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

         

Members of the Scandinavian Human Rights Committee together with the award winners. Photographer: Johan Rudén

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.

- In recent years, Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers have collaborated with the shelters of the Salvation Army and closely monitored how the practical relief efforts contribute to the protection, support and restoration of some of the society's most vulnerable. The Salvation Army also works with preventive efforts by spreading information and raising awareness about the issue and has developed a very good educational material. They also conduct outreach activities, which is very important, as many victims of trafficking do not dare to report the crimes they have been exposed to, the police. We are very pleased about the cooperation with the Salvation Army and to be able to award the managers of the shelters for victims of human trafficking with the Scandinavian Human Dignity Award 2017, said Ruth Nordström, Senior Legal Counsel and Chairman of the Scandinavian Human Rights Committee.

- The Salvation Army comes into contact with human trafficking daily through its extensive social work and through a national support program, the vulnerable victims of trafficking and violence and their families are accommodated in housing. Trafficking in human beings is the slavery of our time and constitute serious violations of a number of human rights, where women and children are particularly vulnerable victims. The Salvation Army's efforts to protect vulnerable victims of trafficking in human beings and to strengthen their hope and belief in the future, give them confidence and promote their rights and freedoms, are highly honorable, said Rebecca Ahlstrand, lawyer and member of the Scandinavian Human Rights Committee.

-In my work to help the prostitutes on Malmskillnadsgatan, I meet the vulnerable of society, and I have been exposed to sexual abuse and sold to prostitution myself. When I received the prize in 2013, I was deeply moved to see the statue, which showed a broken man who rises to his full human dignity. I felt it was my life that was symbolized. The Salvation Army's work, which is unique, is based on the value of all human beings. The Scandinavian Human Dignity Award symbolizes their work to give people an established human worth, said Elise Lindqvist, member of the Scandinavian Human Rights Committée.

Members of the Scandinavian Human Rights Committee are: Senior Legal Counsel, Ruth Nordström, President, Professor Reinhold Fahlbeck, Professor Kjell O Leijon, Elise Lindqvist, the “Angel in Malmskillnadsgatan” (the prostitution street of Stockholm), Johan Rudén, Education Advisor, Rebecca Ahlstrand, Lawyer, and Marianne Lidskog, Deacon and former Diplomat.

In 2013, Elise Lindqvist, the “Angel in Malmskillnadsgatan” (the prostitution street of Stockholm) received award. Year 2014, the prize ceremony was held in the European Parliament in Brussels and awarded to the Council of Europe's Trafficking Report, José Mendes Bota, at a seminar about trafficking and the Swedish sex purchase law. The Scandinavian Human Dignity Award 2015 was awarded Lars Adaktusson at a parliamentary seminar with the theme: "There is a genocide in the Middle East - What are we doing about it?"

The 2016 winner of prize was Dr. Denis Mukwege, chief physician at Panzis Hospital in east DR Congo, where tens of thousands of women and children, exposed to sexual violence, have received care. Dr. Mukwege is world-renowned for his work for raped and sexually abused women and he has challenged both the UN and the international community and has become a spokesperson for war victims in Congo.

For more information, see: http://humanrightslawyers.eu/scandinavian-human-dignity-award/

For more info contact:

Senior Legal Counsel Ruth Nordström
Phone: +46 (0)18 - 750 52 11
Mobile +46 (0)70 - 725 19 17
E-mail: info@shrl.eu
Web: www.shrl.eu

Kremena Hultby and Carolina Nilsson, Salvation Army´s managers of the shelters for victims of human trafficking. Photographer: Johan Rudén

Swedish Salvation Army´s Chief Secretary Kjell Olausson, receiving the Scandinavian Human Dignity Award together with the managers of the shelters for victims of human trafficking. Photographer: Johan Rudén

Elise Lindqvist, the Angel in Malmskillnadsgatan (the prostitution street of Stockholm), Rebecca Ahlstrand, lawyer, and Ruth Nordström, president of the Scandinavian Human Rights Committee. Photographer: Johan Rudén

Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers is a Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights and human dignity in Scandinavia and Europe. Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers implements an effective strategy of advocacy, networking and education on legal issues.

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

Press release November 10, 2017

Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers
Nov 10, 2017 - PRESS RELEASE
Phone:  +46 (0) 18 – 750 52 11 / Email: info@shrl.eu

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

On November 9, representatives from Uppsala University, the police authority, lawyers, researchers and NGO:s will gathered for a conference at Uppsala Concert and Congress Hall. The conference was part of an EU project called Pro Victims Justice through an Enhanced Rights Protection and Stakeholders Cooperation. 
 
