowledge and exchange of experience in the work against “racism and hate crimes', the Holocaust Authority coordinates a network for state authorities, where around a hundred authorities are currently represented.

Swedes' “racism” must be mapped
The government now also gives Forum for living history commissioned to carry out a comprehensive study of “attitudes towards intolerance in the Swedish population”. The assignment includes “examining attitudes towards and perceptions of vulnerable groups such as those born abroad, Afro-Swedes, Jews, Muslims, Roma, Sami and LGBTQI people”. Within the framework of the work, the Holocaust Authority must “make visible common patterns but also differences in attitudes and analyze how these co-vary with factors such as age, gender, education, Swedish or foreign background, socio-economic situation, as well as where in the country, and in what type of geographical area, the defendant is resident”.