Since 2015, all reports to the DO, which in addition to discrimination also investigates reprisals and disadvantages according to the Family Leave Act, have increased by 132 percent – from 2,237 to 5,182 reports. The vast majority concern discrimination.
The most common perceived discrimination cases occur in the workplace, followed by in educational contexts.
Reports of discrimination related to disability are, as in previous years, the most common, and account for 48 percent of all reports.
According to the DO's annual report for 2024, the reports led to the initiation of 303 supervision cases.
In order to proceed with a case, the reported action must constitute discrimination according to law, and have good chances of being investigated by the authority. Factors that are taken into account include, for example, how long ago the incident occurred.
"The fact that the DO does not initiate supervision does not mean that we have assessed the situation as less serious, or that it was not a case of discrimination,” says Karin Ahlstrand Oxhamre, head of the legal unit at the DO, in a comment to TT.
The DO also emphasizes in the statistics report that the dark figure is estimated to be very large.
A simplified description of the law's definition of discrimination is that someone is disadvantaged or offended.
The disadvantage or offense must also be related to one of the seven grounds for discrimination.
The seven grounds for discrimination are: Gender, gender identity or expression, ethnic affiliation, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation, age.
Source: The Discrimination Ombudsman
