A/HRC/55/47/Add.2 91. In March 2022, the Government granted concessions for an iron ore mine in Kallak (known as Gállok to the Sami) in Norrbotten on Sami reindeer-herding land, despite massive opposition from affected Sami villages, the Sami Parliament, the Swedish environmental agency and two United Nations special rapporteurs.43 92. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the establishment, in November 2021, of a truth commission to investigate the abuses of the Sami people by the State of Sweden, which is due to report its findings in December 2025. The Truth Commission for the Sami People has been mandated to: (a) survey and examine the policies pursued towards the Sami and the actions of relevant actors in the implementation of those policies; (2) highlight the experiences of the Samil; and (3) analyse and shed light on the consequences of the policies pursued towards the Sami with regard to the living conditions, health and social life of the Sami people as a whole and as individuals, and the ability of the Sami people to preserve and develop their own culture and community life. 93. In July 2023, the Government requested that the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention conduct a study on hate and threats against Sami persons. VII. Conclusions 94. Sweden possesses a strong legal and policy framework for promoting and protecting the enjoyment by all persons of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief. Political expediency, however, along with a lack of acknowledgement of challenges, risks undermining the substantial framework in place for addressing issues that arise in relation to the full scope of freedom of religion or belief for everyone. The Government faces a number of core challenges as it grapples with the emergence of its multi-ethnic and multireligious society. The scope of freedom of religion or belief should not be limited to the majority culture’s traditional perspective of what religion in public life should look like. The parameters should be determined by human rights standards, including the rights protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This calls for a wholehearted and determined effort to broaden and widen the imagination and tolerance of the authorities and the public as to freedom of religion or belief. Only such an initiative can adequately address the intolerance of and discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities in Swedish society that threatens social cohesion and is provoking increasingly myopic responses that undermine equal access and enjoyment of human rights. 95. Political forces are polarizing views and exploiting questions regarding the manifestation of religion or belief, both as part of the foundation of their party ideology and for electoral gain. Sweden can reverse this unfortunate trajectory if it makes a deliberate and firm decision to do so. Sweden is already gaining extensive experience and insights into the need for specificity of protections through its various action programmes (see para. 20). While continuing to invest in the action programmes, a broader reflection of the country’s learnings from the specific communities involved needs to be applied to other types of diversity in the country, whether historic or newer communities, small or large, considered proximate to the recent experience of majority Swedish religiosity or otherwise. 96. At present, even long-established and larger religious communities, including Jewish and Muslim communities, are concerned about proposed legislation and policies that seek to intervene in their affairs, and about narratives that encourage hostility and discrimination against them. 97. The Government appears quite cognizant and reflective about many of the issues of concern outlined in the present report. Other actors within government, however, do not even see the challenges or register them as human rights concerns. Some political actors are intentionally leveraging the issues of concern for political gain. In recent 43 GE.24-04001 See communication SWE 2/2022, available at https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=27057. 17