UNHCR Baltic and Nordic Headlines (uutiskirje)

[Roope]

Thursday 18 March to Friday 19 March 2010

Denmark

Deporting asylum-seeking children to orphanages
Last year, 469 unaccompanied minors sought asylum in Denmark, the vast majority came from Afghanistan and Iraq. The government and the Danish People's Party believe that this number is too large. In their new immigration agreement, it has been decided that asylum-seeking children should be sent to orphanages in northern Iraq and Afghanistan. However, according to some experts and interest groups, such deportations are in violations of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Claes Juul, legal advisor at Amnesty International, says that they are responsible for any child on Danish territory and are committed to giving them a life without violence, whereas now these children are deported to countries where it will be extremely hard to ensure that they do not become victims of violence. The organisation Save the Children states that several of the proposals are contrary to international conventions and  that politicians, in their attempts to tighten immigration laws, forget that they are dealing with children.
Jyllands-Posten 17 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://jp.dk/indland/aar/politik/article2013646.ece
Berlingske Tidende 17 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.berlingske.dk/politik/asylboern-skal-blive-i-hjemlandet
Danmarks Radio 18 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2010/03/17/234941.htm

NB. This story was also covered in Norway
Stavanger Avisen 18 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.stavangeravisen.com/art.asp?id=54802

Local SF politicians: No to immigration agreement
53 per cent of the Socialist People's Party (SF) local presidents have declared themselves to partly agree or strongly agree with the Social Liberals (RV) spokesperson, Marianne Jelved, who has described the new scoring system in the immigration agreement as "inhuman" and "xenophobic". 23 per cent say that they partially disagree with the Social Liberals, while no one says that they strongly disagree. Although SF has yet to decide whether to vote yes or no to the overall agreement, it is nevertheless clear that they will vote as the Social Democrats do in order to cement the two parties' close cooperation.
Jyllands-Posten 17 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://jp.dk/indland/indland_politik/article2013623.ece

Arms dealers benefit from Danish aid
In a UN report published on Tuesday, SAACID, which is  the Danish Refugee Council's main partner in the Somali capital Mogadishu, along with a transportation company, is accused of being involved in several incidences of fraud over the past few years. Danish Refugee Council's Director General, Andreas Kamm, stresses that the organization monitors that relief reaches the right people, and that if they find a disingenuous partner, they will of course not continue to work with them.
Politiken 17 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://politiken.dk/udland/article926462.ece
Danmarks Radio 17 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Udland/2010/03/17/182915.htm

Burmese quota refugees to Denmark
156 Burmese refugees are coming to Denmark under the UN's refugee quota scheme. UNHCR's criteria for refugee status gives people who are persecuted in their homeland the right to seek asylum in other countries. The vast majority of refugees from Myanmar are from one of the country's many ethnic groups who for years has been in armed conflict with the military junta, because they do not have the same rights as ethnic Burmese. The persecution of ethnic minorities has worsened in recent years. According to Yante Ismail from UNHCR's (UN High Commissioner for Refugees) office in Kuala Lumpur, Denmark is one of the ten key countries that resettle Burmese refugees. Ismail says that considering Denmark's size, they accept a relatively large number. In September, Minister of Integration, Birthe Rønn Hornbech was criticized for choosing Burmese over Iraqi refugees. She then said that one of the reasons for this was because they have good experience from integrating quota refugees from Burma.
Kristeligt Dagblad 19 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/359997:Danmark--Burmesere-flygter-til-Danmark

Finland

Thors: there are many ways to help refugees
Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors is skeptical towards the proposal of the Left Youth to help hide refugees. She is pleased that citizens take the refugees' side, but points out the risks of breaking the law. Thors fears that assisting refugees illegally can help strengthen the conflicts surrounding immigration. She refers to other European countries where it has become an offense to help refugees. Thors prefers to highlight positive examples where immigrants have received assistance within the framework of law. She mentions collaboration with the refugee center at Uudenmaankatu in Helsinki that resulted in joint snow shoveling in the city. "Friend families" is another example of how citizens can help support immigrants, according to Minister Thors.
YLE 18 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svenska.yle.fi/nyheter/artikel.php?id=181994

Egyptian grandmother to be deported
The Immigration Police has ordered Eveline Fadayel, an Egyptian grandmother who has fought to stay in Finland with her sons, to leave Finland by March 29. Her family members in Finland say she is unable to live on her own in Egypt, where she has no relatives. As a Coptic Christian, she also faces persecution there. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari, Evangelical Lutheran Archbishop Jukka Paarma and Finnish Orthodox Archbishop Leo have all earlier urged the government and the courts to let her stay in Finland. The relatives of Irina Antonova, a Russian grandmother, have also submitted a new application for a residence permit. Both Fadayel's and Antonova's applications were rejected because Finnish law does not consider grandparents to be part of the immediate family, and therefore they do not have the same right of residence as parents of minors, for example.
YLE 18 March 2010 (in English)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/03/egyptian_grandmother_to_be_deported_1538639.html
YLE 17 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/2010/03/ulkomaalaispoliisi_tylyna_egyptilaismummolle_1537925.html
YLE 18 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/2010/03/venalaisisoaidilta_uusi_oleskelulupahakemus_1540796.html

Migration Minister wants to discuss conditions of residence permits
The Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors will invite representatives of parliamentary groups to discus the issue of core family as a condition for residence permits. She would like to discuss whether the current interpretation of the Aliens act is reasonable. The debate will take place in early April.
YLE 19 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/talous_ja_politiikka/2010/03/thors_haluaa_keskustelua_isovanhempien_oleskeluluvista_1543506.html
Aamulehti 19 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/maahanmuuttopolitiikka-thors-kutsuu-eduskuntaryhmat-isoaitikeskusteluun/173745

Foreign Minister Stubb defends immigration and multiculturalism
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (National Coalition Party), Finland's current debate on immigration has taken on a negative slant. In his view, the problem with the immigration debate in Finland is that the various nuances of immigration are not distinguished; people come to Finland for work, as asylum-seekers, as refugees, and as quota refugees. He denounces the linkage of asylum-seekers with abuse of social welfare as low-brow populism. While emphasizing the benefits of multiculturalism and internationalism, Stubb also feels that an open debate is necessary when it comes to problems in connection with immigration. Minister Stubb says that it is his personal opinion that two foreign grandmothers, Egyptian citizen Eveline Fadayel, and Russian citizen Irina Antonova should not be deported from Finland.
Helsingin Sanomat 19 March 2010 (in English)
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Foreign+Minister+Stubb+defends+immigration+and+multiculturalism/1135254813307
YLE 19 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svenska.yle.fi/nyheter/artikel.php?id=182107

The Ministry of the Interior wants to place refugees more evenly
Because of Vantaa's decision to suspend the reception of quota refugees, the Ministry of the Interior wants to locate refugees more evenly in municipalities in the capital area. In the beginning of the year the state increased the compensation municipalities receive for taking refugees by ten per cent. Municipalities receive nearly 7,000 euros per year for a refugee under seven years old and more than 2,000 euros for a refugee who is older than seven years.
YLE 17 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://yle.fi/alueet/helsinki/helsinki/2010/03/ministerio_haluaa_pakolaiset_tasaisemmin_kuntiin_1537177.html

