Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt is visiting China on mid-April - a state visit intended to strengthen the Swedish and Chinese economic and trade relations. He will meet with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao as well as President Hu Jintao. It would be the first state visit to China of a Swedish prime minister in twelve years.
It is understandable that bilateral economic and trade issues are a priority on the agenda, considering how China is expanding astronomically in both areas especially in Europe. The importance of this particular issue is evidenced by a strong contingent of 20 to 30 representatives from the Swedish business sector.
On the agenda is also climate and environment technology, which is more or less expected in the light of Sweden's presidency of the European Union in 2009, when the UN negotiates on a new climate agreement, there China plays a key role.
But there is a strong pressure coming from human rights lobbyists in Sweden, in particular the Amnesty International, Swedish Section for the Swedish Prime Minister to take a tough stance against China's human rights record. AI states in particular that Reinfeldt must take up a critical position against forced transfers and detention of human rights activists without due process.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Gov't tightens requirements for asylum-seekers' family
Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's Alliance government has recently announced tightened requirements on asylum seekers who want to bring their families to Sweden. "The must stand on their own feet", headlined the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter. The process of examining details of the stricter requirement for bringing in family members are now in process, such as demand for source of income and housing. According to the government, the work requirement will be crucial.
"It is our responsibility to see that a multiethnic society works better", Reinfeldt was quoted as saying when he presented the directives. "An important ground is the possibility to stand on one's own feet. It is good that many foreign- born today have jobs. In this working line is included the decision to demand that an asylum-seeker has the capacity to provide for his family," he added.
Asylum-seeker should have regular jobs, although not necessarily permanent, in order to bring to Sweden their family members. But those under the refugee convention are exempted from the requirement. Similar demands are now practiced in all European Union member-countries except Sweden and Belgium.
The Christian Social Democrats in the Alliance want to modify the requirement by extending a four-year period for the income-support demand. How the housing requirement will shape up remains in the hands of a current investigation.
Migration Minister Tobias Billström has not given any statistics on how many family dependents wanting to come to Sweden were denied for reasons of failed compliance with the income-support requirement. The Social Democratic government reportedly did the same investigation into the income requirement, but released no views on it. "It is not an unreasonable idea but not the best solution", says Magdalena Streiffert, political refugee spokesman for the opposition Social Democratic party. The Leftist party opposed the new requirement saying that " it is the worst violation of refugees' human rights".
"It is our responsibility to see that a multiethnic society works better", Reinfeldt was quoted as saying when he presented the directives. "An important ground is the possibility to stand on one's own feet. It is good that many foreign- born today have jobs. In this working line is included the decision to demand that an asylum-seeker has the capacity to provide for his family," he added.
Asylum-seeker should have regular jobs, although not necessarily permanent, in order to bring to Sweden their family members. But those under the refugee convention are exempted from the requirement. Similar demands are now practiced in all European Union member-countries except Sweden and Belgium.
The Christian Social Democrats in the Alliance want to modify the requirement by extending a four-year period for the income-support demand. How the housing requirement will shape up remains in the hands of a current investigation.
Migration Minister Tobias Billström has not given any statistics on how many family dependents wanting to come to Sweden were denied for reasons of failed compliance with the income-support requirement. The Social Democratic government reportedly did the same investigation into the income requirement, but released no views on it. "It is not an unreasonable idea but not the best solution", says Magdalena Streiffert, political refugee spokesman for the opposition Social Democratic party. The Leftist party opposed the new requirement saying that " it is the worst violation of refugees' human rights".
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Sweden's gender equality remains wanting
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has recently released during its Fortieth session, an assessment report on the gender equality performance of Sweden. It noted Sweden's adoption of a national human rights plan of action for 2006-2009, which focuses on protection against discrimination, as well as the adoption in May 2006 of a new gender equality priorities. The government has also increased by tenfold the budget for gender equality policy, as well as the promotion of gender mainstreaming throughout the governmental bodies.
The Committee also noted the adoption in November 2007, of an action plan to combat men's violence against women, violence and oppression in the name of honour and violence in same sex relationships. Furthermore, the amendment of the Swedish Aliens Act of 2006 to grant refugee status to persons claiming fear of persecution on grounds of gender and sexual orientation was also acknowledged. Another positive contribution was the amendment of the Abortion Act in Nov. 2007, wherein women can have abortion in Sweden even if they are not Swedish citizens.
But Sweden's gender equality performance requires further improvement, the CEDAW committee stated in its report. It noted that the Swedish constitution is "gender-blind" or not "gender-sensitive" and that the concept of gender equality is not in line with the Convention. It is recommending that Sweden's future Anti-Discrimination Act, which will cover seven areas of discrimination be made part of the domestic law.
