Our mission
The Swedish Institute for Human Rights is Sweden’s National Human Rights Institute . We were established as an independent authority with a broad mandate to promote and safeguard the respect and protection of human rights in Sweden.
Our vision, strategy and goals
Vision: We envision a society in which every person enjoys their human rights in full.
Mission: The Institute defends and promotes the respect, protection, and fulfillment of human rights in Sweden. We are a strong and courageous body that acts independently and with credibility. We fulfil our mission through dialogue and collaboration with civil society and other stakeholders.
Strategic objectives:
- A strong and inclusive commitment to human rights
- Every individual is able to claim their rights
- The Swedish public sector takes responsibility.
- An independent and efficient institution.
Read the full strategy (kolla om strategin finns på engelska)
The Institute for Human Rights was established on January 1, 2022 by the Act on the Institute for Human Rights.
Our work is based on:
- Sweden’s constitutional laws (the Instrument of Government, the Freedom of the Press Act, and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression)
- The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
- UN conventions and other international human rights agreements to which Sweden is a party.
Our tasks under the law
The Act on the Institute for Human Rights defines the framework for our operations. Within this framework, we independently determine our focus and activities. Neither the Government nor the Parliament may assign us additional tasks.
Our Mandate Under the Law:
- Monitor, assess and report on the state of human rights in Sweden.
- Propose measures to the government to strengthen human rights protections.
- Engage in international cooperation and maintain dialogue with international organizations.
- Promote education, research, capacity-building and awareness of human rights.
- Submit an annual report to the government in which we describe the human rights situation in Sweden, how it has developed during the year and make recommendations on how access to rights can be strengthened.
While we do not investigate individual complaints of human rights violations, ongoing dialogue with rights holders is central to shaping proposals that strengthen human rights in practice.
Our mandate is established in law and can only be amended by a decision of the Swedish Parliament. This legal foundation ensures our independence and provides a strong, stable basis for our work to promote and protect human rights. Independence is essential – it grants us the authority and freedom to scrutinize those in power, free from governmental or other external influence.
Special responsibility: The rights of persons with disabilities
The Swedish Institute for Human Rights has a specific mandate to promote the rights of persons with disabilities and to monitor Sweden’s compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We hold this responsibility as Sweden’s independent monitoring body, in accordance with Article 33.2 of the Convention.
Article 33.2 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires that each signatory state establish one or more independent mechanisms to promote, protect and monitor implementation of the Convention. These bodies must work in cooperation with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations.
Our work on the rights of persons with disabilities
Independence under the Paris Principles
A key objective of our work is to ensure that Sweden has a national human rights institution that fully complies with the Paris Principles—the United Nations’ international standards for how such institutions should function.
According to the Paris Principles, a human rights institution must:
- Be independent from government
- Have a mandate grounded in law
- Operate across the full spectrum of human rights
- Ensure broad representation from civil society
- Employ effective and autonomous working methods
In October 2024, we were awarded 'A' status, the highest level of recognition for a national human rights institution, indicating full compliance with the Paris Principles. This status also grants us full membership and voting rights in the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).
As of 2025, 91 countries had national human rights institutions that fully complied with the Paris Principles. The UN strongly encourages all countries to establish such independent institutions.
Key laws and conventions
- The Act on the Institute for Human Rights
- Sweden’s Constitution (including the Instrument of Government, the Freedom of the Press Act, and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression)
- European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
- UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – Article 33.2
- Additional international human rights conventions
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