Category: Featured Large

Scandinavian Human Dignity Award 2017 to the Swedish Salvation Army for their work against trafficking in human beings

On November 22, the Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers and the Scandinavian Human Rights Committee awarded the Swedish Salvation Army with the Scandinavian Human Dignity Award. The award was given to the managers of the Salvation Army's sheltered housing for women exposed to trafficking, abuse and exploitation. The award ceremony took place in the Salvation Army's headquarters in Stockholm, with the presence of women and children living in the shelters of the Salvation Army.

Human trafficking, sexual abuse and violence - how can we cooperate to make a change?

The #MeToo campaign has spread throughout the world and raised a huge debate, even in Sweden. How can we support and protect victims of sexual abuse, domestic and honor-related violence and human trafficking? How can stakeholders cooperate to make a change?

Join us in the fight to abolish slavery and human trafficking

The Scandinavian Human Dignity Award is presented annually by the Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers & Committe, to a person or an organization which has made a special contribution to human rights, all of which derive from the inherent dignity of the human person and are essential for his free and full development. The 2016 Award winner is Dr. Denis Mukwege, Medical Director at the Panzi Hospital in Eastern Congo, where thousands of women and children that are victims of sexual violence and human trafficking, have been treated. Dr. Mukwege is world famous for his treatment to victims of rape in the conflict-ridden Congo and he has challenged both the UN and the international community and has become a spokesperson for the victims of the war in Congo.

Dr. Denis Mukwege winner of the Scandinavian Human Dignity Award 2016

The Scandinavian Human Dignity Award is presented annually by the Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers & Committe, to a person or an organization which has made a special contribution to human rights, all of which derive from the inherent dignity of the human person and are essential for his free and full development. The 2016 Award winner is Dr. Denis Mukwege, Medical Director at the Panzi Hospital in Eastern Congo, where thousands of women and children that are victims of sexual violence and human trafficking, have been treated. Dr. Mukwege is world famous for his treatment to victims of rape in the conflict-ridden Congo and he has challenged both the UN and the international community and has become a spokesperson for the victims of the war in Congo.

Linda Steen

On 22-26 September 2016, the trial concerning Linda Steen and Sörmlands Landsting will be held at the District Court of Nyköping. Linda Steen has filed a lawsuit against Sörmland County for violation of her freedom of conscience, freedom of religion and freedom of thought and opinion under the European Convention on Human Rights, and she has claimed damages for those violations. The European Convention, which is Swedish law since 1995, gives everyone, according to article 9, the right to freedom of conscience. This article may only be restricted if it is supported by law and if it is necessary in a democratic society.

Breaking: The European Court of Human Rights stops deportation

Breaking: The European Court of Human Rights stops deportation The European Court of Human Rights has decided to prevent the Swedish applicant’s deportation to Afghanistan in the case of M.H. v. Sweden. The duty judge has decided, in the interests of the parties and the proper conduct of the proceedings before it, to indicate to the Government of Sweden, under Rule 39, that the applicant should not be expelled for the duration of the proceedings before the Court. – The applicant has, during his stay in Sweden, converted from Islam to Christianity. The execution of the expulsion would entail a violation of Article 2 and 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights, as he on a return to Afghanistan would face the death penalty, torture or inhuman and degrading treatment, said Ruth Nordstrom, Senior Legal Counsel at Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers. – The applicant shows all the signs of having genuine Christian beliefs. He has exhausted all domestic remedies in Sweden. The Swedish authorities and courts have, at the initial determination of his asylum application, without reasonable grounds, made the assessment that his Christian beliefs are not genuine. An examination of how genuine the complainant’s faith is, has not been done since before October 2013, because the Courts did not consider that any new facts had emerged in the case, says Rebecca Ahlstrand, Legal Counsel at Scandianvian Human Rights Lawyers.