2023-03-092022/23:KrU6 · p.14KrUCulture
Repatriation of human remains and museum objects
State responsibility for repatriating Sami human remains
What's at stake: The outcome affects how quickly and in what way Sami human remains and cultural objects held in state collections and museums can be repatriated, which is central to reconciliation work with the Sami people and to the Sami Parliament's and the Church of Sweden's ability to influence the process.
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 parliament should now direct new demands at the state to urgently secure a regulatory framework and funding for repatriating Sami human remains and cultural objects, or whether the inquiry work already under way following an earlier pronouncement is considered sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions. It refers, among other things, to an earlier pronouncement in which parliament already required the state to take greater responsibility for speeding up the return of Sami human remains and to investigate a coherent framework for identification and repatriation, and considers that this work should be allowed to continue before new demands are directed at the government.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 24 (C)
The Centre Party wants the state to urgently secure a regulatory framework and funding for the continued repatriation of Sami human remains and cultural objects, and points to proposals from the Sami Parliament and the Church of Sweden for amendments to the burial act and the heritage act that would ease the process, as well as arguing that current regulation fails to meet international standards for Sami self-determination.
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 24 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: VVänsterpartiet
Ja 267–20Ja 246–41
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/14 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/15/3 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
| C | No | No 1/20/0/3 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 58/0/0/10 | match | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 64/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| CAlireza Akhondi (C, Stockholms län) | Yes — party line: No |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2022/23:1881 by Malin Björk et al. (C) paragraph 15 and 2022/23:2098 by Amanda Lind et al. (MP) paragraph 3.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:1881 av Malin Björk m.fl. (C) yrkande 15 och 2022/23:2098 av Amanda Lind m.fl. (MP) yrkande 3.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected 80 proposals in motions submitted during the general motion period 2022, primarily citing ongoing work and implemented measures. The proposals address, among other things, ancient monuments and ancient monument management, administration of valuable cultural environments, museum matters, intangible cultural heritage, digitization of cultural heritage, archives, and national minorities' cultural heritage.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to establish an inquiry regarding a licensing system for metal detectors. (C) — Reservation 24
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 plan states that the Sámi are Sweden's indigenous people who have historically been wronged by the state, that the Sámi Parliament's self-determination should be strengthened and that Sweden must prioritize ratifying ILO 169.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that the Sámi are Sweden's indigenous people who have historically been wronged by the state, that the Sámi Parliament's self-determination should be strengthened and that Sweden must prioritize ratifying ILO 169. It also emphasizes Sweden's commitments to protect Sámi rights to cultural heritage. Promptly securing regulations and financing for the return of Sámi remains and cultural artifacts follows directly from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att samerna är Sveriges urfolk som historiskt utsatts för oförrätter av staten, att Sametingets självbestämmande ska förstärkas och att Sverige måste prioritera att ratificera ILO 169. Den framhåller också Sveriges åtaganden att skydda samers rättigheter till kulturarv. Att skyndsamt säkra regelverk och finansiering för återbördande av samiska kvarlevor och kulturföremål följer direkt av dessa åtaganden.
- the state's historical wrongs against the Sámidecisive»Samer är Sveriges ursprungsbefolkning och har historiskt utsatts av« (party programme ↗)“The Sámi are Sweden's indigenous people and have historically been subjected to”
- ratify ILO 169»Sverige måste prioritera arbetet med att ratificera konventionen ILO 169 om ursprungsfolk och stamfolks rättigheter« (party programme ↗)“Sweden must prioritize work to ratify the ILO 169 convention on indigenous and tribal peoples' rights”
- strengthened Sámi self-determination»Sametingets självbestämmande bör« (party programme ↗)“The Sámi Parliament's self-determination should”
- protection of Sámi cultural heritage»Genom internationella avtal har Sverige nu förbundit sig att skydda« (party programme ↗)“Through international agreements, Sweden has now committed to protecting”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan establishes that national minorities' opportunities to maintain and develop their own language and culture shall be asserted and supported, that cultural life shall reflect cultural diversity and that respect for human rights is a prerequisite for democracy.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that national minorities' opportunities to maintain and develop their own language and culture shall be asserted and supported, that cultural life shall reflect cultural diversity and that respect for human rights is a prerequisite for democracy. To quickly ensure rules and financing for returning Sámi remains and cultural items follows from these principles. The issue is not addressed in the plan, so the support is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att nationella minoriteters möjligheter att behålla och utveckla det egna språket och kulturen ska hävdas och stödjas, att kulturlivet ska spegla den kulturella mångfalden och att respekten för de mänskliga rättigheterna är en förutsättning för demokrati. Att skyndsamt säkra regelverk och finansiering för återbördande av samiska kvarlevor och kulturföremål följer av dessa principer. Frågan behandlas inte i planen, så stödet är härlett.
