2025-04-102024/25:JuU16 · p.2JuUJustice
Increased opportunities to participate in court proceedings remotely
Expanded options to participate in trials remotely via video link
What's at stake: Wider and faster access to video links could make it easier for frightened victims and witnesses, particularly in cases of aggravated violation of a woman's integrity, to take part in trials without having to face the perpetrator in the courtroom. The issue affects victims, witnesses, and the technical resources of the courts.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the government should be tasked with rapidly developing and rolling out video-link technology for trial participation to all courts, or whether this should wait for the ongoing preparation of a broader proposal on video links in court proceedings.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The Committee does not want to preempt the ongoing preparation of the proposal in the memorandum on procedural reforms, which already includes a proposal to expand video-link participation in court, and therefore rejects the motion for a specific government mandate to the National Courts Administration.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (V, MP)
The reservation (Left Party, Green Party) wants video-link attendance to be routinely offered to plaintiffs and witnesses who, out of fear, do not want to attend in person — for example in cases of aggravated violation of a woman's integrity — and wants the government to task the National Courts Administration with developing and rolling out the technology to all courts. The reasoning is that both efficiency and protection considerations support wider use of video links.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 2 by V, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/19/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 89/0/0/17 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/13/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 14/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 56/0/0/12 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motion 2024/25:1929 by Gudrun Nordborg et al. (V) motion 16.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2024/25:1929 av Gudrun Nordborg m.fl. (V) yrkande 16.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 50 proposals in motions on procedural law questions. Including with reference to ongoing work. The proposals were submitted during the general motion period 2024 and concern, among other things, legislation on coercive measures, court proceedings, Sweden's Courts and legal aid.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants remote participation via video link to be routinely offered in court proceedings for complainants and witnesses who, out of fear, do not wish to attend in person. (V, MP) — Reservation 2
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The election manifesto requires that the justice system works so that women's experiences are taken seriously and that those who commit crimes are convicted, and that knowledge of violence against women and children increases in the justice system.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that the justice system works so that women's experiences are taken seriously and that those who commit crimes are convicted, and that knowledge of violence against women and children increases in the justice system. Allowing complainants and witnesses who are frightened to regularly participate via video link lowers the threshold for participating in such cases and serves that commitment. The plan also wants the work against violent crime to be comprehensive.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att rättssystemet fungerar så att kvinnors erfarenheter tas på allvar och att de som begår brott döms, och att kunskapen om våld mot kvinnor och barn ökar i rättsväsendet. Att målsägande och vittnen som är rädda regelmässigt kan delta via videolänk sänker tröskeln för att medverka i just sådana mål och tjänar det åtagandet. Planen vill dessutom att arbetet mot våldsbrottslighet blir genomgripande.
- functioning justice process for victims of violencedecisive»Det är viktigt att rättssystemet fungerar, att kvinnors erfarenheter tas på allvar och att de som begår brott döms.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is important that the justice system works, that women's experiences are taken seriously and that those who commit crimes are convicted.”
- knowledge about violence in the justice system»ökad kunskap inom rättsväsendet om samtycke och om våld mot kvinnor och barn« (2022 manifesto ↗)“increased knowledge within the justice system about consent and about violence against women and children”
- comprehensive work against violence»Vi vill se ett genomgripande arbete mot våldsbrottslighet, som utgår« (party programme ↗)“We want to see comprehensive work against violent crime, which originates”
- legally certain process»Utvecklingen av ett rättsväsende byggt på rättssäkerhet är viktig« (party programme ↗)“The development of a justice system built on legal certainty is important”
The election manifesto promises action against men's violence against women and to continue the direction of tightening penalties for violence in close relationships and strengthening support for crime victims.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto promises action against men's violence against women and to continue the direction of tightening penalties for violence in close relationships and strengthening support for crime victims. That victims and witnesses who do not wish to appear in person out of fear are regularly offered video link testimony follows from this explicit commitment and from the requirement for uncompromising crime prevention. However, the plan does not address the courts' technical development as such, which is why the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar krafttag mot mäns våld mot kvinnor och att fortsätta den riktning som skärpt straffen för våld i nära relationer och stärkt stödet till brottsoffer. Att målsägande och vittnen som av rädsla inte vill delta på plats regelmässigt erbjuds videolänk följer av detta åtagande och av kravet på en kompromisslös brottsbekämpning. Planen talar dock inte om domstolarnas tekniska utveckling som sådan, varför slutsatsen är härledd.