North Karelia receives illegal immigrants
The Border Guard and the North Karelia Regional Police have revealed a case of illegal immigration, where at least a dozen persons came to North Karelia on false travel documents and birth certificates in 2008 - 2009. According to the authorities the asylum-seekers who claimed to be Sri Lankans where in fact Indian citizens and organized crime is suspected to have been involved. The asylum-seekers came to Finland via Russia.
YLE3 18 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/rikos.shtml/arkistot/rikos/2010/03/1081719

Norway

Wants to reduce number of asylum-seekers with the help of EU
Minister of Justice Knut Storberget will adopt EU regulations in hope that it then will be easier to reduce the the number of asylum-seekers. Storberget said that it is wrong to believe that Norway can stand alone in the asylum field in Europe. He said that it is important to inform oneself about what is happening in the EU if Norway wants to be able to achieve a lasting reduction of asylum-seekers with unfounded applications.  However, the changing of the rules could increase the legal safeguards of asylum-seekers coming to Norway. Researcher and sociologist Jan-Paul Brekke believes that a closer harmonization with EU regulations will be positive for asylum seekers. He said that Norway would no longer be able to violate EU's minimum standards.
NRK 19 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/norge/1.7045946
Verdens Gang 19 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=591857

Sweden

Norway tightens rules for refugee children
Norway received over 2,400 unaccompanied refugee children last year, an increase of 75 per cent from the previous year. This year the number is expected to reduce dramatically since Norway has recently tightened its refugee legislation. Previously, unaccompanied minors received a permanent residence permit in Norway, but now they are granted a time-limited residence permit that is valid until they are 18 years old. Norway is also planning to build an orphanage in the Afghan capital Kabul and in Baghdad in Iraq in order to return unaccompanied children there. According to Hanne Mathisen, Spokeswoman for the UNHCR Regional Office in Stockholm, the new law has already had an effect, since there is a clear reduction in the number of unaccompanied children who have come to Norway in early 2010. "Authorities say this means that the measures are working", Mathisen says, and stresses that it should be  examined whether it is in the best interest of a child to be sent to Kabul, if the child does not have any family, or the family is living in one of the neighboring countries, Iran or Pakistan. She also adds that UNHCR is currently discussing the situation with the Norwegian authorities, and that there are arguments against Norway's plans.
Sveriges Radio 18 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/ekot/artikel.asp?artikel=3565178

Sweden fears camps will grow permanent
After visiting the Al Salaam refugee camp on Wednesday, Gunilla Carlsson, the Minister for International Development Cooperation, expressed concerns that many of the displaced persons in Darfur's camps would not return to their villages when peace returns to the region. According to the UN, only one-third of the 2.7 million displaced persons intend to return home. Ms Carlsson says there is a risk that the camps will become permanent. She goes on to say that the main responsibility lies with the Sudanese government to allow the displaced persons to return home, and that Sweden will support this.
Dagens Nyheter 18 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.dn.se/nyheter/varlden/sverige-fruktar-att-lagren-blir-permanenta-1.1063351

Maltese deportations are "shocking"
Sweden's deportation of child refugees to Malta has aroused substantial criticism from organizations like Save the Children and the Red Cross, which accuse the Migration Board of sending back refugees to dangerous, unhealthy conditions. Joseph Cassar, head of Jesuit Refugee Service, an organization that helps the steadily increasing influx of refugees deported to Malta, calls the government's actions "shocking." Cassar says that there are no separate facilities for children and that children are kept with the adults and they have the same conditions as the adults. The priest says that he is surprised that Sweden sends people there at all, as the Maltese justice minister has said that the refugee camps are meant to act as "a deterrent."
Sveriges Radio 17 March 2010 (in English)
http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/international/artikel.asp?ProgramID=166&Nyheter=1&artikel=3563698

Vellinge's top politician distances himself from Holm's statements
The moderate politician in Vellinge Lars-Ingvar Ljungman distances himself from Göran Holm's statements in SVT's programme Uppdrag Granskning. "I strongly disagree with Göran Holm's statements," writes Ljungman and wants to make clear that the decision to accept unaccompanied refugee children originated in his own initiative, as a result of the public opinion in Sweden and because he realized that the refugee reception in Sweden would collapse without more local authorities assuming their respnsibilities.
Skånskan 17 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.skanskan.se/article/20100317/TRELLEBORGVELLINGE/100319725/1057

Asylum-seekers unable to receive ID cards
It has become more difficult for refugees to obtain identity cards in Sweden.
According to the Migration Board, it is very common that asylum-seekers come to Sweden without identity papers. Previously, municipal officials could certify the identity of an asylum-seeker in collaboration with the Migration Board. But since 2009 the Swedish Tax Agency, in principle, does not approve the investigation done by the Migration Board. The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKL) believes that it is not the municipalities' responsibility to identify the identity of individuals and therefore it has urged the government to solve the problem. It is unclear how many persons can not get ID cards at the moment, but SKL estimates that the number could be as many as 20,000 persons.
Arbetarbladet 19 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://arbetarbladet.se/nyheter/gavle/1.1895303-id-kort-ingen-sjalvklarhet-for-flyktingar



UNHCR in the news

The influx of refugees from Somalia to Yemen has increased dramatically
The influx of persons fleeing from Somalia's civil war and poverty to Yemen has sharply increased in recent years. Hundreds of new refugees arrive at Yemen's largest refugee camp al-Kharaz every day. There are some 17,000 persons living permanently in difficult conditions in the camp, most of them have arrived from Somalia over the Gulf of Aden. Somalis arrive in Yemen along two main pathways: from Bossasso over the Gulf of Aden or from Djibouti over the Red Sea. The sea route from Bossasso takes longer but costs less. According to Rocco Nuri from the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR in Aden, there is a regional network of smuggling behind, and he adds that it is big business. The traffickers are Somalis and Ethiopians, but some Yemenis might be also involved.
Helsingin Sanomat 18 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/artikkeli/Pakolaisvirta+Somaliasta+Jemeniin+on+kiihtynyt+rajusti/1135254801146

Turkey an uncertain transit country for asylum-seekers
Millions travel to Turkey every year and according to unofficial sources, there are some 300,000 persons without documentation residing in the country. Some persons come on visas that expire after a few weeks, while others are dumped at a beach in the middle of the night from the fragile smuggling ships crossing the Mediterranean Sea. They stay in Turkey for many years while waiting for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR to find a country of asylum for them, or until they manage to get into the EU through the Greek coast. 16,000 -18,000 refugees and asylum-seekers are currently waiting for a residence permit in a third country. The asylum-seekers come mainly from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and around ten per cent come from Africa.
Svenska Dagbladet 18 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/utrikes/turkiet-osaker-mark-for-afrikaflyktingar_4439107.svd

[Roope]

Saturday 20 March to Monday 22 March 2010

Denmark

Unclear immigration agreement to be changed
In the new immigration agreement, which the government has signed with the Danish People's Party, refugees who have lived in Denmark for several years are risking to lose their permits if they visit their home country. Secretary-General Andreas Kamm at the Danish Refugee Council immediately called the Ministry of Justice to clarify the rule that, in its current form, would mean that many refugees with permanent residence permits who have lived in Denmark for many years, would be deported. According to the Liberals, the wording in the agreement is too vague. They say the that rule does not apply to refugees who have lived in Denmark for more than a decade. The Conservative's Integration Rapporteur Naser Khader also admits that the rule in the immigration agreement is poorly drafted, and says that the rule will be clarified in Parliament during the next week.
Danmarks Radio 19 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2010/03/19/115223.htm

