HUMAN RIGHTSHUMAN RIGHTS

Intercultural awareness - EqualityIntercultural awareness - Equality

Active CitizenshipActive Citizenship

What we need to focus on:What we need to focus on: The importance to inform about the human rightsThe importance to inform about the human rights How to stop the honour related violenceHow to stop the honour related violence Change attitudes and inform about our valuesChange attitudes and inform about our values The religious fundamental brainwash all over the The religious fundamental brainwash all over the

world and how that influence our society world and how that influence our society ((interreligious dialogueinterreligious dialogue))

The equality between men and women in the worldThe equality between men and women in the world To inform about which obligations and rights you To inform about which obligations and rights you

have in Swedenhave in Sweden Giving knowledge of the women’s struggle in Sweden Giving knowledge of the women’s struggle in Sweden

to reach equality as well as elsewhere in the world to reach equality as well as elsewhere in the world To help our new citizens to live a free lifeTo help our new citizens to live a free life Being a member of the Network Being a member of the Network www.minheder.nuwww.minheder.nu

The defence of secularismThe defence of secularism The patriarchal system is 4000 years old and is The patriarchal system is 4000 years old and is

deeply rooted in all religions, that themselves deeply rooted in all religions, that themselves have become one of its key factors.have become one of its key factors.

Gender equality is part of universal values that Gender equality is part of universal values that imply the principle of secular culture. Women’s imply the principle of secular culture. Women’s full citizenship and implementation of human full citizenship and implementation of human rights should supersede and even disqualify all rights should supersede and even disqualify all references to specific culture or religion.references to specific culture or religion.

The building of a Europe of solidarity, peace and The building of a Europe of solidarity, peace and equality means raising consciousness of the equality means raising consciousness of the essential link that exists between the struggle for essential link that exists between the struggle for implementation of women’s rights, especially implementation of women’s rights, especially sexual and reproductive rights and freedom of sexual and reproductive rights and freedom of sexual orientation and the defence of secularism. sexual orientation and the defence of secularism.

EYID, EYID, European YearEuropean Year of Intercultural Dialogue of Intercultural Dialogue

2008 was by 2008 was by the EU considered as the EU considered as the European year of intercultural dialoguethe European year of intercultural dialogue

This year was supposed to create communication This year was supposed to create communication and understanding between citizen and cultures in and understanding between citizen and cultures in EuropeEurope

It coincided with the launching of It coincided with the launching of the newthe new European integration fundEuropean integration fund – –

It would give support to organisations and It would give support to organisations and authorities through developing projects which in authorities through developing projects which in turn will improve the integration of the immigrants turn will improve the integration of the immigrants in the member countries – by giving strength to in the member countries – by giving strength to

The intercultural and interreligious dialogueThe intercultural and interreligious dialogue

Inter-religious dialogueInter-religious dialogue Secular society often lacks the ability to discuss Secular society often lacks the ability to discuss

and handle social, cultural and existential issues and handle social, cultural and existential issues that form core valuesthat form core values

Municipalities have to date provided new arrivals Municipalities have to date provided new arrivals with social and cultural informationwith social and cultural information

This can happen in conjunction with language This can happen in conjunction with language training for immigrantstraining for immigrants

It can prevent potential conflicts caused by It can prevent potential conflicts caused by differences in cultural and religious practicesdifferences in cultural and religious practices

This can also ensure better integration of third-This can also ensure better integration of third-country nationals in the societies, values and country nationals in the societies, values and ways of lifeways of life

The immigration to SwedenThe immigration to SwedenQuestions?Questions?

The Swedish society has had the biggest social The Swedish society has had the biggest social transformation during our lifetimetransformation during our lifetime

We have given permanent We have given permanent residence permits to to over 1 million immigrants since 1980 (the most per over 1 million immigrants since 1980 (the most per capita in the EU) and on top of that to 500 000 capita in the EU) and on top of that to 500 000 relativesrelatives

We have not discussed what we demand from themWe have not discussed what we demand from them Many of them are coming from undemocratic, Many of them are coming from undemocratic,

fundamental countries with no human rightsfundamental countries with no human rights Do they have to learn about our values? Do they have to learn about our values? Difficulty to discuss the immigration, you may be Difficulty to discuss the immigration, you may be

called racist, islamofobic, hostile to foreignerscalled racist, islamofobic, hostile to foreigners Our ability and resources to take care of those who Our ability and resources to take care of those who

are here in a correct way?are here in a correct way? Lack of means to give everyone a good start in Lack of means to give everyone a good start in

Sweden?Sweden?

