A/HRC/55/47/Add.2 the Covenant (see paras. 28–33). She also notes that the fact of the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into Swedish law, and constitutional protection of rights under that Convention, including its article 9, should lend support to stronger protection of manifestation of religion or belief. 20. In addition to the general legal order, there are specific mechanisms that allow for further focus on matters that can relate to freedom of religion or belief. The Government adopted a national plan to combat racism, similar forms of hostility and hate crime in 2016, taking an integrated approach towards strategies and measures for preventing and combating racism and hate crime through improved coordination and monitoring, education and research, support for and dialogue with civil society, preventive measures online and a more active justice system. This is supplemented by specific action programmes for combating antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism against Sami people, Afrophobia and antigypsyism. 21. The Swedish Institute for Human Rights was established in January 2022 as a national human rights institution. The Institute’s tasks and responsibilities are to monitor, investigate and report on how human rights are respected and implemented in Sweden; present proposals to the Government on the measures needed to ensure human rights; liaise with international organizations and otherwise engage in international cooperation; and promote education, research, development of expertise, dissemination of information and consciousness-raising in the field of human rights. The Institute’s application for membership of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions is due to be evaluated in late 2024. 22. Other domestic institutions with human rights-relevant functions include the Equality Ombudsman, which was previously recognized as the main national human rights institution in Sweden. It works to combat discrimination on grounds of sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnic origin, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation or age, and conducts supervisory activities to ensure compliance with the Discrimination Act (see paras.45–48). 23. The Parliamentary Ombudsmen are appointed by the Riksdag with the task of reviewing the implementation of laws and other regulations in the public sector on behalf of the Riksdag and independent of the executive power. The Parliamentary Ombudsmen form one pillar of parliamentary control. They reviews courts of law and other public authorities, and their employees. 24. The Ombudsman for Children in Sweden is a government agency tasked with representing children regarding their rights and interests under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, monitoring compliance with the Convention and pushing for its implementation in municipalities, regional councils and government agencies. It holds regular dialogues with children. 25. The Swedish Agency for Support for Faith Communities is a government authority that administers the existing system of public grants to faith communities other than the Church of Sweden. The support is aimed at helping faith groups ensure the sustainability of their activities and services, and strengthening religious freedom. 26. The Living History Forum is an independent government agency for promoting democracy, tolerance and human rights, including by raising awareness of the Holocaust, and for strengthening the public will to work actively for equality between all people. It is responsible for coordination and follow-up of the work on the national plan to combat racism, similar forms of hostility and hate crime, and presents a comprehensive report to the Government annually. In order to fulfil its mandate, the Living History Forum cooperates with other government agencies and civil society organizations. 27. The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention functions as the Government’s body of expertise within the judicial system. Its mandate is to contribute to knowledge development in the criminal justice system, criminal policy and promoting crime prevention work. It is responsible for the official crime statistics and for producing, following, analysing and reporting on criminality and on the criminal justice system’s responses to crime. GE.24-04001 5