E/CN.4/1995/91/Add.1
page 101
The clauses on rights and freedoms in the IG chiefly protect
persons who are Swedish citizens. Aliens in Sweden are on a fully equal
footing with Swedish citizens with regard to some of the rights and
freedoms (sect. 20, para. 1), inter alia, protection against all coercion
to participate in any meeting for the formation of opinion or in any
demonstration or other expression of opinion, or to belong to any
religious congregation or other association (sect. 2, second sentence)
and protection against discrimination on grounds of race, skin colour or
ethnic origin (sect. 15).
Concerning most of the other rights and freedoms, aliens are ranked
equally with Swedish citizens, except as otherwise prescribed by special
rules of law (sect. 20, para. 2). Among others freedom of speech,
information, assembly, association and worship (sects. 1:1-3 and 1:5-6)
and protection against all coercion to divulge an opinion (sect. 2, first
sentence).
In this context it should also be mentioned that the Swedish
Parliament recently adopted a law which incorporates the European
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
and Protocols Nos. 1-8 and decided that the former Swedish reservation to
the second sentence in article 2 of the first protocol concerning the
respect of the right of parents to ensure such education and teaching in
conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions, shall
be deleted.
The Swedish dualistic system implies that Sweden’s international
undertakings have to be implemented by incorporation or transformation
into internal law or administrative regulations in order to be enforced
by the authorities concerned. Therefore the incorporation means that,
when the law enters into force in January 1995, it will be a part of the
Swedish internal law and that private individuals can rely directly on
the Convention before Swedish courts, tribunals and administrative
authorities will be able to apply it in their decisions.
Since 1986 there has been an Ombudsman against Ethnic
Discrimination (DO). The DO’s field of activity encompasses the whole
scope of society except for private life. The DO shall pay special
attention to ethnic discrimination on the labour market."
VENEZUELA
49.
On 3 August 1994, the Permanent Mission of Venezuela to the
United Nations Office at Geneva transmitted to the Special Rapporteur the
observations of the Government of Venezuela on the question of religious
intolerance, the text of which reads as follows:
"Under Venezuelan law, the basic provisions on this question
are set forth in the Constitution and Penal Code.
Article 65 of the Constitution stipulates that everyone
has the right to profess his religious faith and to practise his
religion privately or publicly, provided it is not contrary to the