Warning against ten year punishment for refugees
The new immigration agreement says that refugees who travel to their home country risk having their residence permit revoked for 10 years, even if they in the meantime have a permanent residence permit. But the UN Refugee Convention is clear. Lawyers say that refugees can only be returned to their home country if there is peace there again. Thomas Gammeltoft-Hansen, lawyer at the Danish Institute for International Studies, says that one cannot deprive people of their refugee status without making a thorough and individual evaluation of the present situation in their homeland. Line Bøgsted who is a lawyer at the Danish Refugee Council says that Denmark - or others - cannot repatriate refugees simply because they have been on holidays. She says that if you withdraw a person's asylum permit, the reasons listed in the Refugee Convention must be met.
Avisen 20 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://avisen.dk/advarsel-mod-tiaarsstraf-til-flygtninge_124663.aspx

Finland

President Halonen: deportation decision "unreasonable"
President Tarja Halonen says a recent court decision to deport two foreign grandmothers from Finland seems unreasonable. However, she fell short of criticizing the court and did not comment on changing the law. Halonen said she had discussed the situation with the Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors. She added that it is not the job of the President to comment on possible changes in the legislation. Finland's Supreme Administrative Court recently rejected the appeals of two foreign grandmothers to reside in Finland. The decision to deport the women has aroused fierce opposition in Finland, including from religious leaders. On Friday hundreds of persons demonstrated on behalf of the two grandmothers in Helsinki, saying grandparents are an integral part of the family.
YLE 19 March 2010 (in English)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/03/halonen_deportation_decision_quotunreasonablequot_1544870.html
YLE 19 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/teksti/kotimaa/2010/03/halonen_kaannytyspaatokset_tuntuvat_kohtuuttomilta_1544150.html
YLE 19 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://yle.fi/alueet/helsinki/helsinki/2010/03/sadat_osoittivat_mieltaan_egyptilaisisoaidin_puolesta_1544330.html
Turun Sanomat 19 March (in Finnish)
http://www.ts.fi/online/kotimaa/119075.html

PM Vanhanen: the whole government supports Thors
In an interview given to YLE on Sunday, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen reiterated the support of his entire administration to the policy pursued by the Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors, who has received death threats in recent weeks. Vanhanen said he was ready to discuss reform of immigration legislation in the light of recent furor over deportation orders. However, he said the doors could not be opened to take in all non-immediate family members. He did not comment on the recent cases concerning the deportation orders on an Egyptian and a Russian grandmother. He noted that in Finland, interpreting the law was the function of the Supreme Administrative Court, not politicians.
YLE 21 March 2010 (in English)
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/03/pm_vanhanen_zero_tolerance_on_racialism_1547207.html
YLE 21 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svenska.yle.fi/nyheter/artikel.php?id=182244
MTV3 21 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/kotimaa.shtml/arkistot/kotimaa/2010/03/1083424
Aamulehti 21 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/vanhanen-koko-hallitus-tukee-uhkailtua-thorsia/173908
Hufvudstadsbladet 21 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.hbl.fi/text/inrikes/2010/3/21/w44644.php

Finnish Migration Minister urges parties to denounce populism
Astrid Thors, the Minister of Migration and European Affairs, said Friday that she would like to see parties putting clear water between themselves and populist strands of the immigration debate. She is confident that the whole government takes a serious view of a surge in racist threats. Death threats against Thors herself have been posted on Facebook, and similar threats have been made against a number of researchers. Ms Thors went on to thank Alexander Stubb, the Foreign Minister, for his support following death threats posted on the internet.
Helsinki Times 19 March 2010 (in English)
http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/domestic-news/politics/10344-finnish-immigration-minister-urges-parties-to-denounce-populism-.html
YLE 19 March 2010 (in English)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/03/thors_government_takes_racist_threats_seriously_1543246.html

Finnish population surged in 2009
The Finnish population grew last year by about 25,000 people. Increased immigration is one of the factors involved, but the birthrate has also grown in many areas. The greatest number of foreign citizens lived in Helsinki (41,700), Espoo (15,300), Vantaa (11,900), Turku (8,200) and Tampere (7,400).
Helsingin Sanomat 19 March 2010 (in English)
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Finnish+population+surged+in+2009/1135254813157

Norway

- The quality of asylum lawyers not always good enough
Last week Norwegian newspapers reported that Fathia Ahmed Omar and her son (6) were deported to Italy, in accordance with the Dublin regulation, and are ow living on the streets of Genova. The deportation occurred despite the fact that Fathia has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following rape and was undergoing extensive medical treatment. This information was not made available during her appeal case. Director of the Norwegian Immigration Appeals Board (UNE), Terje Skjeggestad, confirms that the quality of asylum lawyers are not always good enough. Skjeggestad says that it is quite obvious from UNE's experience that lawyers differ in terms of quality of their work. Asylum-seekers are only entitled to two hours of legal assistance, and head of the Bar Association, Merete Smith, says that it in very many cases it is not sufficient to do a good job. State Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Paul Lønseth, says that in general, he is not under the impression that the system is not working properly.
Verdens Gang 21 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=584199
Aftenposten 21 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3573916.ece
Aftenposten 20 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3572353.ece
Aftenposten 21 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article3574328.ece

Blacklisted lawyers
Acting Secretary General of the Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers (NOAS) Sylo Taraku requires that the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) remove asylum lawyers who are doing a poor job and take advantage of their clients. UDI says that they already have done this. Norwegian People's Aid and Self Help for Immigrants and Refugees (SEIF) are also aware that some asylum lawyers do not respect the asylum-seekers' basic needs for legal assistance. The Immigration Directorate (UDI) has a special arrangement with lawyers in Norway who want to assist asylum-seekers. There is no ceiling on how many clients an asylum lawyer can take on, and they are paid on a per client basis, not by how many hours they work. Internally, NOAS has a blacklist of lawyers they believe do not care for their clients. NOAS has notified the UDI of several of these lawyers. Minister of Justice and the Police, Knut Storberget, acknowledges that the asylum lawyers have a significant responsibility for the asylum applicant's argumentation, but that he has not received any information about lawyers doing a poor job for their clients.
Dagsavisen 20 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.dagsavisen.no/innenriks/article476495.ece

Sweden

"Malta should not evade responsibility"
Tobias Billström, Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy, writes in the Swedish daily newspaper Svenska Dagbladet that the issue of Malta's detention camps for asylum-seekers has again become a topic of discussion. According to Minister Billström, the Dublin Regulation has helped to resolve the problem of asylum-seekers being transferred between countries that did not wish to consider their applications. Under the Regulation, individuals must make their application in the first EU country they enter. Billström states that member states that do not deal with asylum-seekers in the proper way should not be allowed to evade responsibility. He criticizes the government of Malta and concludes that the issue must be raised with the European Commission, which is responsible for putting pressure on Malta to improve its substandard reception of asylum-seekers.
Svenska Dagbladet 20 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.svd.se/opinion/brannpunkt/malta-ska-inte-fa-smita-undan-ansvar_4452051.svd