The presentations from the seminar can be watched here: https://media.medfarm.uu.se/play/video/7425
Pictures from the seminar here

 

Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers is a Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights and human dignity in Scandinavia and Europe. Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers implements an effective strategy of advocacy, networking and education on legal issues.

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?

On November 9, representatives from Uppsala University, the police authority, lawyers, researchers and NGO:s will gather for a conference at Uppsala Concert and Congress. Even Elise Lindqvist - The Angel on Malmskillnadsgatan, the prostitution street of Stockholm, will participate.
The conference is part of an EU project, funded by the EU Commission, called Pro Victims Justice through an Enhanced Rights Protection and Stakeholders Cooperation, in collaboration with UFOLD, Uppsala University, Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers, Landespräventionsrat Niedersachen am Justizministerium Niedersachen, Germany, Center for the Study of Democracy, Bulgaria, Uniunea Nationala a Barourilor your Romania, Romania, and ASOCIATA PRO REFUGIU, Romania.
Note: Limited number of seats, only a few places left. Sign up for your interest in the conference at info@shrl.eu
Event Schedule

 

The European Court of Human Rights makes final decision in human trafficking case

Press release October 18, 2017
EU Anti Human Trafficking Day

Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers
Oct 18, 2017 - PRESS RELEASE
Phone:  +46 (0) 18 – 750 52 11 / Email: info@shrl.eu

The European Court of Human Rights makes final decision in human trafficking case

On October 5, 2017 the European Court of Human Rights decided to close the case of C.A. and P.A. v. Sweden (75348/16) as the Swedish authorities have now assured the European Court that a 28-year-old mother and her 6-year-old daughter will not be transferred to Italy but will have their application for asylum examined in Sweden. The European Court of Human Rights therefore considers that the family is no longer at risk of inhumane and degrading treatment or slavery in the form of trafficking in human beings in Italy, thus closing the case.

The background of the case is that, on December 9, 2016, the European Court stopped the transfer of the woman and her daughter to Italy in accordance with the Dublin Regulation when Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers made a notification under Rule 39. The European Court decided to stop the transfer, which has been decided by the Swedish authorities, until further notice as there were no individual guarantees for protection and assistance from Italy, where they were previously exposed to gross trafficking in human beings. The Swedish Government pointed out that Italy provided general guarantees, but this was not considered sufficient and on December 21, 2016, the European Court decided on further interim measures.

The mother and daughter are fleeing from traffickers who sold the mother as a sex slave in Italy. They put a gun against the daughter's tinning, lit cigarettes and burned her on the body. Then they raped the mother while her daughter was forced to watch. The daughter saw the assault and how the mother was beaten and battered until she bled. Because of the trauma, the daughter stopped eating, talking and playing and was forced to wear diapers again. The traffickers took their passports and paper, cut off their hair and threatened to kill them. They have told the mother that wherever she hides, they will look for her and kill her and her daughter. With help the mother and daughter were able to flee to Sweden, but the Swedish Immigration Service and Swedish courts decided to send them back to Italy, where they were previously were subjected to trafficking in human beings.

- We are rejoicing with our clients who are now protected from being transferred to Italy where they are at risk of being subjected to human trafficking and abuse by the traffickers that previously raped, sold and threatened them", said Ruth Nordström, Chief Counsel of Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers.

- Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers hope that Swedish authorities will take the interim decision of the European Court seriously and change the practice of routinely transferring human trafficking victims to other European countries where they at risk of being traumatized and abused by traffickers”, says Rebecca Ahlstrand, lawyer of Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers.

- Swedish authorities need to increase knowledge about trafficking in human beings and the commitments that Sweden has undertaken, such as the European Convention, EU Law and the Council of Europe Convention on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. Today, knowledge within decision-making authorities needs to be enhanced and changes in practices are needed - we hope this decision can influence the authorities, says Ruth Nordström, Chief Counsel of Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers.

Read the entire decision: HERE

Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers is a Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights and human dignity in Scandinavia and Europe. Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers implements an effective strategy of advocacy, networking and education on legal issues.