- support for national minoritiesdecisive»behålla och utveckla det egna språket och kulturen.« (party programme ↗)“maintain and develop their own language and culture.”
- human rights»Respekten för de mänskliga rättigheterna är en förutsättning för demokrati.« (party programme ↗)“Respect for human rights is a prerequisite for democracy.”
- cultural diversity in museums»Kulturinstitutionerna och kulturlivet måste spegla den kulturella mångfalden i dagens« (party programme ↗)“Cultural institutions and cultural life must reflect the cultural diversity in today's”
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 the Sami, as an indigenous people, have special rights that Sweden must guarantee, that Sweden should soon ratify ILO 169 and that indigenous people's rights shall be strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that the Sami, as an indigenous people, have special rights that Sweden must guarantee, that Sweden should soon ratify ILO 169 and that indigenous people's rights shall be strengthened. Promptly securing regulations and funding for the return of Sami remains and cultural objects follows from this and from the plan's view of cultural heritage. Repatriation is not mentioned explicitly, but the conclusion is well supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att samerna som urfolk har särskilda rättigheter som Sverige måste garantera, att Sverige snarast bör ratificera ILO 169 och att urfolkets rättigheter ska stärkas. Att skyndsamt säkra regelverk och finansiering för återbördande av samiska kvarlevor och kulturföremål följer av detta och av planens syn på kulturarvet. Repatriering nämns inte uttryckligen, men slutsatsen är väl underbyggd.
- strengthened Sami rightsdecisive»stärka nationella minoriteters och urfolket samernas rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen the rights of national minorities and the Sami indigenous people”
- ratify ILO 169»bör snarast ratificera FN:s konvention om urfolks« (party programme ↗)“should soon ratify the UN convention on indigenous”
- indigenous peoples' special rights»utgör ett urfolk som i enlighet med flera« (party programme ↗)“constitute an indigenous people who in accordance with several”
- cultural heritage shall be cared for»Kulturarvet är vårt gemensamma arv« (party programme ↗)“Cultural heritage is our shared heritage”
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 commits to strengthening minority protection and combating all structures that oppress or discriminate against people, which supports the requirement that the state quickly ensures rules and funding for the return of Sámi remains and cultural objects.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan commits to strengthening minority protection and combating all structures that oppress or discriminate against people, which supports the requirement that the state quickly ensures rules and funding for the return of Sámi remains and cultural objects. The plan also makes caring for cultural heritage a public task. That no one should be disadvantaged because of origin is the principle that determines the question.
Original (Swedish)
Planen åtar sig att stärka minoritetsskyddet och att bekämpa alla strukturer som förtrycker eller diskriminerar människor, vilket bär kravet att staten skyndsamt säkerställer regelverk och finansiering för återbördande av samiska kvarlevor och kulturföremål. Planen gör också vårdandet av kulturarvet till ett offentligt uppdrag. Att ingen ska missgynnas på grund av härkomst är den princip som avgör frågan.
- strengthened minority protectiondecisive»Vi vill stärka bland annat äganderätten, diskrimineringsförbudet, minoritetsskyddet och minoritetsspråkens ställning, och grundlagsskydda rätten till abort och reproduktiv hälsa.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to strengthen among other things property rights, the anti-discrimination prohibition, minority protection and minority language status, and constitutionally protect the right to abortion and reproductive health.”
- no disadvantage for origin»Vi måste fortsätta arbetet för ett Sverige där ingen missgynnas på grund av kön, härkomst eller funktionsnedsättning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We must continue the work for a Sweden where no one is disadvantaged because of gender, origin or disability”
- counter discriminatory structures»Vi bekämpar alla strukturer, formella och informella, som förtrycker eller diskriminerar människor.« (party programme ↗)“We combat all structures, formal and informal, that oppress or discriminate against people.”