No concrete response from Minister Billström
Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström met members of the Jewish community of Malmö on Friday. Billström described the hate crimes against Jews in Malmö as "quite appalling". Billström did not have concrete answers for Malmö municipality's request for a hate crimes unit to Malmö and the Jewish Community's wish to be reimbursed for expenses they faced when strengthening their own protection and security.
Sydsvenskan 19 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://sydsvenskan.se/malmo/article639535/Inga-konkreta-svar-fran-Billstrom.html

Psychiatric care for asylum-seekers
Many asylum-seekers and refugees need psychiatric help. Health professionals are trying to help sick asylum-seekers while the deportation threat itself can influence the patients' mental condition. On Sunday Swedish Television broadcasted the first part of the documentary film "Sluten avdelning", filmed at St George's Hospital in Stockholm, where Dr. Rickard Flodin is working: -  Unfortunately this kind of cases are not rare. At times it is difficult to see how a negative decision is reconcilable with a humanitarian perspective.
Dagens Nyheter 22 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.dn.se/insidan/overlakaren-manga-flyktingar-behover-psykiatrisk-vard-1.1065276

[Roope]

Tuesday 23 March to Wednesday 24 March 2010

Finland

Development Minister: reduce refugee quota
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen says Finland should reduce its refugee quota. Within its refugee quota, Finland accepts persons who are defined as refugees by UNHCR. Speaking on a YLE current affairs programme on Monday evening, Väyrynen said the money Finland would save by accepting fewer refugees could be channeled directly into crisis areas. Väyrynen has previously rejected proposals to double Finland's quota of 750 refugees.
YLE 23 March 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iB0EU
YLE 22 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iC0EV

The Supreme Administrative Court supports Thors
The Supreme Administrative Court President Pekka Hallberg supports the initiative of the Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors to launch an examination to amend the Aliens Act. Minister Thors and Hallberg discussed the matter on Wednesday. The debate on core family as a condition for residence permits has been stimulated by the recent decisions to deport an Egyptian and a Russian grandmother.
YLE 24 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iD0EW

Lithuania

Lithuania's Supreme Court reopens hearing of Chechen couple case
A Kaunas court reopens the case of Chechen couple Malik and Xhadizhat Gataev, also known as the Angels of Grozny. Lithuania's Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the Justice Ministry should decide on cancellation of the European arrest warrant for the couple. The Gataev couple has applied for political asylum in Finland after being sentenced in Lithuania for violent treatment of their foster children. The couple has been refusing to return to Lithuania due to fear of persecution.
Baltic News Service 23 March 2010 (in English) (subscription required)
www.bns.ee

Norway

Storberget: - Happy that so many show their commitment
The Minister of Justice, Knut Storberget, has received many e-mails about Fathia Ahmed Omar, an asylum-seeker who was returned to Italy even though she was going through extensive physical and psychological treatment in Norway. Storberget now opens up for changes in the regulations. Storberget says that people usually write that Norway must reduce the number of asylum-seekers, and that he now is happy that people are moving in another direction and that they react when they feel that something unfair has taken place.  He says that he is happy that the Immigration Appeals Board UNE has decided to reopen the case. Although he will not comment about the individual case of Fathia Ahmed Omar, he says that it is important to pay attention to individual cases for there to be changes in the system.
Aftenposten 24 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iE0EX

Increased expenditure on asylum lawyers
Last year, the government paid over 40 million NOK in fees to asylum lawyers. It is almost twice as much as in the previous year, and eight times as much as in 2007. During the same time, there was a sharp increase in the number of cases, from 6,528 in 2007 to 17,226 in 2009. In 2005, a law was passed where the maximum amount of cases an asylum lawyer was allowed to take on was limited to 150 per year. Refugees that fall under the Dublin Regulation are entitled to two hours free of charge with a lawyer, unaccompanied minors and deported refugees are entitled to five hours, and asylum-seekers who have had their applications rejected are entitled to five hours. The Bar Association believes that this is not enough time for the lawyers to be able to do a good job on a specific case.
Aftenposten 23 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iF0EY
Verdens Gang 24 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iG0EZ

Afraid that Fathia will go into hiding
On Tuesday, Fathia Ahmed Omar's former doctor Ulf Hørlyk traveled to Italy to help his patient. He is concerned that the Somali woman will go into hiding out of fear for the Italian authorities if the proceedings of the Immigration Appeals Board takes more time than it already has. He says that they have spoken with a human rights lawyer today, who says that Fathia under no circumstances can get in touch with Italian authorities. Since she is regarded as an illegal refugee, she can simply be sent back to Somalia. Hørlyk also says that if the Italian government discovers how sick she is, she can be separated from her son. Hørlyk emphasizes that the Immigration Appeals Board did nothing wrong when Fathia Ahmed Omar was sent out of Norway since they were not aware of her situation. But now, when they have gotten more information, the doctor hopes that the UNE will allow his patient to return to Norway and complete the treatment that was initiated there.
Aftenposten 23 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iH0Ea
Aftenposten 24 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iI0Eb

NOAS supports Rohde
Police inspector Hanne Kristin Rohde is happy about the massive support that she has received for her controversial proposal to lock up foreigners who are convicted of serious crimes, pending their deportation. The Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers (NOAS) is positive to an arrangement where asylum-seekers and other foreigners who have served their sentences and are about to be deported are kept in closed detention centers if the court believes that there is a serious risk of them committing new serious crimes. Sylo Taraku, acting Secretary General at NAOS says that even asylum-seekers react against those few who are taking advantage of the asylum system to commit crimes in Norway. Taraku says that it damages the victims, all other asylum-seekers and undermines the asylum system.
Dagsavisen 24 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iJ0Ec

Record number of asylum and residence permit applications last year
UDI Director Ida Børresen says that the Directorate of Immigration processed a record number of 101,000 applications for asylum and residence permits during 2009. She believes that the most important task in 2010 is to continue to reduce the processing time of applications. 17,200 persons applied for asylum last year. In two years, the number of asylum applications has increased by 160 per cent. Most applications came from countries of war and conflict. Børresen says that asylum cases often receive much attention in the media, but for UDI there are other things that make up the large volumes, like applications for family reunification and work permit applications.
Verdens Gang 23 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iK0Ed

Sweden

Tightened legislation for unaccompanied minors in Norway
After Norway recently tightened its legislation for unaccompanied refugee children, there have been far fewer unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in Norway. Hanne Mathisen, spokeswoman for the UNHCR Regional Office for the Baltic and Nordic countries, says that the Norwegian Government believes that the decrease is due to the temporary residence permits introduced for children who are more than sixteen years old. When these children turn eighteen they will be deported from the country. The Norwegian government is also planning to build an orphanage in the Afghan capital Kabul and in Erbil in Iraq. Children who do not have grounds for asylum and whose families cannot be found, can be sent to these so-called care centers funded by Norway. Hanne Mathisen says the prospect is that the families of these children would find and pick them up from the care centers, but notes further that UNHCR is less convinced that this will happen. According to Mathisen, the question is whether the best interest of the child is taken into consideration. Another controversial Norwegian proposal is to examine children's genitalia to determine their age. The idea has been criticized by humanitarian organizations, the UN and also politically.
Sydsvenskan 24 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iL0Ee

