Sweden
Sweden ratified the European Social Charter on 17/12/1962: it accepted 62 of the Charter’s 72 paragraphs.
Sweden ratified the Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter on 05/05/89, the Amending Protocol to the European Social Charter on18/03/1992 and the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints on 29/05/1998. It has not yet made a declaration enabling national NGOs to submit complaints.
Sweden ratified the Revised European Social Charter on 29/05/1998: it accepted 83 of the Revised Charter’s 98 paragraphs.
The Charter in domestic law
Statutory ad hoc incorporation by specific implementing legislation
Country factsheets
The country factsheets include detailed information on the findings of the European Committee of Social Rights when monitoring the application of the Charter at national level, as well as examples of progress in the implementation of the rights protected by the Charter.
Latest Ad hoc report by Sweden
- Ad hoc Report on the on the cost-of-living crisis submitted by Sweden, 15 December 2023
See previous reports in respect of the Sweden
Latest conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2023 concerning Sweden (Thematic group Children, families and migrants)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2020 concerning Sweden (Thematic group Employment, training and equal opportunities)
- No conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2019 concerning Sweden/Simplified Report on follow-up to collective complaints (Thematic group Children, families and migrants)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2018 concerning Sweden (Thematic group Labour rights)
- No conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2017 concerning Sweden/Simplified Report on follow-up to collective complaints (Thematic group Health, social security and social protection)
See all conclusions in respect of Sweden (HUDOC)
Latest findings of the European Committee of Social Rights
Findings 2019 of the European Committee of Social Rights on the follow-up to decisions on the merits in collective complaints in respect of Sweden.
Table of accepted and non-accepted provisions by Sweden
Grey = Accepted provisions
| 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 3.1 |
| 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 5 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| 6.4 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 7.10 | 8.1 |
| 8.2 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 9 | 10.1 | 10.2 | 10.3 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 11.1 | 11.2 |
| 11.3 | 12.1 | 12.2 | 12.3 | 12.4 | 13.1 | 13.2 | 13.3 | 13.4 | 14.1 | 14.2 | 15.1 |
| 15.2 | 15.3 | 16 | 17.1 | 17.2 | 18.1 | 18.2 | 18.3 | 18.4 | 19.1 | 19.2 | 19.3 |
| 19.4 | 19.5 | 19.6 | 19.7 | 19.8 | 19.9 | 19.10 | 19.11 | 19.12 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26.1 | 26.2 | 27.1 | 27.2 | 27.3 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31.1 |
| 31.2 | 31.3 | ||||||||||
Meetings and reports on non-accepted provisions
- 1st Report on non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter by Sweden, 2003
- 2nd Report on non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter by Sweden, 2008
- 3rd Report on non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter by Sweden, 2014
- 4th Report on non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter by Sweden, 2018
Collective complaints procedure
Sweden ratified the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints on 29/05/1998. It has not yet made a declaration enabling national NGOs to submit complaints.
The complaint was registered on 7 mars 2013. The complainant Organisation claims that Sweden does not comply with its obligations under Article 11 (the right to protection of health) and Article E (non- discrimination), by failing to enact a comprehensive and clear legal and policy framework governing the practice of conscientious objection by healthcare providers in Sweden, by allowing conscientious objectors to be treated in a discriminatory way, and by failing to enact comprehensive and clear policy and guidelines to prevent serious incidents or deficiencies when abortion is recommended.
- Case Document no. 1, Complaint registered on 7 March 2013
- Case Document no. 2, Observations of the Government on admissiblity
- Case Document no. 3, Response to the observations of the Government on admissiblity
- Case Document no. 4, Observations from Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)
- Case Document no. 5, Observations from the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education and the Center for Reproductive Rights (RFSU)
- Case Document no.6, Submissions from the Government on the merits
- Case Document no. 7, Observations from Ordo Juris
- Case Document no.8, Response by FAFCE to the submissions from the Government on the merits
- Case Document no.9, Further response from the Government
The European Committee of Social Rights declared the complaint admissible on 10 September 2013.
The European Committee of Social Rights concluded unanimously, that there is no violation of Article 11 and transmitted its report containing its decision on the merits of the complaint to the Parties and to the Committee of Ministers on 26 March 2015.
CM WebsiteThe Committee of Ministers adopted Resolution Res/CM ChS (2015)13 on 17 June 2015.
Decision on admissibility of the Complaint 99/2013
Decision on the merits of the Complaint 99/2013
Resolution ResChS(2015)13 of the Committee of Ministers on 17 June 2015
Findings of the European Committee of Social Rights on the follow-up of the Complaint
Previous national reports by Sweden
- 22nd National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2018 - 31/12/2021)
- 21st National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2017 - 31/12/2020)
- 20th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Sweden, 9 November 2021 (Reference Period: 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2019)
Comments by Amnesty International - 19th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2017)
- 18th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2017). Conclusions published in 2019
- 17th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2013 - 31/12/2016). Conclusions published in 2018
- 16th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2012 - 31/12/2015). Conclusions published in 2017
- 15th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2011 - 31/12/2014). Conclusions published in 2016
- 14th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2010 - 31/12/2013). Conclusions published in 2015
Addendum to the 14th report (Article 19§1) - 13th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2009 - 31/12/2012). Conclusions published in 2014
Addendum to the 13th report (Articles 4§3 and 29)
Comments by International Organisation of Employers, IOE on the 13th report - 12th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2008 - 31/12/2011). Conclusions published in 2013
- 11th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2007 - 31/12/2010). Conclusions published in 2012
- 10th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2009). Conclusions published in 2011
- 9th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2008). Conclusions published in 2010
- 8th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2007). Conclusions published in 2009
- 7th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2003 - 31/12/2006). Conclusions published in 2008
- 6th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of Sweden (Reference Period: 01/01/2001 - 31/12/2004). Conclusions published in 2007
Addendum to 6th report