DO: Afrophobia Is Escalating – The Government Must Act

Racism and discrimination against so-called Afro-Swedish students, or “students racialized as black,” is, according to the Equality Ombudsman (DO), such an extensive problem in schools that the situation is being labeled alarming, prompting calls for more measures.

In June 2024, the government tasked the DO with developing and disseminating knowledge about the vulnerability of Afro-Swedish students to racism and discrimination at school. As part of this assignment, the agency has collected knowledge, analyzed complaints, engaged in dialogue with representatives of civil society organizations, and distributed information. The final report on the government assignment was submitted in February.

According to the DO the main issues concern harassment such as racist slurs or graffiti and exclusion, but also violence. The harassment most often comes from other students but sometimes also from school staff, and not infrequently during lessons.

Among the increasing number of complaints are claims that school staff do not take harassment seriously and instead downplay it or encourage students to learn to endure it. It is also claimed that schools may have difficulty identifying harassment directed at Afro-Swedish students, which leads to not recognizing it as harassment, and thus failing to investigate or take action.

Equality Ombudsman Lars Arrhenius. Photo: Stina Gränfors

Calls for a Knowledge Boost

Since representatives of civil society organizations claim that staff in preschool and school lack knowledge about racism and discrimination and how to combat and prevent it, there is now a demand for the government to implement a knowledge boost for school authorities and staff, focusing on discrimination and the Discrimination Act.

In addition to working against the discrimination of Afro-Swedish students in schools, the DO also plans efforts to counter discrimination against this group in areas such as health care and working life. At the same time, dialogue with civil society continues, as well as initiatives aimed at increasing awareness among school authorities and staff.