A panel of 18 independent experts from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child have, over several years, examined how Sweden has upheld the standards of the UN basic conventions on children's rights.
The Committee report said that the Nordic nation has repeatedly breached the conventions, discriminating against children who have refugee and immigrant backgrounds.
UN #child rights committee issues concluding observation on 12 countries #CRC http://t.co/eLSYBa1Qp0 pic.twitter.com/y1chHPj1wJ
— UN Human Rights (@UNrightswire) 4 февраля 2015
"Certain groups of children continue to face discrimination, in particular children from disadvantaged and marginalized families as well as children of migrant families, including African and Afro-Swede children," the report, published Wednesday, said.
It pointed to a rise in hate crimes in Sweden, with children from Muslims, Jewish, African Swedish, Roma communities as well as LGBT children being bullied and discriminated against at schools.
The study revealed a list of other violations of children's rights, including the practice of isolating young offenders in detention camps and police stations, against the UN Convention on Torture.
Sweden's State Secretary for Children, the Elderly and Gender Equality, Pernilla Baralt, was present at the Committee's hearing on Wednesday to represent the government. She said the government was going to discuss the criticism with different rights organizations to improve the situation, according to the Swedish radio.