- protection against men's violencedecisive»Krafttag för att stoppa hedersrelaterat våld, sexualbrott och mäns våld mot kvinnor« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Action to stop honour-related violence, sexual crimes and men's violence against women”
- uncompromising crime prevention»Kampen mot kriminaliteten ska vara kompromisslös« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The fight against crime shall be uncompromising”
- equitable legal process»allas likhet inför lagen och iaktta saklighet och opartiskhet« (party programme ↗)“equality for all before the law and upholding impartiality and fairness”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme establishes that criminal policy shall place the crime victim and its victimization at the center and that violence in close relationships shall be handled quickly and in a coordinated manner.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that criminal policy shall place the crime victim and its victimization at the center and that violence in close relationships shall be handled quickly and in a coordinated manner. The election manifesto wants to give female victims of violence who are forced to hide themselves stronger protection. That complainants and witnesses who for fear do not want to appear on site regularly be offered video link follows from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att rättspolitiken ska sätta brottsoffret och dennes utsatthet i centrum och att våld i nära relationer ska hanteras snabbt och samordnat. Valmanifestet vill ge våldsutsatta kvinnor som tvingas gömma sig ett starkare skydd. Att målsägande och vittnen som av rädsla inte vill delta på plats regelmässigt erbjuds videolänk följer av dessa åtaganden.
- victim perspective in criminal policydecisive»brottsoffret och dennes utsatthet i centrum.« (party programme ↗)“the crime victim and its victimization at the center.”
- stronger protection for victims of violence»att våldsutsatta kvinnor som tvingas gömma sig ska få starkare skydd och att fler som utövar våld ska få fotboja.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that female victims of violence who are forced to hide shall get stronger protection and that more who commit violence shall get electronic monitoring.”
- quick handling of violence in close relationships»Våld i nära relationer ska behandlas på ett snabbt,« (party programme ↗)“Violence in close relationships shall be handled in a quick,”
The plan wants to strengthen the victim perspective so that those who have been subjected to crime receive justice and better support, and particularly prioritizes crimes in close relationships.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen the victim perspective so that those who have been subjected to crime receive justice and better support, and particularly prioritizes crimes in close relationships. That complainants and witnesses who are afraid can regularly participate via video link is a means for precisely that, and is also in line with the demand for shorter processing times. The plan's no applies to anonymous witnesses, which is something different from video link.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill stärka brottsofferperspektivet så att den som utsatts för brott får upprättelse och bättre stöd, och prioriterar särskilt brott i nära relationer. Att målsägande och vittnen som är rädda regelmässigt kan delta via videolänk är ett medel för just det, och ligger också i linje med kravet på kortare ledtider. Planens nej gäller anonyma vittnen, vilket är något annat än videolänk.
- strengthened victim perspectivedecisive»Brottsofferperspektivet måste stärkas. Den som utsatts för brott ska få upprättelse och bättre stöd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The victim perspective must be strengthened. Those who have been subjected to crime shall receive justice and better support.”
- against men's violence against women»Vi vill höja straffen för sexualbrott, grov fridskränkning och grov kvinnofridskränkning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to increase penalties for sexual crime, gross violations of personal peace and gross violations of women's personal peace.”
- more efficient court process»Ledtiderna för handläggning och myndighetsutövning i domstolar och myndigheter måste kortas och tillgången till ombud förbättras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Processing times for handling and exercise of public authority in courts and agencies must be shortened and access to legal representatives improved.”