The Committee also urges Sweden to use the Anti-Discrimination Act to strengthen the national legislative framework for the protection of the human rights of women, as well as increasing the awareness among judges, prosecutors and lawyers of the Convention, through practical reference to it in all aspects of its work. Although Sweden has already been gender mainstreaming at the municipal, regional and governmental levels under its 2004-2009 plan, the Committee noted that the plan "lacks effective monitoring and accountability mechanisms, including sanctions for non-compliance.
The Committee expressed its concern over the "persistence of stereotypical attitudes towards women" particularly in media, in what it calls the "sexualization of the public sphere." It is urging Sweden to use strategies to combat the sexualization of the public sphere, in order to insure that media coverage is non-discriminatory.
In addition, the Committee noted the low percentage of women in the academia. It is recommending the use of temporary special measures like quotas or goals.
The report also noted the women's high level of participation in the labour market and asks that measures should be taken by the Swedish government, to encourage the trend by enabling women to cope with both their work and their family life through the extended maternity and paternity leave schemes.
In addition, the report also noted the high prevalence of violence against women and girls, particularly those committed in the name of honour. Furthermore, it stated that there is a low prosecution and conviction rate of crimes related to violence, and that Swedish crime statistics are not sex-specific. There are also no statistics of women and girls living in Sweden, who have been genitally mutilated.
The Committee acknowledges the progress made to address the issue of trafficking, which includes the ratification in July 1, 2004 of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. But it is concerned with the trafficking of women and girls into Sweden and the insufficient data of its prevalence. It is equally concerned at the occurrence of trafficking in girls, prostitution and similar crimes committed by Swedish men abroad. It is recommending that passports not be re-issued to those freed after posting bail, for committing crimes of sexual exploitation abroad.#
( Source: CEDAW Fortieth Session, 14 January-1 February, 2008. Advanced Unedited Version)
The Committee also noted the adoption in November 2007, of an action plan to combat men's violence against women, violence and oppression in the name of honour and violence in same sex relationships. Furthermore, the amendment of the Swedish Aliens Act of 2006 to grant refugee status to persons claiming fear of persecution on grounds of gender and sexual orientation was also acknowledged. Another positive contribution was the amendment of the Abortion Act in Nov. 2007, wherein women can have abortion in Sweden even if they are not Swedish citizens.
But Sweden's gender equality performance requires further improvement, the CEDAW committee stated in its report. It noted that the Swedish constitution is "gender-blind" or not "gender-sensitive" and that the concept of gender equality is not in line with the Convention. It is recommending that Sweden's future Anti-Discrimination Act, which will cover seven areas of discrimination be made part of the domestic law.
The Committee also urges Sweden to use the Anti-Discrimination Act to strengthen the national legislative framework for the protection of the human rights of women, as well as increasing the awareness among judges, prosecutors and lawyers of the Convention, through practical reference to it in all aspects of its work. Although Sweden has already been gender mainstreaming at the municipal, regional and governmental levels under its 2004-2009 plan, the Committee noted that the plan "lacks effective monitoring and accountability mechanisms, including sanctions for non-compliance.
The Committee expressed its concern over the "persistence of stereotypical attitudes towards women" particularly in media, in what it calls the "sexualization of the public sphere." It is urging Sweden to use strategies to combat the sexualization of the public sphere, in order to insure that media coverage is non-discriminatory.
In addition, the Committee noted the low percentage of women in the academia. It is recommending the use of temporary special measures like quotas or goals.
The report also noted the women's high level of participation in the labour market and asks that measures should be taken by the Swedish government, to encourage the trend by enabling women to cope with both their work and their family life through the extended maternity and paternity leave schemes.
In addition, the report also noted the high prevalence of violence against women and girls, particularly those committed in the name of honour. Furthermore, it stated that there is a low prosecution and conviction rate of crimes related to violence, and that Swedish crime statistics are not sex-specific. There are also no statistics of women and girls living in Sweden, who have been genitally mutilated.
The Committee acknowledges the progress made to address the issue of trafficking, which includes the ratification in July 1, 2004 of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. But it is concerned with the trafficking of women and girls into Sweden and the insufficient data of its prevalence. It is equally concerned at the occurrence of trafficking in girls, prostitution and similar crimes committed by Swedish men abroad. It is recommending that passports not be re-issued to those freed after posting bail, for committing crimes of sexual exploitation abroad.#
( Source: CEDAW Fortieth Session, 14 January-1 February, 2008. Advanced Unedited Version)
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Reinfeldt hopes for Obama as US president
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt hopes to see Barack Obama Jr. as next president of United States, Dagens Nyheter reports Wednesday ( Feb. 6, 2008). He states that Obama has the best economic policy, even if " he seems not to understand the value of free trade".
"It is difficult to go against one's own politic. Obama's position on income tax deduction for low and middle income earners look like a copy of the Alliance government", Reinfeldt told journalists during a press encounter at the Swedish parliament.
