In September 2016, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) organised an international conference on “Confronting Anti-Gypsyism” in Berlin. Several Romani leaders as well as politicians and NGO representatives highlighted Sweden and Norway as promising examples of confronting antigypsyism by using state commissions for past abuses.

This paper will focus on the Swedish example, making clear how it differs from the Norwegian one and critically analysing the circumstances around an apparent Swedish momentum on Roma rights and antigypsyism in the years 2010-2016: How did it emerge? How was it used? What were the consequences of political choices?