- no to anonymous witnesses»Vi säger därför nej till visitationszoner, kollektiv bestraffning, omvänd bevisbörda, anonyma vittnen, preventiv avlyssning och inskränkningar av religionsfriheten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We therefore say no to stop-and-search zones, collective punishment, reversed burden of proof, anonymous witnesses, preventive wiretapping and restrictions on religious freedom.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan establishes that witnesses should have the right to effective protection and that support for crime victims is a main task for the justice system, with particularly better protection for victims of violence against women.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that witnesses should have the right to effective protection and that support for crime victims is a main task for the justice system, with particularly better protection for victims of violence against women. Regularly offering video link to protected complainants and witnesses serves precisely that. The plan's principle that public functions that can be made digitally accessible should also be made so carries the spread of the technology.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att vittnen ska ha rätt till ett effektivt skydd och att stödet till brottsoffer är ett huvuduppdrag för rättsväsendet, med särskilt bättre skydd för offer för våld mot kvinnor. Att regelmässigt erbjuda videolänk åt rädda målsägande och vittnen tjänar just det. Planens princip att offentliga funktioner som kan göras digitalt tillgängliga också ska göras det bär spridningen av tekniken.
- effective witness protectiondecisive»Vittnen ska ha rätt till ett effektivt skydd« (party programme ↗)“Witnesses shall have the right to effective protection”
- better protection for crime victims»Vi vill se en ökad handlingskraft mot sexuellt våld och våld mot kvinnor genom bland annat högre straff för sexualbrott och ett bättre skydd och stöd för offren.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to see increased action against sexual violence and violence against women through, among other things, higher penalties for sexual crimes and better protection and support for victims.”
- crime victim support as main task»Insatser för att stödja brottsoffer är ett huvuduppdrag för både rättsväsende och socialtjänst.« (party programme ↗)“Support for crime victims is a main task for both the justice system and social services.”
- digital accessibility»kan göras digitalt tillgängliga också ska göras digitalt tillgängliga.« (party programme ↗)“can be made digitally accessible should also be made digitally accessible.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan states that society shall side with the crime victim, and the election manifesto goes so far as to demand anonymous witnesses so that more will dare to testify.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that society shall side with the crime victim, and the election manifesto goes so far as to demand anonymous witnesses so that more will dare to testify. Regularly offering video link to plaintiffs and witnesses who out of fear do not want to participate in the courtroom is a less far-reaching expression of the same commitment. The plan also requires adequate protection for those subjected to violence in close relationships.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att samhället ska ställa sig på brottsoffrets sida, och valmanifestet går så långt som att kräva anonyma vittnen för att fler ska våga vittna. Att regelmässigt erbjuda videolänk åt målsägande och vittnen som av rädsla inte vill delta i rättssalen är ett mindre långtgående uttryck för samma åtagande. Planen kräver dessutom adekvat skydd åt dem som utsatts för våld i nära relation.
- crime victim's sidedecisive»att samhället ställer sig på brottsoffrets sida.« (party programme ↗)“that society sides with the crime victim.”
- protection for witnesses»Inför anonyma vittnen. Det finns i flera andra länder och har bidragit till fler fällande domar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce anonymous witnesses. It exists in several other countries and has contributed to more convictions.”
- protection for those subjected to violence»nära relation ska ges adekvat stöd och skydd.« (party programme ↗)“close relationship shall be given adequate support and protection.”
- effective court process»vara organiserat så att domar och beslut kan ges inom« (party programme ↗)“be organized so that sentences and decisions can be given within”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan explicitly commits to strengthening protection for witnesses and crime victims and to lowering the barriers to participating in legal proceedings, even to the point of allowing anonymous witnesses.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly commits to strengthening protection for witnesses and crime victims and to lowering the barriers to participating in legal proceedings, even to the point of allowing anonymous witnesses. The counter-proposal's demand that claimants and witnesses who are afraid shall regularly be able to participate via video link is the same thing in substance: that fear should not prevent participation. The plan's particular effort on violence in close relationships points in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen åtar sig uttryckligen att stärka skyddet för vittnen och brottsoffer och att sänka trösklarna för att våga medverka i rättsprocessen, ända till att tillåta anonyma vittnen. Motförslagets krav på att målsägande och vittnen som är rädda regelmässigt ska kunna delta via videolänk är samma sak i sak: att rädsla inte ska hindra medverkan. Planens särskilda satsning på våld i nära relation pekar åt samma håll.