Reinfeldt has often expressed his appreciation for fomer US President Bill Clinton - husband of top-running Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton. Today, he thinks that Obama represents a more "Clintonish" politics than Hilary. While Hilary Clinton's economic advisers were also with her husband's presidential time, Barack Obama leans towards younger academics than those with political roots. Reinfeldt sees similarities with his own Finance Minister Anders Borg and other national Swedish economists.
With Obama Reinfeldt feels likewise that tax reduction would entice more senior wage earners to stay longer in ther labour market. Hence, he thinks that Hilary Clinton is not exactly precise in her politics that targets low-income wage earners, thus creating more jobs.
On climate issues - a very urgent issue among nations these days, Reinfeldt thinks that Obama and aspiring Republican candidate John McCain have the best policy position. "Just as well since many Americans seem
panic-attacked by carbon dioxide tax. But if the transport sector is exempted, it will be difficult to achieve the carbon emission goal", Reinfeldt says.
But Reinfeldt thinks that we would not fit in, in the American politics that readily accepts the death sentence, runs for public office and declares belief in God.
(Translated from DN, Feb. 6, 2008)
"It is difficult to go against one's own politic. Obama's position on income tax deduction for low and middle income earners look like a copy of the Alliance government", Reinfeldt told journalists during a press encounter at the Swedish parliament.
Reinfeldt has often expressed his appreciation for fomer US President Bill Clinton - husband of top-running Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton. Today, he thinks that Obama represents a more "Clintonish" politics than Hilary. While Hilary Clinton's economic advisers were also with her husband's presidential time, Barack Obama leans towards younger academics than those with political roots. Reinfeldt sees similarities with his own Finance Minister Anders Borg and other national Swedish economists.
With Obama Reinfeldt feels likewise that tax reduction would entice more senior wage earners to stay longer in ther labour market. Hence, he thinks that Hilary Clinton is not exactly precise in her politics that targets low-income wage earners, thus creating more jobs.
On climate issues - a very urgent issue among nations these days, Reinfeldt thinks that Obama and aspiring Republican candidate John McCain have the best policy position. "Just as well since many Americans seem
panic-attacked by carbon dioxide tax. But if the transport sector is exempted, it will be difficult to achieve the carbon emission goal", Reinfeldt says.
But Reinfeldt thinks that we would not fit in, in the American politics that readily accepts the death sentence, runs for public office and declares belief in God.
(Translated from DN, Feb. 6, 2008)
Monday, February 4, 2008
New plan of action against child sex tourism adopted
The Swedish government has adopted a new plan of action to fight child sex tourism, Network Europe announced recently. The move was welcomed by non-governmental organisations such as ECPAT, short for End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism.
Sweden, an early signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child or CRC has been at the forefront of the international campaign to stop "trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children and women." CRC is almost universally ratified. Related to the CRC is the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, or CEDAW, which is also widely recognised. Despite the over-reaching protection extended by a number of international legal instruments, the problem of child sex tourism and trafficking of women remains enormous.
Ms. Mehr Khan, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and Pacific Region reported that in the region alone it is estimated that 14 percent of the GNP is generated by the commercial sex industry. There are major actors with strong financial interest to continue with the business of commercialising sex tourism, he added. Statistically, he estimated that "one-third of global trafficking of women and children takes place within and from Southeast Asia representing 230,000 women and children." Of these, 60 percent go to major cities in the region and 40 percent, to the rest of the world. The United Nations, on the other hand, estimated "the global total of child victims of trafficking to be around 1.2 million, which suggests perhaps 300,000 to 400,000 in the region," Khan reported.
It is all too well-known that the main root cause of the problem is poverty. Traffickers prey on the poorest families especially in countries like the Philippines, Thailand, India and even United States. Poverty is exaggerated by exposure to domestic violence and ethnic conflicts. Dysfunctional family systems also contribute to trafficking and sex tourism.
In a related UN report, it is stated that Thailand ranks third after India and USA in the number of child prostitutes. UN stated that about 400,000 women and children are believed sexually-exploited in India; between 244,00 and 325,000 in the USA; 200,000 in Thailand; 175,000 in eastern and central Europe; 100,000 in Brazil and 35,000 in West Africa. The report also stated that sex tourism accounted for 10 to 14 percent of Thailand's GNP from 1993 to 1995.
The statistics on trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and minors are overwhelming. Even if they are exaggerated, it does not reduce by any ounce the magnitude of these social issues. Every day, every hour and every minute - in several parts of the world - a woman or a child is being abused physically, sexually and commercially. After 20 years of interpreting the CRC on many national levels, the end result is still wanting. As Swedish ECPAT Director-General Helena Karlen was quoted as saying: "There will be no Volvo cars, if there were no buyers."#
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