The national strategies of the countries
The Nordic Welfare Centre, together with the members of the Council of Nordic Cooperation on Disability, monitors what is happening in the national disability policy landscapes. Choose a country in the list below.
The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (Socialdepartementet) coordinates disability policy in Sweden. Several other ministries and policy areas are also involved, and an inter-ministerial working group, comprising representatives from different ministries, meets regularly to exchange experiences and discuss current disability policy issues.
Swedish disability policy is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and aims to safeguard the rights and interests of persons with disabilities. The Swedish Parliament has adopted the overall objectives and direction of disability policy. The national objective is, with the CRPD as its foundation, to achieve equality in living conditions and full participation in society for persons with disabilities in a society based on diversity. The objective also contributes to greater gender equality and ensures that the rights of the child are taken into account.
To achieve this objective, implementation focuses on four strategic areas: the principle of universal design, addressing existing accessibility barriers, individual support and solutions that promote independent living, and preventing and combating discrimination.
The Swedish Government has adopted a Strategy for the Systematic Follow-up of Disability Policy 2021–2031, assigning 30 government agencies specific responsibility for monitoring progress towards the national disability policy objective. In 2025, the Government strengthened the follow-up framework for disability policy.
The Swedish Agency for Participation (Myndigheten för delaktighet – MFD) is the national knowledge agency for disability policy. Based on the national disability policy objective, MFD promotes the systematic and effective implementation of disability policy by coordinating, monitoring, collecting and analysing the work of government agencies, municipalities, regions and other stakeholders.
The Swedish Disability Rights Federation (Funktionsrätt Sverige) is the umbrella organisation representing organisations of persons with disabilities in Sweden. It coordinates civil society’s monitoring of the implementation of the CRPD through the annual national report Respect for Rights (Respekt för rättigheter).
Several youth organisations cooperate through the Network of Young People for Accessibility (NUFT).
The Disability Delegation (Funktionshindersdelegationen) is the Swedish Government’s national consultative body for dialogue with organisations of persons with disabilities. The Delegation consists of representatives from 14 national organisations and is chaired by the Minister responsible for disability policy. It meets four times a year.
The Institute for Human Rights (Institutet för mänskliga rättigheter), established in 2022, is an independent public authority with a broad mandate to promote and protect human rights in Sweden. The Institute contributes independent information on Sweden’s implementation of the CRPD.
The Equality Ombudsman (Diskrimineringsombudsmannen – DO) supervises compliance with anti-discrimination legislation, including discrimination on the grounds of disability.
The National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) supports authorities and service providers in achieving the national disability policy objectives. It publishes national comparisons of disability services and provides guidance and information on assistive technology and support services.
The Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) administers a substantial proportion of Sweden’s social security benefits, including several benefits specifically intended for children and adults with disabilities.
The Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) provides specialised employment support for jobseekers with disabilities and guidance for employers recruiting persons with disabilities.
Sweden has 290 municipalities. The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR – Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner, SKR) supports municipalities and regions in developing disability policy and improving accessibility and inclusion across local government services.