SD tightens immigration policy
At a party conference to be held this weekend the Sweden Democrats (SD) will be drawing up guidelines for immigration policy. As "a first step", the party wants to reduce immigration to Sweden to the same level as in Finland and Denmark. Björn Söder (SD), a local government politician in southern Sweden, has reacted strongly against other parties' decisions to give free medical treatment to paperless refugees. SD calls for a ban on this. According to Söder, as soon as paperless refugees have received emergency treatment they should be moved to secure accommodation from which they cannot flee. He adds that measures should then be taken to ensure that those who have no right to stay in Sweden are deported.
Dagens Nyheter 23 March 2010 p:11 (in Swedish)

Fewer unaccompanied children seeking asylum
The influx of unaccompanied children to Sweden has somewhat decreased in recent months. So far 525 unaccompanied children - six per day - have sought asylum in Sweden this year. Nevertheless, the total number of asylum-seekers continues to increase - largely due to the unrest in Somalia and Afghanistan. The proportion of unaccompanied minors of the total number of asylum-seekers has decreased.
Sydsvenskan 24 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iM0Ef

Criticism after decision to deport a fatally ill girl
The Migration Board has come under fire for its decision to deport a fatally ill girl to Lebanon. The two-year-old girl suffers from a rare condition which makes it impossible for her body to digest food. At present, she weighs five kilograms. But according to a report by the local newspaper Nerikes Allehanda the authority has now signalized it would consider another adjournment of the deportation if the girl proves to be as ill as reported by the media.
Sveriges Radio 23 March 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iN0Eg
Nerikens Allehanda 23 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iO0Eh
Sveriges Television 23 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iP0Ei



UNHCR in the news

UN: Rising numbers of refugees a myth
On Tuesday, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, said that the notion that there is a flood of asylum-seekers into richer countries is a myth. Recent statistics show no increase in the number of asylum applications. Guterres said that contrary to what some populist argue, UNHCR's data shows that the number of asylum-seekers has remained stable. Several Western countries have recently tightened their rules for accepting asylum-seekers. The refugee issue has also become a central issue in elections in for example Sweden where the xenophobic right-wing parties have seen an increase in support. According to UNHCR's latest figures, 377,200 people applied for asylum in 44 industrialized countries in Europe, North America and Asia in 2009. Almost half of them came from the Middle East, and three out of four wanted to go to Europe. The Nordic countries received 51,100 new asylum-seekers, which is the highest figure in six years and an increase of 13 percent from 2008. Out of the 51,100, 17,200 came to Norway and 24,200 came to Sweden. UNHCR said that more and more people are fleeing from Afghanistan. The Afghans were the single largest ethnic group among those who last year found their way to developed countries.
NRK 23 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iQ0Ej
Hamar Arbeiderblad 23 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iR0Ek

NB. This story was also covered in Sweden
Dagens Nyheter 23 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iS0El

South Korea gives citizenship to a refugee
South Korea has for the first time given citizenship to a refugee. The 38-year-old Ethiopian fled persecution from his homeland in 2001 and got his Korean citizenship on 19 March 2010, according to UNHCR. UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming termed the incident as "a very special milestone in Asia", where few countries have signed the Refugee Convention, and where even fewer have offered citizenship to refugees. In Korea, the government has recognized 175 refugees since the country for the first time received asylum applications in 1994. The Philippines is the only other country in Asia that has given citizenship to refugees, according to UNHCR.
Dagens Nyheter 23 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iT0Em

NB. This story was also covered in Denmark
Danmarks Radio 23 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iU0En
Jyllands-Posten 23 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCfvv0ZqnfK0aYE0D2iV0Eo

[Roope]

Thursday 25 March to Friday 26 March 2010

Denmark

Government rushes the passing of the new immigrant bill
Minister of integration Birthe Rønn Hornbech (V) has been accused of compromising her own principles by trying to rush through the immigration legislation without giving stakeholders enough time to consider the consequences. Rønn Hornbech has previously stated that the optimal consultation period for a new bill is four weeks, but despite saying that all interest organizations should always be given sufficient time to discuss new bills, she will today submit the new integration proposals to hearings with a 13-day time limit, where the four-day Easter break is included. Professor in public administration at Aarhus University, Jørgen Grønnegaard Christensen, called the short turnaround 'a democratic problem' and says that it is designed to give the impression that all the decisions have already been made and there is no need to discuss the content with others. He also said that that the usual practice in Danish legal procedure is to hear all views and review all information before Parliament makes its decision since this legitimizes the new law. In response to criticism from the Danish Refugee Council and Amnesty International, Rønn Hornbech said it was 'unfortunate' that the hearings phase is so short, but that it is necessary if the bill is to be passed before the summer.
Politiken 26 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://politiken.dk/politik/article933278.ece
Jyllands-Posten 26 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://jp.dk/indland/indland_politik/article2022437.ece

Finland

Police suspend deportation of grandmothers
The two elderly foreign women - Egyptian Eveline Fadayel and Russian Irina Antonova - who were to be deported are now getting another opportunity to stay in Finland with their families. Police Commissioner Mikko Paatero told YLE the decision was made because of indications that legislation governing residence permits might soon be changed. Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) said on Wednesday that the government has agreed that the Aliens Act would be amended to allow for greater discretion in cases that require a humanitarian perspective, although he noted the law will not change how Finland perceives the concept of core family. PM Vanhanen said also that the bill could pass before Parliament's summer recess. On Wednesday Vanhanen met with the families of the elderly women awaiting deportation.
YLE 25 March 2010 (in English)
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/03/police_suspend_deportation_of_grandmothers_1557937.html
Helsingin Sanomat 26 March 2010 (in English)
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Two+grandmothers+awaiting+deportation+to+be+given+a+second+opportunity/1135254948073
Helsingin Sanomat 25 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/Iso%C3%A4itien+k%C3%A4%C3%A4nnytyst%C3%A4+viiv%C3%A4stytet%C3%A4%C3%A4n/1135254948780
Helsinki Times 25 March 2010 (in English)
http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/domestic-news/general/10434-finnish-police-allow-women-denied-residence-permits-to-stay.html
YLE 25 March 2010 (in English)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/03/police_review_grandmothers_deportation_cases_1557937.html
YLE 24 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svenska.yle.fi/nyheter/artikel.php?id=182525
YLE 24 March 2010 (in English)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/03/finnish_leadership_mulls_changes_to_aliens_act_1557283.html

Government plans to limit rights of asylum-seekers from the EU
The government plans to abolish cash benefits for asylum-seekers from EU countries. According to a government proposal asylum-seekers from EU countries would not be entitled to accommodation and income supplements after having received a negative decision from the Immigration Service. At present, applicants are entitled to these rights for up to 30 days following a negative decision. The Board's proposal is based on the increased number of asylum applications from EU citizens. Finland considers EU countries to be safe and applications for asylum from EU citizens, therefore, unfounded.
YLE 25 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/2010/03/eun_sisalta_tulevien_turvapaikanhakijoiden_oikeuksia_halutaan_rajata_1560128.html