The search for moneyThe search for money Many phone calls to politicians, Many phone calls to politicians,

authorities etc.authorities etc. Lots of interest in what we are doing – Lots of interest in what we are doing –

this is what all the SFI-schools should dothis is what all the SFI-schools should do Many promises of giving moneyMany promises of giving money One especially – Länsstyrelsen in Stockholm, One especially – Länsstyrelsen in Stockholm,

still no moneystill no money Where has all the money gone? Lots of expensive Where has all the money gone? Lots of expensive

projects with no result in real life in the SFI schools projects with no result in real life in the SFI schools The expert of equality in Stockholm was going to The expert of equality in Stockholm was going to

spread my request of money to all it may concernspread my request of money to all it may concern Letter to the minister of integration – no replyLetter to the minister of integration – no reply So what to do?So what to do?

Themes we could inform about in Themes we could inform about in Sfi, Swedish for immigrants:Sfi, Swedish for immigrants:

MobbingMobbing Game addictionGame addiction DrugsDrugs AssaultAssault The moral in SwedenThe moral in Sweden PoliticsPolitics Rights, ObligationsRights, Obligations Family, ParenthoodFamily, Parenthood Government and parliamentGovernment and parliament Healthcare-informationHealthcare-information ReligionReligion CongregationsCongregations SportsSports Racism Racism

The compulsory schoolThe compulsory school Education, studiesEducation, studies Marriage, SamboMarriage, Sambo Immigrants and the defenceImmigrants and the defence Culture supportCulture support Retirement and old ageRetirement and old age DemocracyDemocracy Housing and environmentHousing and environment Traffic rulesTraffic rules Rights to get translationRights to get translation CriminalityCriminality Immigrant organisationsImmigrant organisations National registrationNational registration Honour related violenceHonour related violence

The most importantThe most importantJoy and inspirationJoy and inspiration

Support and response from the society around usSupport and response from the society around us Firm directivesFirm directives that this is that this is something prioritizedsomething prioritized Money to invest in our important work to give our new Money to invest in our important work to give our new

citizens knowledge of democratic values and human citizens knowledge of democratic values and human rightsrights

Two whole days to get together for planningTwo whole days to get together for planning Time to create good material & new methodsTime to create good material & new methods Staff education – integration consultsStaff education – integration consults

What did we need?What did we need?To succeed!To succeed!

How to go on?How to go on? Not giving upNot giving up, keeping up the good spirit, keeping up the good spirit Persuade the politicians of the importance to implement the Persuade the politicians of the importance to implement the

knowledge of knowledge of HUMAN RIGHTSHUMAN RIGHTS in the SFI schools in the SFI schools Thinking of all the women, children and menThinking of all the women, children and men who are who are

suffering in undemocratic, fundamentalist countries suffering in undemocratic, fundamentalist countries Give them Give them hope of changehope of change when they come here when they come here Inform them that in Sweden we have Inform them that in Sweden we have liberty of thought, liberty of thought,

expression and religionexpression and religion Let our new citizens know that they have come to a Let our new citizens know that they have come to a

democratic, equal societydemocratic, equal society where everybody are where everybody are responsibleresponsible of keeping it that way of keeping it that way

Perhaps we can use Perhaps we can use the newthe new European integration fundEuropean integration fund I mentioned about at the beginning of this presentation. Who I mentioned about at the beginning of this presentation. Who knows?knows?

When will the politicians take a stand for the When will the politicians take a stand for the HUMAN RIGHTSHUMAN RIGHTS to be to be WOMEN RIGHTSWOMEN RIGHTS??