Follow-up event in Sweden

World Service Authority (WSA) and Human without Border Movement (HwBM) has organized a follow up meeting in connection to the Conference titled ref:EU | Muslim minorities and the refugee crisis in Europe which was held at SGH Warsaw School of Economics, in Poland. The report express the follow-up events which was organized in Stockholm Sweden the events was organized in two separated session which were taken at the office of Human without Border Movement and at the Embassy of Southern Africa aiming and subjected to the mutual dialogue follow-up event of the conference. The program of the event has been discussed according to the conference which was held in Warsaw, however it was required to organize a conference same SGH Warsaw School of Economics did a conference should organize in Sweden as well in order to cover the topics in comprehensive manner and discuss it in-depth.

Program

The audience of the follow-up event was coming from different organizations. The topic was found interesting and every participants discussed and shared their thoughts. The topic was elaborated as following:

• To analyse the newcomer situation which identified as refugees and migrants by some organizations and institutions
• The role of actors in cooperation with newcomers and integration issues
• Connection of newcomers with religion matter
• Role of CSOs
• Challenges and solutions
• Way forward

Presentation of the program

WSA and HwBM gave a short presentation of the conference, which was held by SGH Warsaw School of Economics to the participants. Afterwards the event started by introduction and short reflection on the needs for such event and expectations from the event.

The first part of the program was focusing on background of migration and analyzation of the current situation of newcomers in Sweden since Sweden is the second largest of country in Europe that people from conflict zones approached therefore there is lot of issues in connection to the situation of newcomers (refugees) such as how they receive residence permission, why they most deported back, what was the main concern on the facts, challenges and how to find out the solutions. A group work was conducted and the questions about the mentioned issues was mapped by participants and the picture of the situation with the history of migration from the past and current situation of today combined and a question was developed why minorities? And why religion has connection to migration what are the hate histories from the past and what are current hates against newcomers (refugees) and political dimensions in relation to migrants and refugees have been discussed in a broad way. The discussion led to the cases as following:

Case 1: Why migration: It is nature for every life and it happened in the past. People historically based on many circumstances decided to leave one part of the world to on other part of the world there was no matter of distinguish of people by religion and believes. Today most of the people from different parts of the world are escaping from war, conflict, religions and due to poverty.

Case 2: Religion: Historically migration had no connection to the religion and there was no matter of distinguish of people by religion and believes. Question of religion is an issue that newcomers are facing some problems on the other hand some even due to believe matter seeks asylum and willing to convert the religion. Still the asylum process based on religion cases are not investigated properly and those who got residence permit hosted community sometime has not good behaves with the newcomers when differ the religions.

Case 3: Challenges: Today there is many challenges that refugees are facing the most common challenges are lack of proper case investigation and receiving of them/ granting residence permit by the European States Members. Those who luckily granted to residence permit then must fight to other upcoming challenges e.g. job finding and housing issues. Integration to the society is very slowly. Lack of cooperation of actors who work with the refugees in the field and religion issue make difficult the process of integration. Lack of attention and services based on humanitarian protocols and conventions, low quality of migration agency services in terms of case investigation and violence against refugee women and child abuse are other obstacle which are not taking seriously into consideration. Change of refugee laws and agreement for deportation with the countries where refugees come make a big challenge to get residence. Force deportation without any clear reason is the most problematic issue nowadays.

Case 4: Solutions: The best way to overcome the solution is to hear directly from refugee’s voice and analysis their needs. CSOs should be strengthened and take step up to raise the voice of refugees and global level and protect their human rights based on the accepted protocols, conventions and the universal declaration of human rights. Participants of the current event suggested if a conference/ workshop with the same title as conducted in Poland to be carry out in Sweden for couple of days would be very productive and it helps the situation to the positive directions.

Conclusion

WSA and HwMB has conducted the two follow-up events and beside this action which was part of the conference/workshop that was held in Poland at SGH Warsaw School of Economics. WSA and HwBM is working directly with the newcomers (refugees) frequently and still following to discuss and use the knowledge that was gained from Warsaw. Participants found the event very relevant topic and proposed further discussions through a platform which means a workshop or conference for couple of days.

Comments

WSA and HwBM are interested to run the follow-up event within its mandate and interested to cooperate with SGH Warsaw School of Economics to organize a bigger event such as conference and workshop in Sweden.