As from 1 July 2011 the Parliamentary Ombudsmen have a special task to monitor that individuals deprived of their liberty are not exposed to cruel, inhumane or other degrading treatment or punishment. The work is based on the Optional Protocol of the United Nations Convention against Torture of 2002 (OPCAT). This protocol requires states to have a national system, a National Preventive Mechanism, NPM, to monitor this area.

The ombudsmen regularly inspects places in Sweden where individuals deprived of their liberty are being held, reports on its visits and takes part in international cooperation in this area.

More about NPM and OPCAT

Last updated at 2023-04-16