Man stabs himself over negative asylum decision
An Iranian man stabbed himself in the stomach in Tampere in southern Finland on Wednesday after learning that he had been denied asylum. The police said the man had not threatened bystanders. The man was taken to hospital.
Helsinki Times 25 March 2010 (in English)
http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/domestic-news/general/10401-man-stabs-himself-over-denied-asylum-in-finland-.html

Lithuania

Head of Lithuanian Foreigners Registration Center: Illegal immigrants were preparing a riot
According to the director of the Foreigners' Registration Center in Pabrade, Lithuania, illegal immigrants at the center could have been preparing for a riot. Staff at the center found and seized mobile telephones, sticks and ropes. The director said the persons in question do not want to be deported from Lithuania but, instead, proceed to Europe. Lithuania's Foreigners Registration Center currently hosts 96 illegal immigrants including 34 who are waiting for deportation.
Baltic News Service 25 March 2010 (in English) (subscription required)
www.bns.ee

Norway

Fear the president's informers
One of the largest groups of refugees and asylum-seekers in Norway are Eritreans. In 2008, 1,799 persons from Eritrea applied for asylum, and in 2009 the number had increased to 2,667. Over 90 per cent of them were granted either asylum, international protection or residence permits on humanitarian grounds. They should be safe in Norway, but instead they afraid of the home country's extended arms and informers, and feel persecuted in Norway. 190 resettlement refugees from Eritrea were selected in cooperation with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in 2009. The number of underage asylum-seekers as well as family reunifications from Eritrea has increased.
NRK 24 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/verden/1.7053155

Only accepts Burmese refugees
In the last municipal council meeting in Spydeberg, the Progress Party proposed to formally request that refugees or asylum-seekers that are accommodated in the municipality are from Burma, saying that they have good experiences with this group and that they are more easily integrated than others. The proposal had the support of three Conservative seats in the municipal council, but it was not enough so the proposal was not accepted. Refugee Officer in Spydeberg, Gro Pettersen, says that there simply are not that many Burmese refugees who come to Norway, and that they must help others, too.
NRK 25 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/ostfold/1.7054520
Smaalenenes Avis 25 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.smaalenene.no/nyheter/article5039276.ece

Trandum: Employees and inmates live in fear
This week, Police inspector Hanne Kristin Rohde proposed that foreigners who have committed serious crime should be locked up after their sentence is served and they are waiting to be deported. At the same time, the situation in the country's only detention center has been out of control for a long time. A police officer said that they need to handle the situation in Trandum before considering to expand. Over the last five weeks there has been a fire, escapes, riots and threatening situations. Until last week, a record number of persons, around one hundred, had been kept locked up in Trandum. After an inspection where the Labor Inspection Authority found that there was danger to the life and health of the employees of Trandum, they limited the number of inmates at Trandum to 45 persons. Therefore, 10 foreigners were released.
Verdens Gang 25 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=595046
Aftenposten 26 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3581945.ece

One out of four municipalities say no to minor asylum-seekers
Around 280 unaccompanied minor asylum-seekers who have been granted a residence permit in Norway, are waiting to get settled in a municipality. During 2010, the government expects that up to 1,800 unaccompanied minor asylum-seekers will need to find municipalities where they can stay. Out of the approximately 180 municipalities that have been asked by the Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDI) to settle them, 71 have now said yes, and 44 no, while the rest have not yet responded.
Verdens Gang 26 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=595112

Fathia's doctor enraged at UNE
Two weeks have passed since Fathia Ahmed Omar (25) and her son Munir (6) were sent out of Norway, despite the fact that she was still recovering from surgery and that both had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Because their health information was not included when they were deported, the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) asked the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) to look into the matter again. But UNE did not begin the processing of the case until Monday this week, and on Wednesday night it had still not made a decision. Fathia Omars doctor, Ulf Hørlyk, is furious at the way the UNE has handled the case. He traveled to Genoa on Monday to help his patient, and described communications with UNE as difficult and that the proceedings are very slow. Hørlyk says that he is not interested in immigration policies as such, but that if one does not allow a sick person to go back to Norway for treatment, he has lost his respect for the system. He says that delays can be life threatening for his patients.
Aftenposten 24 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3579668.ece

Fathia not allowed to return to Norway
Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) has rejected a request to re-open Omar's case again since she has already received international protection in Italy. On Thursday night, the Immigration Appeals Board said that Fathia Omar (25) will not be allowed to return to Norway. They refer to her asylum status in Italy and believes she can get health care there. UNE says the woman has previously received treatment for physical and mental health problems in Italy and that she did not appear to suffer from such problems when she applied for asylum in Norway. She applied stating reasons such as economic problems and lack of education for her son in Italy. UNE-director Terje Sjeggestad also pointed out that she, in Italy, indicated that she was from Eritrea, while she entered Somalia as country of origin in her Norwegian application. The Norwegian authorities do not recognize Omar's marriage to Omar Sabriye in Bergen since it, according to Sjeggestad, was conducted over the phone while both of them were in European countries. The Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers (NOAS) has provided legal assistance to the woman's husband in Bergen and has therefore a good knowledge of the matter. Acting Director Sylo Taraku is highly critical of UNE's decision. He believes that the UNE should have been more concerned with the human aspect of this case rather than the bureaucratic procedures.
Dagbladet 25 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.dagbladet.no/2010/03/25/nyheter/innenriks/utenriks/asyl/11023573/
Verdens Gang 25 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=595082
Aftenposten 26 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3581862.ece

UNE Director: 'Aftenposten should review their own operations'
Director of the Immigration Appeals Board, Terje Sjeggestad, denies that the decision in the Fathia-matter is against the Dublin Regulation. Leader of the Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers (NOAS), Sylo Taraku, believes that the Dublin Regulation clearly states that persons in vulnerable situations should not be deported. According to the Dublin Regulation, asylum-seekers should have their applications processed in the first European country they came to. In Fathia Omars case this country was Italy. Sjeggestad says that they have been informed by Italian authorities that she has obtained refugee status and legal residence permit in Italy now. He says that Aftenposten has been the leading channel for the erroneous image that has been created on the contents of the case, and that their coverage has been the basis of strong reactions and characteristics from a variety of stakeholders, including the UNE. Sjeggestad says that Aftenposten needs to review their own journalistic operations.
Aftenposten 26 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3581869.ece

Sweden

Sweden plans children's homes in Afghanistan
Unaccompanied refugee children arriving in Sweden and seeking asylum will be sent back to their home countries and live in specially designed care centres which the government will fund. The government proposal means that children who today would be able to stay in Sweden will in the future be deported. The Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström says it is better that the children come to some form of housing in their own country while efforts are made to locate parents or relatives. The plan has already raised criticism in the media. During 2009, 2,250 unaccompanied children under the age of 18 came to Sweden and applied for asylum. Most of them come from Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq.
The Local 25 March 2010 (in English)
http://www.thelocal.se/25722/20100325/
Dagens Nyheter 25 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.dn.se/nyheter/politik/regeringen-vill-ha-flyktingbarnhem-1.1067207
Dagens Nyheter 26 March 2010 p:11 (in Swedish)
Sydsvenskan 25 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://sydsvenskan.se/sverige/article640898/Regeringen-vill-bygga-barnhem.html
Sydsvenskan 26 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://sydsvenskan.se/sverige/article641338/Barnhem-splittrar-regeringen.html
Sveriges Radio 25 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.sr.se/ekot/artikel.asp?artikel=3581833
Sveriges Radio 25 March 2010 (in English)
http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/international/artikel.asp?ProgramID=166&Nyheter=1&artikel=3582367

