Sweden: From proactive policies to anti-discrimination law

• A shift from politics to law, inefficient enforcement tools, and dislodgment from action to information as well as criticism of gender equality from various angles have all had an impact on the law’s ability to contribute to the achievement of gender equality in Sweden. It is not primarily through anti-discrimination legislation and litigation that gender equality has been achieved in Sweden, and such an approach will probably not be the main strategy in the future. Still, we have to continue to improve the protection provided to victims of individual discrimination and harassment. The Swedish case shows how the individual’s right to access to justice can be undermined in a context where state bodies – such as the Ombudsman – are given wide discretionary powers to promote equality as a collective public interest.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Juridik -- Juridik och samhälle (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Law -- Law and Society (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Juridik -- Juridik (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Law -- Law (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Juridik (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Law (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Genusstudier (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Gender Studies (hsv//eng)

Keyword

gender equality policy and legislation

Sweden

enforcement system

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kap (subject category)