- care for heritage»till att vårda och utveckla ett kulturarv« (party programme ↗)“to care for and develop a cultural heritage”
The plan establishes that the Sámi's position as an indigenous people shall be maintained, that Sámi rights shall be valued and that ILO Convention 169 shall be ratified – that is, that Swedish order shall live up to international indigenous peoples standard.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the Sámi's position as an indigenous people shall be maintained, that Sámi rights shall be valued and that ILO Convention 169 shall be ratified – that is, that Swedish order shall live up to international indigenous peoples standard. Cultural heritage shall also be kept accessible to coming generations. The requirement for rapid regulations and financing for the return of Sámi human remains and cultural objects therefore follows from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att samernas ställning som urfolk ska upprätthållas, att samiska rättigheter ska värnas och att ILO-konvention 169 ska ratificeras – alltså att svensk ordning ska leva upp till internationell urfolksstandard. Kulturarvet ska dessutom hållas tillgängligt för kommande generationer. Kravet på skyndsamt regelverk och finansiering för återbördande av samiska kvarlevor och kulturföremål följer därför av planen.
- international indigenous peoples standarddecisive»ILO-konvention 169 ska ratificeras efter samråd med olika intressegrupper« (party programme ↗)“ILO Convention 169 shall be ratified after consultation with various interest groups”
- the Sámi as an indigenous people»och samernas ställning som urfolk ska upprätthållas.« (party programme ↗)“and the Sámi's position as an indigenous people shall be maintained.”
- Sámi rights valued»Samernas rätt att utöva renskötsel och utnyttja marker i enlighet med urminnes hävd ska värnas.« (party programme ↗)“The Sámi's right to practice reindeer herding and use land in accordance with ancient use shall be valued.”
- responsibility for cultural heritage»är en del av mänsklighetens gemensamma kulturarv och ska hållas tillgängligt för kommande generationer.« (party programme ↗)“is part of humankind's common cultural heritage and shall be kept accessible to coming generations.”
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 states that Sami people through linguistic and ethnic rights are strengthened in their self-confidence and cultural identity, and that it is a central public task to support minorities' own efforts for their culture.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that Sami people through linguistic and ethnic rights are strengthened in their self-confidence and cultural identity, and that it is a central public task to support minorities' own efforts for their culture. Together with the principle of every person's absolute and inviolable worth and stewardship of cultural heritage this speaks for rules and financing for return of cultural property to be secured swiftly.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att samer genom språkliga och etniska rättigheter stärks i sin självtillit och kulturella identitet, och att det är en central offentlig uppgift att stödja minoriteters egna insatser för sin kultur. Tillsammans med principen om varje människas absoluta och okränkbara värde och förvaltarskapet om kulturarvet talar detta för att regelverk och finansiering för återbördande säkras skyndsamt.
- Sami rightsdecisive»Genom att tillerkänna samer, sverigefinländare, tornedalingar, romer och judar språkliga och etniska rättigheter stärks deras självtillit och kulturella identitet.« (party programme ↗)“By recognising the Sami, Swedish Finns, Tornedals, Roma and Jews linguistic and ethnic rights their self-confidence and cultural iden tity are strengthened.”
- support for minorities' efforts»Det är en central offentlig uppgift att stödja minoriteters egna insatser för att behålla och vidareutveckla de kulturella drag som de själva anser viktiga.« (party programme ↗)“It is a central public task to support minorities' own efforts to maintain and further develop the cultural features they themselves consider important.”
- inviolable human worth»Kristdemokratin bygger på idén om alla människors absoluta och okränkbara värde.« (party programme ↗)“Christian democracy is built on the idea of every person's absolute and inviolable worth.”