NB. This story was also covered in Norway
Verdens Gang 25 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=594996

Migration Board's custody receives criticism
National Board of Health and Welfare criticizes the Migration Board for health services for asylum-seekers at the repository in Örkelljunga in southwest Sweden. The National Board of Health and Welfare requires that the Migration Board presents the measures taken or to be taken to correct the deficiencies no later than 17 April.
Sveriges Television 25 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.33782/1.1940704/migrationsverkets_forvar_far_kritik?lid=senasteNytt_1851294&lpos=rubrik_1940704

[Roope]

Saturday 27 March to Monday 29 March 2010

Denmark

Immigration Act tightened every 8 months
The Immigration Act has been changed 14 times under the current government coalition. Critics believe that the Immigration Act is changed so often that it creates legal uncertainty for those who are affected by the law. Andreas Kamm, Secretary General of the Danish Refugee Council, says that the uncertainty is a flaw in a community where citizens should have some sense of which rules they live by. Danish People's Party spokesman Peter Skaarup says that it is hard to please everyone.
Berlingske Tidende 28 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.berlingske.dk/danmark/udlaendingeloven-strammes-hver-8.-maaned
Danmarks Radio 29 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Politik/2010/03/29/064248.htm

Finland

Courts restore many residence permit applications rejected on suspicion of sham marriage
A significant proportion of suspicions of sham marriages, up to 40 per cent, brought forth by the Finnish Immigration Service and the Police are rejected by the courts. The courts often adopt a stance that differs from that of the Immigration Service and the police. This is due to the fact that additional evidence  to prove that a marriage is genuine often is produced, or the couple have had a child, or moved into the same home. The Finnish Immigration Service rejects between 100 and 200 residence permit applications each year because they suspect that the marriage the application is based on is not genuine. In 2009, the Immigration Service granted 1,700 permits based on marriage, and rejected 300. The greatest number of positive responses was for Russian citizens.
YLE 28 March 2010 (in English)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/03/courts_restore_significant_proportion_of_residence_permit_applications_rejected_on_suspicion_of_sham_marriage_1566907.html
YLE 28 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/2010/03/oikeus_kumoaa_suuren_osan_valeliittoepailyista_1566339.html
Turun Sanomat 28 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.ts.fi/online/kotimaa/120861.html

Immigration platform make-over for political parties
Finland's political parties are toughening their positions on immigration ahead of parliamentary elections. The stiffer line on immigration policies resembles the nationalistic tenor of the True Finns, who say the updated platforms are all about vote chasing. The National Coalition Party finalized its election platform at the end of 2009. Working group chairman, MP Arto Satonen, said the program contained more conservative stances on issues such as immigration on the basis of family ties. The National Coalition Party is also in favour of age tests, which may be used to turn away adult asylum-seekers posing as unaccompanied minors. The slip, in which the Social Democratic Party's chair Jutta Urpilainen echoed the True Finns position, shows that SDP too is moving closer to the True Finns on this sensitive question. The Christian Democrats are also reworking their immigration platform. On the other hand, the Swedish Peoples' Party and the Green League have remained constant to their fundamental positions on immigration.
YLE 26 March 2010 (in English)
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/03/immigration_platform_make-over_for_political_parties_1564083.html

Finnish Supreme Court orders Gatayevs' release
Finland's Supreme Court on Friday ordered the police to release Hadijat Gatayeva, a Chechen humanitarian activist, and her husband, Malik, after Lithuania dropped an extradition request and a European arrest warrant on the Gatayevs. The Helsinki district court rejected Lithuania's extradition plea in January as the Gatayevs had applied for asylum in Finland. Earlier last week, Lithuania's Supreme Court ordered charges against the Gatayevs to be re-examined. The Gatayevs have run orphanages in Chechnya and Lithuania. They have been handed 18-month prison sentences in Lithuania.
Helsinki Times 26 March 2010 (in English)
http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/domestic-news/general/10442-finnish-supreme-court-orders-gatayevs-release-.html

Norway

In safety in Genoa
The Italian authorities are now taking care of Fathia Ahmed Omar (25) and her son Munir (6). Somali-Italian lawyer Alessandra Ballerini says that they are doing well and that they now have a place where they can temporarily stay in Genoa.
Aftenposten 28 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3584315.ece

Asylum-seekers are prohibited to work for free
The Directorate of Immigration denies asylum-seekers the right to perform volunteer work since it is interpreted in the same way as paid work. In the Immigration Act, volunteer work is included in the definition of work, the broad definition set to prevent undeclared work. The Red Cross believes that this is very unfortunate. Parliament member Erik Sivertsen of the Labor Party says that he understands that many people react to this, but that it is important to prevent asylum-seekers from taking a shortcut into the workplace. The Immigration Act, both the old one and the present, requires that a person has a residence permit in order to take a paid or unpaid work.
NRK 26 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nordland/1.7056942

Sweden

The dream - a ticket to Sweden
In Somalia, the bloody fighting continues. Close to 300,000 refugees live in the overcrowded refugee camps outside of Dadaab in Kenya. Almost all of the refugees in the camp are Somali. Some arrived as early as in the beginning of  90s when the civil war in Somalia began. Many have been born in the camps, where half are under 18 years. Now, a Swedish delegation led by Johan Harald from the Migration Board is there with the purpose of selecting the 300 Somali quota refugees who all want a ticket away from the hopelessness. Sweden will receive 1,900 quota refugees in 2010. It is the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) that presents cases for Swedish consideration. Posters are put up in the camps with the names of those that UNHCR has selected for interviews with the Swedes. The buses then transport them to a simple office where families are interviewed, data is double checked, and the Swedish delegation assesses the protection needs are sufficient for the Aliens Act. In some cases, the Swedish assessment is tougher than the UN's, and some are rejected. Dan Eliasson at the Migration is disappointed that not more EU countries are accepting quota refugees. Denmark selects quota refugees on the basis of "integration potential". Dan Eliasson says that Sweden's only determining factor is the need for protection.
Svenska Dagbladet 27 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/drommen-en-biljett-till-sverige_4492029.svd

More hidden Iraqis to be deported
The number of forced returns of Iraqi asylum-seekers whose applications have been denied will double during this spring, from 30 to 55 a month. According to UNHCR, it is still too early to see how the situation in Iraq will develop after the elections. Sweden was the first country in Europe to write an agreement with Iraq which made it possible to arrange forcible returns of Iraqis. Sweden has, against the guidelines of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, deported persons to Baghdad, Kirkuk and Mosul where death rates still are high. The Swedish Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström says that Iraq has now finished its second free elections and the situation must be judged as completely different from what it was a couple of years earlier, when Iraq was on the brink of civil war. In Parliamentary debates the Green Party and the Left Party have been strongly critical towards deportations of Iraqis. The Swedish Church has fought the hardest for Iraqis facing deportations. After Easter the Church will hand out some 3,000 so called inhibition applications to the Migration Board. According to the Swedish Church, the aim is to show the unreasonableness of the Iraqi deportations.
Dagens Nyheter 28 March 2010 p:6 (in Swedish)



