RFSL Stockholm's less than honorable award
In 2016, the Pink Thistle has been awarded
Government
for
for giving Sweden Europe's most limited asylum legislation.
The new law has a particularly strong impact on LGBTQ people as residence permits are no longer granted in the category “Other persons in need of protection”, which is the category for many LGBTQ people seeking protection in Sweden. Only a very limited number of asylum applications have been made in the category “Other persons in need of protection” and the government's goal of reducing the number of asylum seekers in this way is thus not achieved by this change, but leads to immense harm and suffering for individual LGBTQ people and others.
Government comment:
RThe government regrets that they were awarded the prize. Creating temporary legislation to reduce the number of asylum seekers was a very difficult decision for the government to take, but the government believes that the measures are necessary to create a sustainable refugee reception.
Rhe government's assessment is that the temporary law does not particularly affect LGBTQ asylum seekers when residence permits can no longer be granted to ”other persons in need of protection”. The criteria for refugee status and subsidiary protection remain unchanged - it is rather these criteria that are relevant for LGBTQ people. It is always the individual reasons that determine whether an asylum seeker has the right to stay in Sweden.
Dhe international refugee crisis in Europe is the most serious since the Second World War. Sweden has taken greater responsibility than any other country in the Western world and the Swedish people are showing great solidarity.
I lack of solidarity within the EU, the situation in Sweden became untenable. Sweden has received so many asylum seekers in a short time that important societal functions can no longer cope with the effort. In 2015, we received over 160 000 asylum seekers to Sweden. Authorities and municipalities have sounded the alarm that they can no longer offer a good reception and a good start for those granted residence permits.
RThe government has therefore proposed a series of temporary measures. For a period of time, asylum rules will be aligned with the minimum level in the EU to encourage more people to seek and be granted asylum in other European countries.
RThe government also continues to push for EU countries to take long-term joint responsibility for refugee reception in Europe.
RThe government's initiatives to address the challenges posed by the refugee situation are collected on: http://www.regeringen.se/regeringens-politik/regeringens-arbete-med-flyktingsituationen/.