- stewardship of cultural heritage»En god kulturpolitik måste sträva efter att ta tillvara det värdefulla kulturella arv som tidigare generationer har lämnat efter sig.« (party programme ↗)“Good cultural policy must strive to preserve the valuable cultural heritage that previous genera tions have left behind.”
flags: citat_migrerat
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 does not address repatriation of Sami remains or cultural objects and says nothing about Sami self-determination.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address repatriation of Sami remains or cultural objects and says nothing about Sami self-determination. The closest principle is that politics must prioritize and make choices and that many urgent reforms must wait, while cultural heritage is attributed value in itself. Based on this, the plan does not support new urgent demands for regulations and financing.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte repatriering av samiska kvarlevor eller kulturföremål och säger inget om samiskt självbestämmande. Den närmast liggande principen är att politiken måste prioritera och välja bort och att många angelägna reformer får vänta, samtidigt som kulturarvet i sig tillmäts värde. Utifrån det ger planen inte stöd för nya skyndsamma krav på regelverk och finansiering.
- political prioritizationdecisive»Politiken har en viktig uppgift att prioritera och välja bort« (party programme ↗)“Politics has an important task to prioritize and make choices”
- reforms can wait»Vi vet vad som måste göras – och vad som får vänta.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We know what must be done – and what can wait.”
- value of cultural heritage»Svensk kultur och svensk historia« (party programme ↗)“Swedish culture and Swedish history”
The plan does not directly address repatriation, but promises to protect indigenous peoples' position and cultural values and distances itself from cultural imperialism, while at the same time preservation of cultural heritage is seen as a gesture of respect towards previous generations.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not directly address repatriation, but promises to protect indigenous peoples' position and cultural values and distances itself from cultural imperialism, while at the same time preservation of cultural heritage is seen as a gesture of respect towards previous generations. This argues for ensuring regulations and financing for the return of Sámi remains and cultural artefacts. The plan is silent on the committee's reasoning that ongoing government work should continue first.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte repatriering direkt, men lovar att värna urfolkens ställning och kulturella värden och tar avstånd från kulturimperialism, samtidigt som bevarandet av kulturarv ses som en respekthandling mot tidigare generationer. Det talar för att regelverk och finansiering för återbördande av samiska kvarlevor och kulturföremål säkerställs. Planen är tyst om utskottets skäl att pågående statligt arbete bör fortsätta först.
- protect indigenous cultural valuesdecisive»Urfolkens ställning och kulturella värden ska värnas i den utrikespolitiska inriktningen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Indigenous peoples' position and cultural values shall be protected in the foreign policy direction.”
- opposition to cultural imperialism»Sverigedemokraterna är motståndare till både kulturimperialism och kulturrelativism.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden Democrats are opponents of both cultural imperialism and cultural relativism.”
- respect for previous generations»Att värna om kulturarvet är också att visa respekt mot tidigare generationer« (party programme ↗)“To protect cultural heritage is also to show respect to previous generations”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:KrU6)
- Committee report full text (HA01KrU6)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1003 — Sverigevänlig konsumentpolitik av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1015 — En konkurrenskraftig svensk sjöfart av Jimmy Ståhl m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1019 — Svenskt kulturarvsår av Runar Filper m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1021 — Uppåkra Arkeologiska Center av Björn Söder m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1140 — Konservering av fornminnen för framtida generationer av David Perez (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1181 — Den kyrkoantikvariska ersättningen av Inga-Lill Sjöblom och Ardalan Shekarabi (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1219 — Förvaltning av fäbodmiljöer av Aron Emilsson (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1419 — Tillgängliggörande av bortglömda byggnader av historisk betydelse av Michael Rubbestad (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1496 — Syrisk-ortodoxa kloster och kyrkor i Turkiet av Yusuf Aydin (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1527 — Finnskogen som världsarv av Kjell-Arne Ottosson (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1549 — En översyn av kulturhistoriska platser med större allmänt intresse av Per-Arne Håkansson (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1583 — Ett Raoul Wallenbergcentrum/-museum av Magnus Oscarsson (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1664 — Regelverket för användandet av metallsökare av Mattias Bäckström Johansson och Eric Palmqvist (båda SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1737 — Minnesmonument över folkmordet i Srebrenica av Laila Naraghi (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1811 — Bekämpning av terrorism av Christian Carlsson (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1819 — Kostnaden för arkeologiska undersökningar av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1881 — Konstitutionella frågor av Malin Björk m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1904 — Samhällets stöd och uppmuntran till landets samlare av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2022/23:2054 — Utgiftsområde 17 Kultur, medier, trossamfund, fritid av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2098 — Politik för det samiska folket av Amanda Lind m.fl. (MP)
Source: The Swedish Parliament