The 1975 Instrument of Government states that public institutions shall counteract discrimination against persons on a number of grounds and it also contains an enumeration of protected fundamental individual rights, including the right not to be discriminated against on the grounds of belonging to minorities of sex, skin colour, national or ethnic origin, language, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, age or other circumstance that relates to the individual as a person.

Regarding all areas, including working life, the new Discrimination Act contains no enumeration of the material scope. In some areas a few situations not covered by the prohibitions are enumerated. The material scope is thus wider than required by EC-law. Age is the only ground which is exempted from some of the areas to which the Discrimination Act applies.

The new Equality Ombudsman is the key public institutions for the promotion of equal rights. It has the right to investigate complaints concerning discrimination according to any of the non-discrimination acts mentioned as well as the right to represent individuals in discrimination cases that are of importance in terms of case law or otherwise.

Furthermore, the Ombudsman is also required to give advice, independent assistance and support more generally to individuals and institutions; engage in education, information and opinion-shaping efforts to combat discrimination; and propose to the Government legal and other measures that may be of use to combat discrimination and monitor international developments. Independent surveys and reports are important parts of this work. The Ombudsman, – though appointed by the Government – has independent status to reach its own decisions in individual matters. It is state-funded, decisions on funding being taken annually by the Swedish Parliament, based on Government recommendations and as part of the general state budget.