Swedish Midwives file case before the European Court of Human Rights

Press release 16 June 2017

Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers
16 June, 2017 – PRESS RELEASE
Phone: +46 70 725 19 17 / Email: info@shrl.eu

Swedish Midwives file case before the European Court of Human Rights

On 14 June two Swedish midwives together with the Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers filed a complaint against Sweden to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg for violations of the right to freedom of conscience and freedom of expression under the European Convention on Human Rights.

- During an acute midwife shortage in Sweden, where over eighty percent of the County councils that run local hospitals have reported having trouble recruiting midwives, Ellinor Grimmark and Linda Steen have been denied the right to work within their profession, because of their conscientious objection to abortion. This is a severe violation of their Convention protected rights, said Ruth Nordström, Senior legal counsel, Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers.

- In the Council of Europe region freedom of conscience for medical practitioners is almost universally protected. With the exception of Sweden, every EU member state has either a general law protecting freedom of conscience, or a specific law protecting medical practitioners’ rights of conscience. The majority of States have both a general provision and a specific law, said Ruth Nordström.

- The consensus in Europe is a reflection of the fundamental nature of the right to freedom of conscience generally, and within the medical profession in particular. There is a clear common ground both in Europe and internationally that health care professionals should be granted the right to conscientious objection, said Jörgen Olson, Senior legal counsel.

- To able to justify an interference in the right to freedom of conscience, a state must advance convincing and compelling reasons corresponding to a “pressing social need”, according to the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. However, the facts made out in the the current cases make it clear that there is no “pressing social need” to force all midwives to participate in abortions or to ban midwives Linda Steen and Ellinor Grimmark and likeminded midwives from their work within delivery care or postnatal care, quite the opposite, said legal counsel Rebecca Ahlstrand.

FACTS on Freedom of Consience in Europe:

Skandinaviska Människorättsjuristerna (SHRL) är en skandinavisk juristorganisation som arbetar med att främja mänskliga rättigheter i Europa. SHRL är medlem i EU:s plattform för mänskliga rättigheter, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights http://fra.europa.eu/en)

SHRL arbetar via internationella nätverk och organ och som styrdokument finns FN:s deklaration om mänskliga rättigheter, Barnkonventionen, Europakonventionen om de mänskliga rättigheterna och Europarådets konvention om bekämpande av människohandel. SHRL och Scandinavian Human Rights Committee delar årligen ut priset Scandinavian Human Dignity Award.

Swedish Midwives file complaints to the European Court of Human Rights

On the 14 June 2017 two Swedish midwives, Ellinor Grimmark and Linda Steen, filed complaints against Sweden for violations of their freedom of conscience and religion to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Ellinor Grimmark has been denied employment as a midwife at the Högland Hospital women’s clinic and at Ryhov women's clinic and her employment at the hospital of Värnamo was terminated. Ellinor Grimmark was granted a job as a midwife, with respect of her freedom of conscience at Värnamo women's clinic, but the County Council of Jönköping terminated the employment because Ellinor Grimmark’s opinion on abortion had been made public through a news article in the local media.

Linda Steen had a contract with Nyköping Hospital women’s clinic within the County of Sörmland, in which they had agreed that she was to work within the clinic for two years after her midwife studies. However, the County broke the contract when she informed them that she was unable to perform abortions due to her faith and her conscience. She has to commute to Norway, where she can work as a midwife with freedom of conscience.

-During an acute midwife shortage and major crisis within delivery care, where over eighty percent of the County Councils that run local hospitals in Sweden have reported having trouble recruiting midwives, Ellinor Grimmark and Linda Steen have been denied the right to work within her profession, because of their conscientious objection to abortion. Article 9 of the European Convention gives everyone the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and any restrictions in these rights have to be prescribed by law and measure have to be proportionate and necessary in a democratic society, said senior legal counsel, Ruth Nordström.

-It cannot be considered proportionate or necessary to prohibit midwives from working in delivery care or postpartum care, especially considering that there is such shortage on midwives in Sweden. Patient safety within delivery care is threatened and forcing midwives to work in Norway is contrary to women’s rights and the right to adequate health care, said senior legal counsel, Ruth Nordström

-  Ellinor Grimmark´s and Lindas Steen´s rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion have been violated through the actions of Swedish authorities and through the systematic and ongoing prohibition for them and others likeminded to be employed as midwives within Swedish healthcare. There is a wide consensus among the European states, including the neighboring Scandinavian countries, Norway and Denmark, to protect health care worker´s rights according to the Convention, said legal counsel Rebecca Ahlstrand.

