The UN, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, national minorities and LGBTQI
Prepare for the Swedish citizenship civic test with practice questions and explanations about Human rights.
Start practicing1945, of 51 countries
The United Nations (UN) was founded in 1945 after World War II by 51 countries. The aim was to preserve the peace and protect human rights.
193 countries
Today, the UN has 193 member states – almost every country in the world is involved. Sweden joined the UN in 1946.
30 articles
The UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948 and contains 30 articles. It states that all people are born free and equal in value.
1 January 2020
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989 and ratified by Sweden in 1990, but it became law in Sweden on January 1, 2020. All authorities must now apply it.
Jews, Roma, Sami, Swedish Finns and Tornedals
In 2000, Sweden recognized five national minorities: Jews, Roma, Sami, Swedish Finns and Tornedals. They have the right to support for their minority languages and culture.
The Sami people's own electoral district, which was elected for the first time in 1993
The Sami Parliament is the Sami people's own parliament in Sweden. It is elected every four years by Sami registered in the Sami voter register and works with Sami culture, language and rights.
1972
In 1972, Sweden was the absolute first country in the world to allow legal change of gender. It is an early sign of Sweden's progressive LGBTQI policy.
1994
Sweden introduced registered partnerships for same-sex couples in 1994. It was an important step towards full legal equality, which came with the gender-neutral marriage law in 2009.
Investigates reports of discrimination and works preventively against discrimination
DO is a state authority that investigates reports of discrimination and works to prevent discrimination on all seven grounds of discrimination.
Non-discrimination, best interests of the child, right to life/development, right to be heard
The four basic principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child are: non-discrimination (all children have the same rights), the best interests of the child, the right to life and development, and the right to be heard.
1944
Homosexuality was decriminalized in Sweden in 1944, long before most other countries. It was an early step in the Swedish fight for LGBTQI rights.
Sami
The Sami are a recognized indigenous people in Sweden (and in Norway, Finland and Russia). They have lived in Sápmi for thousands of years and have special rights linked to land, reindeer husbandry and culture.
Among the top 5 in the world
Sweden is consistently ranked among the five most equal countries in the world. The proportion of women in the Riksdag, in the labor market and in leading positions is among the highest globally.
Article 26
Article 26 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights deals with the right to education. It states that basic education shall be free and compulsory.
2009
The gender-neutral marriage code entered into force in 2009, which means that all couples regardless of gender can marry in Sweden. This also applies to weddings in the Church of Sweden.