Photo: Thomas Nilsen

Treatment of Sami people among Swedish shortcomings, Amnesty International report

Sweden is once again criticised by Amnesty International for its treatment of Romani and Sami peoples and its tightening of its asylum laws.
February 23, 2017

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In its annual global report, the human rights group said it still has “serious concerns about Sweden’s treatment of Roma citizens of other European countries.” The report mentions how the group still has limited access to education, employment, housing and health care and is at risk for hate crimes.

As for Sweden’s indigenous Sami people, two separate UN committees reported that the group’s land rights are still threatened.

Amnesty’s report also mentioned a much-criticized move this summer to narrow Sweden’s immigration laws.

The law makes temporary residence permits the rule, a permit lasting three years for refugees, and one year for people who are in need of protection after they have fled from war or conflict. During that period, there would be virtually no right to family reunion, unless the individual is able to earn a living here and prove they have a home and a way to support the family member they want to reunite with.

This story is posted on Independent Barents Observer as part of Eye on the Arctic, a collaborative partnership between public and private circumpolar media organizations.

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