HUMAN RIGHTS

1. HUMAN RIGHTS Intercultural awareness - EqualityActive Citizenship

2. What we need to focus on: • The importance to inform about the human rights • How to stop the honour related violence • Change attitudes and inform about our values • The religious fundamental brainwash all over the world and how that influence our society (interreligious dialogue) • The equality between men and women in the world • To inform about which obligations and rights you have in Sweden • Giving knowledge of the women’s struggle in Sweden to reach equality as well as elsewhere in the world • To help our new citizens to live a free life • Being a member of the Network www.minheder.nu

3. The defence of secularism • The patriarchal system is 4000 years old and is deeply rooted in all religions, that themselves have become one of its key factors. • Gender equality is part of universal values that imply the principle of secular culture. Women’s full citizenship and implementation of human rights should supersede and even disqualify all references to specific culture or religion. • The building of a Europe of solidarity, peace and equality means raising consciousness of the essential link that exists between the struggle for implementation of women’s rights, especially sexual and reproductive rights and freedom of sexual orientation and the defence of secularism.

4. EYID, European Year of Intercultural Dialogue • 2008 was by the EU considered as the European year of intercultural dialogue • This year was supposed to create communication and understanding between citizen and cultures in Europe • It coincided with the launching of the newEuropean integration fund – • It would give support to organisations and authorities through developing projects which in turn will improve the integration of the immigrants in the member countries – by giving strength to • The intercultural and interreligious dialogue

5. Inter-religious dialogue • Secular society often lacks the ability to discuss and handle social, cultural and existential issues that form core values • Municipalities have to date provided new arrivals with social and cultural information • This can happen in conjunction with language training for immigrants • It can prevent potential conflicts caused by differences in cultural and religious practices • This can also ensure better integration of third-country nationals in the societies, values and ways of life

6. The immigration to SwedenQuestions? • The Swedish society has had the biggest social transformation during our lifetime • We have given permanent residence permitsto over 1 million immigrants since 1980 (the most per capita in the EU) and on top of that to 500 000 relatives • We have not discussed what we demand from them • Many of them are coming from undemocratic, fundamental countries with no human rights • Do they have to learn about our values? • Difficulty to discuss the immigration, you may be called racist, islamofobic, hostile to foreigners • Our ability and resources to take care of those who are here in a correct way? • Lack of means to give everyone a good start in Sweden?

7. The search for money • Many phone calls to politicians, authorities etc. • Lots of interest in what we are doing – this is what all the SFI-schools should do • Many promises of giving money • One especially – Länsstyrelsen in Stockholm, still no money • Where has all the money gone? Lots of expensive projects with no result in real life in the SFI schools • The expert of equality in Stockholm was going to spread my request of money to all it may concern • Letter to the minister of integration – no reply • So what to do?

8. Mobbing Game addiction Drugs Assault The moral in Sweden Politics Rights, Obligations Family, Parenthood Government and parliament Healthcare-information Religion Congregations Sports Racism The compulsory school Education, studies Marriage, Sambo Immigrants and the defence Culture support Retirement and old age Democracy Housing and environment Traffic rules Rights to get translation Criminality Immigrant organisations National registration Honour related violence Themes we could inform about in Sfi, Swedish for immigrants:

9. The most importantJoy and inspiration • Support and response from the society around us • Firm directives that this is something prioritized • Money to invest in our important work to give our new citizens knowledge of democratic values and human rights • Two whole days to get together for planning • Time to create good material & new methods • Staff education – integration consults What did we need?To succeed!

10. How to go on? • Not giving up, keeping up the good spirit • Persuade the politicians of the importance to implement the knowledge of HUMAN RIGHTS in the SFI schools • Thinking of all the women, children and men who are suffering in undemocratic, fundamentalist countries • Give them hope of change when they come here • Inform them that in Sweden we have liberty of thought, expression and religion • Let our new citizens know that they have come to a democratic, equal society where everybody are responsible of keeping it that way • Perhaps we can use the newEuropean integration fundI mentioned about at the beginning of this presentation. Who knows? • When will the politicians take a stand for the HUMAN RIGHTS to be WOMEN RIGHTS?