- A majority of all member states of the Council of Europe, including the neighboring countries Norway and Denmark, protect the right to freedom of conscience for health care professionals in law or practice. Against this background, the Swedish authorities cannot claim that it is not possible to accommodate conscientious objections in healthcare, says Jörgen Olson, senior legal counsel.

Swedish Midwives file case before the European Court of Human Rights

On 14 June two Swedish midwives together with the Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers will file a complaint against Sweden to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg for violations of the right to freedom of conscience and freedom and speech under the European Convention on Human Rights.

A background/press briefing will be held at the Hilton Hotel Strasbourg and the midwives, Ellinor Grimmark and Linda Steen, will give statements concerning their case together with legal counsels. There will be time afforded for questions and interviews during and after the briefing.

A light lunch will be served the attendants.

Time:
1 pm -1.30 pm, Wednesday June 14

Place: 
The Hilton Hotel, 1 Avenue Herrenschmidt, 67000 Strasbourg, France

Speakers:
Midwife Ellinor Grimmark, midwife Linda Steen, Senior legal counsels Ruth Nordström and Jörgen Olson

For questions or interview booking, please contact info@shrl.eu

”Sweden should protect human rights for health care workers”

During an acute midwife shortage in Sweden, where over eighty percent of the County councils that run local hospitals have reported having trouble recruiting midwives, Ellinor Grimmark and Linda Steen have been denied the right to work within their profession, because of their conscientious objection to abortion.

Both Ms. Grimmark and Linda Steen are Christians and they knew that some midwives participate in abortions, but they assumed that the hospitals would offer them work within delivery care and postnatal care.

In November 2013, Höglandssjukhuset women’s clinic withdrew a job offer as a midwife from Grimmark after she explained that she could not perform abortions because of her conscientious objection and her Christian faith. The head of the maternity ward said that Grimmark “was no longer welcome to work with them” and questioned “whether a person with such views actually can become a midwife.” A few months later, Grimmark tried to obtain employment with Ryhovs women’s clinic, which told her that a “person who refuses to perform abortions does not belong at a women’s clinic”.

In January 2014, Värnamo Hospital’s women’s clinic offered Grimmark a job within the delivery ward, but then withdrew employment because she had expressed her opinion in the media regarding abortion. The head of the hospital told Grimmark that no employee was allowed to “publicly take a stand against abortion”. Ms Grimmark was offered counseling to help her come to terms with abortions and change her mind.

The case of Ellinor Grimmark has been hugely debated in Sweden and speaking at a panel on Islamist extremism in 2015, Mona Sahlin, a prominent politician and former Swedish government antiterrorism coordinator, argued that “those who refuse to perform abortions are in my opinion extreme religious practitioners, not unlike jihadists”.

The other Applicant, Linda Steen had a contractual employment with Sörmland County council, which was broken by the County council. She was also exposed to several offensive statements about her beliefs.

- Ellinor Grimmark and Ellinor Grimmark have been unjustly denied employment by four different hospitals because of their conscientious objection to abortion and Ms Grimmark has also lost a job because she expressed her opinion publicly in the media. Sweden is required to safeguard the right to freedom of expression and freedom of conscience under the European Convention on Human Rights, said Senior Legal Counsel, Ruth Nordström.

- There has been and still is a major crisis within delivery care because of the huge shortage of midwives and Sweden should, just like our neighboring countries Norway and Denmark, protect the human rights of health care workers. There is a wide consensus among the European states to protect health care worker´s right to freedom of conscience, said Legal Counsel Rebecca Ahlstrand.

- Linda Steens and Ellinor Grimmarks right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion has been violated through the actions of Swedish authorities and through the systematical and ongoing prohibition for them and others likeminded to be employed as midwives within Swedish healthcare, said Jörgen Olson, Senior Legal Counsel.

Swedish Midwife Case to the European Court of Human Rights

Swedish Labour Court on April 12, 2017. Photo: Abraham Engelmark

Uppsala, Sweden:
On April 12 the Swedish Labour Court ruled against midwife Ellinor Grimmark who was unjustly denied employment by three different hospitals because of her conscientious objection to abortion and because she expressed her opinion publicly in the media.

– The Labour Court did not examine the right of freedom of conscience or freedom of speech according to international law or the European Convention on Human Rights. We have now decided to take the case further to the European Court of Human Rights, says attorney Ruth Nordström, Senior Legal Counsel of Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers.

