The DN of the Debate. A strong grass-roots support for the right to family reunification

Over the course of the centuries, we have slowly gained a human face in our country. Sometimes it's hidden, sometimes deeply hidden. However, there is a gold reserve.”

These are the words of the author Kerstin Ekman. Sweden has, throughout history, have shown that there is great sympathy and desire to help disadvantaged people, regardless of where they happen to be born. This year marks 75 years since the survivors of the Holocaust, was sent to Sweden by the Red cross's white buses at the end of world war ii. A political refugee from Chile in the ' 70's, and people on the run from the balkan war in the 90's, has been given the opportunity to build a future in Sweden. Sweden is seen as a humanitarian role-model in many parts of the world, not least as a result of our long-standing work in development assistance.

Thousands of volunteers from organizations working at the grassroots level, in order to help society's most vulnerable people. There are språkkaféer of the new arrivals, housing solutions for the people who don't have a roof over our heads, and the collection of large sums of money in order to help people in need around the world.

We can also see how a variety of laws, regulations, and policies affect people in very real ways in their daily lives. We will meet every day people who are struggling to learn English, get an education and eventually get a job. The civil society can do a lot, but in the end, it is our political decision-makers to set the framework we have been working in the field.

”During the course of the centuries, we have slowly gained a human face in our country. Sometimes it's hidden, sometimes deeply hidden. However, there is a gold reserve.” (Kerstin Ekman)

Our experience tells us that the family is the most important for most people. As a parent, you have to live away from their children and create a strong anxiety that makes it difficult to find a meaningful life and plan for the future. The stricter rules on family reunification, which has been introduced in Sweden, the ad hoc immigration, the aliens act has caused a great deal of suffering for many of the families at the same time, it also has made it more difficult the integration of those who are here. It's hard to learn a new language, and the education of a man forced to live away from their children.

in the Past, there was a chance for the children for humanitarian reasons, for example, seriously ill patients to be allowed to stay in Sweden. It was also an opportunity for the children who are staying for a longer period of time and is ingrained in society to be allowed to stay. This is the humanitarian basis, was substantially of the provisional law, with the result that the child, perhaps for the first time have hope for life, rather than being forced to live in fear of being deported. It is difficult to see how this limitation is not consistent with the facts.

Right now, there is a conversation between all of the parliamentary parties on the future of immigration legislation when a parliamentary committee. We have commissioned market research company Novus, ask the Swedish public, how to get to the three main questions on which the committee is discussing. The results show that there is a strong support for the right to family reunification and the humanitarian reasons to stay in Sweden. "

73 , per cent agree (completely or partly) to a child who has spent several years in Sweden and learned the Swedish language to be able to stay in Sweden. , 13 per cent reject it (in whole or in part).

62 , per cent agree (completely or partly) of that person for humanitarian reasons, for example illness of a child or an adult, should have the opportunity to stay in Sweden. 19% of distance ourselves from it (in whole or in part). < / span> 59 percent agree (completely or partially) of the children and their parents in the run up to be able to be reunited in Sweden. 23% taking the distance out of it (in whole or in part).

There are a majority of these beliefs in all the income groups and in urban as well as rural areas. The humanitarian and the gold reserve in Sweden, and seems to be intact, however, in the political debate, it is often different. Then, in 2015, it has been characterized by a large number of changes that have been implemented in order to achieve a rapid impact in order to reduce the number of asylum-seekers, but that they had the time to look at the humanitarian and social consequences. In recent times, various proposals have been presented in various ways to reduce the number of people who come to the united kingdom, but that account has been taken of the impact on the individual or on society as a whole.

for both our mental well-being and to their ability to integrate into the community. However, the effects have been disastrous for confidence in the justice system in general.

the parliamentary committee, the new law, families will continue to be forced to live fractured, or where the child's best interests are not priority to have a clearer view, we are in a real danger, both to the people in distress, and confidence in the justice system will continue to be damaged. Such a law is not going to gain the respect of the English people. There is a good chance that the system will need to continue to be patched and repaired during the coming year.

We are calling on the parliamentary migrationskommittén, and all of those to look to, and uphold the Swedish humanitarian perspective. We are of the opinion that:

the Right to family reunification should be ensured, both for refugees and for persons eligible for subsidiary protection. , It will not apply to conditions regarding maintenance, which in practice prevents the right to family reunification. < / p>

the Reinstatement of the rule that a residence permit may be granted if there are exceptionally compassionate circumstances. , or an especially distressing event for a child. < / p>

Sweden is now in need of a humane, just and sustainable immigration legislation when: , which allows families to live together, and that clearly protects the rights of the child. The vast majority of the population seems to feel the same way.
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