- strengthened witness protectiondecisive»Stärka skyddet för vittnen och brottsoffer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen protection for witnesses and crime victims”
- lowered barriers for witnesses»Tillåta anonyma vittnen så att fler vågar vittna« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Allow anonymous witnesses so that more people dare to testify”
- victim at the centre»Moderaterna kommer kraftigt stärka brottsoffrets ställning i rättsprocessen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Moderates will significantly strengthen the crime victim's standing in legal proceedings.”
- efforts against violence in close relationships»Införa särskilda grupper i varje polisregion som är specialiserade på sexualbrott och våld i nära relation för att fler anmälda brott ska leda till lagföring och straff« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Establish specialized units in each police region that are specialized in sexual crimes and violence in close relationships so that more reported crimes lead to prosecution and punishment”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan states that policy shall be shaped after crime victims' conditions and that crime victims shall not be forced to live in fear of meeting the perpetrator.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that policy shall be shaped after crime victims' conditions and that crime victims shall not be forced to live in fear of meeting the perpetrator. It wants to strengthen the position of crime victims and remove procedural obstacles to increased prosecution. To regularly offer video link to frightened complainants and witnesses and spread the technology to all courts follows from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att politiken ska utformas efter brottsoffrens villkor och att brottsoffer inte ska tvingas leva i rädsla för att möta gärningsmannen. Den vill stärka brottsoffrets ställning och undanröja processuella hinder för ökad lagföring. Att regelmässigt erbjuda videolänk åt rädda målsägande och vittnen och sprida tekniken till alla domstolar följer av dessa åtaganden.
- crime victim in the centerdecisive»Sverigedemokraterna vill utforma politiken efter brottsoffrens villkor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to shape policy after crime victims' conditions.”
- fear of meeting the perpetrator»Istället tvingas ofta brottsoffret leva i rädsla om att möta gärningsmannen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Instead, crime victims are often forced to live in fear of meeting the perpetrator”
- strengthened crime victim position»Stärka brottsoffrets ställning och öka stödet till brottsoffer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the position of crime victims and increase support for crime victims”
- remove procedural obstacles»Processuella hinder för att möjliggöra en ökad lagföring måste också undanröjas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Procedural obstacles to enable increased prosecution must also be removed.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:JuU16)
- Committee report full text (HC01JuU16)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:100 — Införande av ämbetsdräkt för domare av Torsten Elofsson (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1309 — Ett reformerat system med nämndemän av Rasmus Ling m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:1490 — Ett rättssystem som sätter brottsoffret i fokus av Magnus Berntsson (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1657 — Kriminalisering av det ekonomiska våldet av Karin Sundin (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1904 — Åtgärder mot organiserad brottslighet av Gudrun Nordborg m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1929 — Rättsväsendet av Gudrun Nordborg m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1997 — Märkning av åtelkameror och fällor med jägar-id av Erik Ottoson (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2022 — Ökad transparens i tillståndsprocesser av Ulrik Nilsson (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2036 — Stärkt rättssamhälle och äganderätt av Mats Green (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2056 — För ett tryggare Malmö och Sverige av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2024/25:2058 — Indexering av nämndemäns arvoden av Mats Wiking och Jonathan Svensson (båda S)
- Motion 2024/25:2069 — Politiskt tillsatta nämndemän av Alireza Akhondi (C)
- Motion 2024/25:2177 — Förundersökningssekretessen av Eva Lindh m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:2508 — Handläggningstiderna för olovlig andrahandsuthyrning av Ingela Nylund Watz m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:2601 — Tillsynen över Sveriges advokater av Boriana Åberg (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2605 — Störande av ordning i rättssalen av Boriana Åberg (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2618 — Åtgärder för att bekämpa mäns våld mot kvinnor av Rasmus Ling m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:276 — Grundlagsförhör enligt dansk modell av Torsten Elofsson (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:278 — Höjd inkomstgräns för rättshjälp av Torsten Elofsson (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:2794 — Dold egendomsbevakning av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
Source: The Swedish Parliament