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Search legal sources by keyword, jurisdiction, document type, provision or year. Each source has its own page with structured details and a link to the official text where available.
17 sources
Jakóbski v. Poland
European Court of Human Rights · Poland · 2010-12-07 · App no 18429/06
A Buddhist prisoner requested a meat-free diet on religious grounds. The prison refused. The Court held that the refusal, in circumstances where a simple vegetarian diet would not have caused disproportionate difficulty for the authorities, amounted to a violation of Article 9.
Vartic v. Romania (No. 2)
European Court of Human Rights · Romania · 2013-12-17 · App no 14150/08
A Buddhist prisoner was refused a vegetarian diet. Following Jakóbski, the Court found a violation of Article 9 because the authorities had not shown that accommodating the diet would disrupt prison management.
Campbell and Cosans v. the United Kingdom
European Court of Human Rights · United Kingdom · 1982-02-25 · App nos 7511/76 and 7743/76
The Court defined 'philosophical convictions' as views that attain a certain level of cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance and are worthy of respect in a democratic society.
G.K. and A.S. v. Switzerland
European Court of Human Rights · Switzerland · 2026 · App nos 55299/20 and 31515/22
Proceedings concerning the treatment of convictions relating to diet and the availability of an effective domestic remedy.
European Convention on Human Rights
Council of Europe · Council of Europe · 1950-11-04 · ETS No. 005
Article 9 protects freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to manifest a belief in practice. Article 14 prohibits discrimination in the enjoyment of Convention rights.
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
European Union · EU · 2012 · 2012/C 326/02
Article 10 mirrors Article 9 ECHR; Article 21 prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion or belief; Article 51 binds Member States when implementing Union law.
Council Directive 2000/78/EC
Council of the European Union · EU · 2000-11-27 · 2000/78/EC
Establishes a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation covering direct and indirect discrimination on grounds of religion or belief.
Directive 2014/24/EU on public procurement
European Parliament and Council · EU · 2014-02-26 · 2014/24/EU
Allows contracting authorities to set technical specifications and award criteria reflecting users' needs, subject to equal treatment and proportionality.
Instrument of Government (1974:152)
Riksdag · Sweden · 1974 · SFS 1974:152
Chapter 2 protects freedom of religion and prohibits coercion to disclose or conform to a conviction. Chapter 1, Section 9 requires objectivity and impartiality in public administration.
Discrimination Act (2008:567)
Riksdag · Sweden · 2008 · SFS 2008:567
Prohibits direct and indirect discrimination on grounds including religion or other belief, in education and in the supply of public services.
Education Act (2010:800)
Riksdag · Sweden · 2010 · SFS 2010:800
Pupils in compulsory school are entitled to free school meals that are nutritious. Chapter 1, Section 10 requires the best interests of the child to be a starting point in all education.
Administrative Procedure Act (2017:900)
Riksdag · Sweden · 2017 · SFS 2017:900
Requires legality, objectivity and proportionality in administrative action, and reasons for decisions that go against a party.
Act (2018:1197) on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Riksdag · Sweden · 2018 · SFS 2018:1197
Incorporates the CRC as Swedish law with effect from 1 January 2020.
Swedish Food Agency — Vegan diet
Swedish Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket) · Sweden · n/a · —
The national food authority's guidance on planning a nutritionally adequate vegan diet, including for children.
UN Human Rights Committee, General Comment No. 22
UN Human Rights Committee · United Nations · 1993-07-30 · CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.4
Confirms that Article 18 protects theistic, non-theistic and atheistic beliefs, and that the observance of dietary regulations can be a protected manifestation.
UN Nelson Mandela Rules
UN General Assembly · United Nations · 2015 · A/RES/70/175
Requires that every prisoner be provided with food of nutritional value adequate for health and strength.
Portugal — Law No. 11/2017
Assembleia da República · Portugal · 2017-04-17 · Lei n.º 11/2017
Requires public canteens — including schools, universities, hospitals and prisons — to include a strict vegetarian (vegan) option.
The information provided by FFVR is intended for general informational and educational purposes. It is not individual legal advice. The legal analysis presented on this website includes both established law and FFVR's interpretation of relevant legal principles. Where FFVR advocates for a particular legal development, this should not be understood as a statement that such a right already exists under Swedish law.