A/HRC/44/12 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-fifth session from 20 to 31 January 2020. The review of Sweden was held at the 10th meeting, on 27 January 2020. The delegation of Sweden was headed by the Minister for Gender Equality, with responsibility for anti-discrimination and anti-segregation, Åsa Lindhagen. At its 16th meeting, held on 30 January 2020, the Working Group adopted the report on Sweden. 2. On 14 January 2020, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Sweden: Cameroon, Japan and Mexico. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Sweden: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/35/SWE/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/35/SWE/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/35/SWE/3 and A/HRC/WG.6/35/SWE/3/Corr.1). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Liechtenstein, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, Slovenia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America was transmitted to Sweden through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The head of the delegation stated that the world needed equal and open societies and well-functioning multilateral systems in order to address current challenges. The universal periodic review remained vital for upholding human rights, democracy and the rule of law around the world. 6. By highly valuing the views of civil society organizations, the Government held consultations with such organizations prior to the review. The Government had taken serious steps to fulfil its international human rights obligations since the previous review, and remained vigilant about the remaining challenges. The 2016 national strategy for human rights reaffirmed the Government’s goal to ensure full respect of the country’s international human rights obligations. 7. The delegation informed the working group about steps taken by the Government to comply with the recommendations calling for the establishment of a national human rights institution in accordance with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles). A ministry memorandum of 2018 had proposed the establishment of such an institution in 2021. 8. Sweden made progress in ensuring the rights of the child, while some challenges remained, in particular concerning children in vulnerable situations. The Government would continue its efforts to combat all forms of violence against children and provide children in vulnerable situations with adequate support. 9. The delegation informed the working group that as at 1 January 2020, the Convention on the Rights of the Child had acquired the status of national law, entailing a clearer obligation on courts and legal practitioners to consider the rights contained in the Convention in cases concerning children. The potential ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure has raised a 2