E/C.12/SWE/CO/5 page 3 rights can be directly invoked before the courts. In this regard, the Committee draws the attention of the State party to its General Comment No. 9 (1998) on the Domestic Application of the Covenant. The Committee also requests the State party to provide information on case-law concerning the rights recognized in the Covenant in its next periodic report. 14. The Committee regrets that State party’s report did not contain sufficient statistical data on an annual comparative basis, as well as detailed information concerning the practical results of the various legislative and policy measures adopted by the State party so that the Committee could not subsequently assess fully the progress made and the difficulties encountered by the State party in the implementation of the Covenant. The Committee requests the State party to provide in its next periodic report more detailed information, including statistical data on an annual comparative basis over the last five years, disaggregated by age, gender, national origin and – where applicable – urban/rural residence, concerning the practical results of the measures adopted by the State party to give effect to the Covenant at the domestic level. 15. The Committee, while welcoming the initiative of a Nordic Sami Convention, reiterates its concern that the Sami land rights have not yet been resolved and that this fact negatively affects their right to maintain and develop their traditional culture and way of life, particularly reindeer herding. The Committee also reiterates its regret that the State party has not yet ratified ILO Convention No. 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal People. (arts. 1, 2.2, and 15) The Committee urges the State party to ensure the adoption of the Nordic Sami Convention and consider ratifying ILO Convention No. 169. It also recommends the expeditious resolution of the Sami land and resource rights issues by introducing appropriate legislation, in cooperation with the Sami communities. 16. The Committee reiterates its concern about the persistent occurrence of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, in particular against the Roma minority and ‛persons of foreign origin’, regarding access to employment and working life, education, access to public places, and in the criminal justice system, in spite of the measures taken by the State party to enhance its legal and institutional mechanisms aimed at combating discrimination.(arts. 2.2, 6, 7, and 13) The Committee encourages the State party to strengthen its efforts and to take additional steps to prevent discrimination on the basis of ethnicity in all aspects of daily life, and requests the State party to include in its next periodic report detailed information on the programmes and policies adopted to combat and prevent ethnic discrimination and to enhance tolerance and respect and on their results, in particular with regard to initiatives taken under the new Anti-Discrimination Act. It also requests the State party to provide updated statistical data on the number of complaints, prosecutions and convictions for crimes based on ethnic origin. 17. The Committee notes with concern that despite the extensive legislative and administrative measures adopted by the State party discrimination against persons with disabilities continues.

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