UNITED NATIONS E Economic and Social Council Distr. GENERAL E/C.12/SWE/CO/5 1 December 2008 Original: ENGLISH COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS Forty-first session Geneva, 3-21 November 2008 CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLES 16 AND 17 OF THE COVENANT Concluding Observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Sweden 1. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights considered the fifth periodic report of Sweden on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/SWE/5) at its thirty-second and thirty-third meetings on 5 and 6 November 2008 (E/C.12/2008/SR.32-33), and adopted, at its fourty-seventh and forty-ninth meetings on 17 and 18 November 2008, the following concluding observations. A. Introduction 2. The Committee welcomes the timely submission of the fifth periodic report of Sweden and the written replies to its list of issues (E/C.12/SWE/Q/5/Add.1 and E/C.12/SWE/Q/5/Add.2). The Committee also notes with appreciation the open and constructive dialogue with the delegation of the State party, which included representatives of various government departments with expertise on the subjects covered by the Covenant, and the delegation’s answers to the questions posed by the Committee. B. Positive Aspects 3. The Committee notes with appreciation the State party’s continuing efforts to comply with its obligations under the Covenant and the overall protection afforded to economic, social and cultural rights in the State party. GE.08-45596