Discrimination
Here you will find information about discrimination and what you can do if you or someone close to you is subjected to it.
Discrimination
Some groups in society are more vulnerable and there are therefore special laws that give them extra protection. Examples of such groups include women, children, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ people.
The Discrimination Act
The Discrimination Act protects you from being discriminated against based on your gender, ethnic identity, religion, disability or sexual orientation.
If you were to still be discriminated against in contact with, for example, healthcare services, authorities or a company, you can report it to the Equality Ombudsman. This is a government agency that works for everyone's equal rights and opportunities.
The Equality Ombudsman - we work against discrimination - DO
External link, opens in new window.
There are also various anti-discrimination agencies in Sweden that can provide help and support to people who have been subjected to discrimination. Here you can find the contact details:
If you are instead subjected to some form of violation by a private individual because you belong to a particular group, that may be a crime that should be reported to the police.
Racism
Racism is a form of discrimination. Racism can come from society as a whole and be something that individuals subject others to. Racism assumes that people can be divided into different groups and that some groups or people are more valuable than others.
Racism is when a person or group of people is treated poorly on the basis of, for example, the colour of their skin, their ethnic origin or their religion. It could be afrophobia aimed at people of African origin, Islamophobia targeting Muslims and anti-Semitism dealing with prejudice and hatred of Jews.
LGBTQI
A group that is often very vulnerable in many parts of the world, but also in some contexts here in Sweden, is the group comprising LGBTQI people. LGBTQI stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people.
- If you are gay, you feel sexual attraction or love for a person of the same sex.
- If you are bisexual, you may feel sexual attraction or love for both sexes.
- If you are trans, you may not feel that you are the gender you were registered with when you were born. You can also be trans if the way you dress, talk or move violates gender norms and is an important part of your identity.
- The word queer can be used in different ways. For example, it can be used to describe that you violate norms about gender, sexuality, and relationships. It may also mean that you can’t or don’t want to define your sexual orientation.
- An intersex person is a person who from birth has a body that does not match the picture of what a male or female body should look like. For some people, it is visible on the external genitals and for others it is visible inside the body.
In Sweden, everyone has the same rights and opportunities regardless of sexual orientation or identity.
Sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression may in some cases be a basis for asylum. It is therefore important that you tell us about it in the asylum investigation if this is relevant to you. You can read more here:
If you are a LGBTQ person and are seeking for asylum
RFSL is a non-profit organisation that provides advice and support on issues related to LGBTQI. They also have a group called Newcomers that is for asylum seekers.
Home - RFSL External link, opens in new window.
This is how the rights of LGBTQI people have developed in Sweden
1944
Homosexuality became legal in Sweden
1972
Sweden became the first country in the world to allow transgender people to change their legal gender
1987
Discrimination based on sexual orientation became prohibited
2003
Same-sex couples were granted the right to apply for adoption
2005
Same-sex female couples gained access to assisted reproduction
2009
Marriage between two people of the same sex became legal