– The majority of the countries in Europe, protect the right to freedom of conscience in their Constitution, law or practice. In addition, health professionals right to conscience is recognized in international ethical codes. According to Council of Europe Resolution 1763, health care professionals shall not be coerced or discriminated upon because of refusal to perform or assist in abortions, says Legal Counsel Rebecca  Ahlstrand.

The background of the case is that Ellinor Grimmark has sued the County Council of Jönköping for violation of her freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as well as her freedom of opinion and expression under the European Convention on Human Rights.

In November 2013, Höglandssjukhuset women’s clinic withdrew a job offer as a midwife from Grimmark after she explained that she could not perform abortions because of her conscientious objection and her Christian faith. The head of the maternity ward said that Grimmark “was no longer welcome to work with them” and questioned “whether a person with such views actually can become a midwife.” A few months later, Grimmark tried to obtain employment with Ryhovs women’s clinic, which told her that a “person who refuses to perform abortions does not belong at a women’s clinic”.

In January 2014, Värnamo Hospital’s women’s clinic offered Grimmark a job within the delivery ward, but then withdrew employment because she had expressed her opinion in the media regarding abortion. The head of the hospital told Grimmark that no employee was allowed to “publicly take a stand against abortion”.

Invitation to press conference about the Swedish midwife case 12 April

Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers cordially invite you to a press conference about the Swedish midwife case on conscientious objection for medical staff and its implications for Sweden and Europe.

The background of the case is that Ellinor Grimmark has sued the County Council of Jönköping for violation of her freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as well as her freedom of opinion and expression under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Ellinor Grimmark has been denied employment as a midwife at the hospital of Höglandssjukhuset and at Ryhov women's clinic and she has been terminated from an employment at the hospital of Värnamo. Ellinor Grimmark was granted a job as a midwife, with respect of her freedom of conscience at Värnamo women's clinic, but the County Council of Jönköping withdrew the promised work because Ellinor Grimmark had expressed her opinion in the media regarding abortion.

Senior Legal Counsel Ruth Nordström, Attorneys Percy Bratt and Jörgen Olson, will together with their client, Ellinor Grimmark, present their reflections on the judgement from the Swedish Labour Court, that will be delivered on 12 April at 11 AM. The press conference will be held in both Swedish and English.

Please join us at:
Location: Turkiska salongen (The Turkish Salon), Citykonditoriet, Adolf Fredriks kyrkogata 10, Stockholm
Time: 12 April, at 2-4 AM

To register for the press conference please send an email to info@shrl.eu
To book a personal interview with midwife Ellinor Grimmark or her legal representatives, Senior Legal Counsel Ruth Nordström and attorneys Percy Bratt and Jörgen Olson: Please contact rebecca.ahlstrand@shrl.eu

Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers AB
+46 (0) 18 – 750 52 11
Fax: +46 (0) 18 - 10 04 99
E-mail: info@shrl.eu
Web: www.manniskorattsjuristerna.se / www.shrl.eu

Workshop & Study Visit Uppsala Sweden

A workshop & study visit was organized in Uppsala Sweden between 9-10 March 2017 as part of the transnational project Strenghtening multidisciplinary cooperation to ensure an effective referral, assistance, rights protection for victims of human trafficking, financed by the European Commission, Justice Program JUST/2015/JACC/AG/VICT/9221

The project is coordinated by the Romanian organization, Association Pro Refugiu in partnership with Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers Sweden, Caritas International Belgium, Association Trave Iniciativas para la Economia Social y Solidaria Spain, Center for the Study of Democracy Bulgaria. The project benefits from the support of several associate partners from Romania (National Institute for Magistracy, Bucharest Bar, National College of Social Workers), Sweden (Uppsala University Center for Research on Addiction U-FOLD and  Hela Manniskan i Malmö Organization), Spain (General Prosecutor Office -Immigration Department), Bulgaria (National Legal Aid Bureau).

The event gathered professionals (lawyers, social workers, psychologists/psychotherapists, doctors, police officer, experts, researchers) with expertise on issues related to human trafficking and victims’ assistance. An event that allowed the Romanian, Swedish, Belgium, Spanish and Bulgarian specialists to exchange knowledge in areas in which they activate and also allow to learn more on the Swedish intervention methods to combat human trafficking and assist the victims (strategies to combat human trafficking and legal aid in Sweden; support and assistance to victims of human trafficking; how to cope with traumatized persons-rehabilitation and treatment; the correlation between drugs and human trafficking; anti-trafficking strategy from the hotel business in Sweden to combat human trafficking).

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