5. The Committee notes with satisfaction the ongoing efforts at the State level to reform its legislation, policies and procedures in order to ensure better protection of human rights, including the right not to be subjected to torture and ill-treatment, in particular:
- The amendment of the Swedish Aliens Act in 2006, which introduces a new appeal system, includes an explicit provision on non-refoulement and provides for the granting of refugee status to persons claiming fear of persecution on grounds of gender and sexual orientation;
- The adoption of new legislation on fundamental safeguards, including access to a lawyer and notification of custody that entered into force on 1 April 2008 (law no. 2008:67);
- The adoption of a national human rights plan of action for the period 2006-2009;
- The adoption, in November 2007, of the action plan to combat men’s violence against women, violence and oppression in the name of honour and violence in same- sex relationships (Govt. Comm. 2007/08:39); and
- The common Action Plan developed by the Border Control Police, the Migration Board and the Social Services which aims to minimise the risks of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children disappearing and becoming victims of trafficking.
21. The Committee notes that the 2001 action plan against racism, xenophobia, homophobia and discrimination has been incorporated in the new human rights action plan for the period 2006-2009 and it welcomes the recent initiative of the Government to merge the current anti-discrimination legislation into one single Anti-Discrimination Act that will cover seven grounds of discrimination.{{1}}
[[1]]1. Discrimination on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic background, religion or other religious beliefs, disability, and age.[[1]]
Link to full text of the report: Concluding Observations-CAT-Sweden-2008-eng