UNHCR in the news

More refugees pick Sweden over southern Europe
According to UNHCR statistics, 377,200 people applied for asylum in Europe, North America and Asia last year. Sweden received 24,190 asylum applications - almost the same number as in 2008. The increase was particularly strong in Denmark (+59 percent), Finland (+47) and Norway (+19 percent). In 2007 Sweden was the European country that received the largest number of asylum-seekers. Last year, the Swedish asylum figures exceeded those of France, Britain and Germany. Norway has emerged as Europe's sixth largest country of asylum. Looking at the number of asylum-seekers on a per capita basis, Sweden ranks third in Europe, after Cyprus and Malta, receiving fourteen asylum-seekers per capita. According to UNHCR, there are five large asylum-seeking groups in the world. They are, in order, Afghans, Iraqis, Somalis, Russians and Chinese. Afghans seek asylum in Norway (3,900 people last year), the Iraqis in Germany (6,300 persons), Somalis in Sweden and the Netherlands (5,900 persons each), the Russians in Poland (6,000), while more than half of all asylum-seeking Chinese seek refuge in the U.S. (11,600 persons last year). According to UNHCR, there are four factors that currently influence why more asylum-seekers come to the Nordic countries: fair asylum procedures, good reception of refugees, the existence of persons from their home country in Sweden which serves as a social network, and a belief among those fleeing their homelands that some countries are more likely to grant asylum than others. The Migration Board estimates that 28,000 people will seek asylum in 2010, which is an increase in 16 percent. The expected increase is due to the fact that Sweden now considers large parts of Somalia and Afghanistan to be war zones, and therefore will not reject asylum-seekers from those areas.
Sydsvenska Dagbladet 29 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://sydsvenskan.se/sverige/article642109/Fler-flyktingar-valjer-Norden-fore-Sydeuropa.html

Differences between EU countries' assessments of asylum claims
A report by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees shows that there are great differences between EU countries' assessments of asylum claims. UNHCR has examined 1000 asylum processes in 12 different member states. According to Judith Kumin, UNHCR's Director for Europe, an asylum-seeker must have the same possibilities regardless of which EU country the application was submitted in. She also notes that this is not the case at present. Differences in assessment of asylum claims create a market for smugglers, who sell travels between Southern and Northern Europe. There has also been discussion about loosening of the rules according to which an asylum application should be made in the first EU country a person comes to. The EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström stresses that for humanitarian reasons, Sweden can refrain from returning asylum-seekers to another country.
Dagens Nyheter 27 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/synen-pa-asyl-skiljer-sig-mellan-eu-lander-1.1068808

[Roope]

Tuesday 30 March to Wednesday 31 March 2010

Denmark

Nice words will not result in better integration
Minister of Integration Birthe Rønn says that a written policy on integration in municipalities, which the conservative politicians want, will not guarantee better integration. Erik Nielsen (S), mayor in Rødovre, says that municipalities should be allowed to work rather than to be imposed with standards for the already prioritized integration work. An investigation conducted by the Liberals shows that 37 out of the country's 98 municipalities have not adopted a policy of integration.
NordJyske 30 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://nordjyske.dk/indland/forside.aspx?ctrl=10&data=2%2c3534275%2c5%2c4

RCT wants to be consulted on legislative reform
The Rehabilitation and Research Center for Torture Victims (RCT) criticizes Minister of Integration Birthe Rønn Hornbech (V) for failing to consult the RCT in the latest revision of the Immigration Agreement. Coordinator Tue Magnussen at the RCT says that given that the RCT have openly criticized the Immigration Agreement, he believes that it would only be natural if the bill had been sent for consultation to the RCT. The Minister of Integration has previously been accused by other organizations for rushing the bill. There will only be a period of 13 days, including the Easter holidays, available for those who wish to comment on the legislation draft.
Kristeligt Dagblad 30 March 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/361136:Danmark--Anti-torturcenter-vil-hoeres-om-lovaendring

Finland

Finland ill prepared for illiterate asylum-seekers
Finland is not prepared for the needs of illiterate asylum-seekers, who often need basic education before they can begin to learn Finnish. For example, 85 to 90 per cent of Somalis, including children, are illiterate when they come to Finland, according to the Finnish Immigration Service. 15-16 year-olds have a particularly difficult time. The youth belong to the comprehensive education system in Finland. However, in practice they are often left behind. Jarno Ruotsalainen of the Uusimaa Centre for Economic Development says that current funding for language education ought to be reformed. He says job training becomes nothing more than language studies. Illiterate immigrants coming to Finland receive 200 days of basic education. The integration plan includes 40 credits of Finnish or Swedish, which is not enough for those who want to enter study or work programmes.
Aamulehti 31 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/suomi-ei-ole-valmistautunut-lukutaidottomien-maahanmuuttajien-vyoryyn/174817
Yle Uutiset 31 March 2010 (in English)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/03/finland_not_prepared_for_illiterate_asylum_seekers_1573137.html
Yle Uutiset 31 March (in Finnish)
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/teksti/kotimaa/2010/03/suomi_ei_ole_valmistautunut_lukutaidottomiin_maahanmuuttajiin_1573012.html

The Finns want tougher immigration rules
According to a recently conducted survey, three out of five Finns believe that the immigration policy is not strict enough. Out of the respondents, 91 per cent believe that aliens who have committed crimes should be deported more easily than now. Nearly half of the respondents want to make it more difficult for resettled refugees and persons granted asylum to be reunited with their families in Finland. Those who move to Finland to work are still welcome: only 13 percent want to complicate the work-related immigration. More than half would accept having a refugee reception centre near their homes. The survey was conducted by Taloustutkimus for the immigration critical association Homma. Jussi Halla-aho of the True Finns is a driving power of Homma, and the survey also showed that persons who vote for the True Finns are the most critical towards immigration.
Hufvudstadsbladet 31 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.hbl.fi/text/inrikes/2010/3/31/w45118.php
Helsingin Sanomat 31 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/Yli+puolet+suomalaisista+tiukentaisi+maahanmuuttopolitiikkaa/1135255774989
Yle Uutiset 31 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/2010/03/suomalaiset_haluavat_maahanmuuttajista_hyotya_yhteiskunnalle_1573199.html
Aamulehti 31 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/kysely-yli-puolet-tiukentaisi-maahanmuuttoa/174824

Legal experts think that age tests violate basic rights
The Government's proposition to include age tests of young asylum-seekers into legislation is met with conflicting responses. According to Tuomas Ojanen, professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Helsinki, the tests violate several basic rights, prolong the asylum process and are expensive. The Immigration Service and the Hjelt insitute, that conducts the tests, are both in  favour of the tests. Helena Ranta, professor and forensic dentist, stresses that these are not tests but approximate results, and the margin of error is 1.5 to 2 years. Age testing has been done in Finland for a long time, but the tests were suspended last year. Sweden does not age test young asylum-seekers. Last year, 557 minor asylum-seekers came to Finland, 137 were tested.
Helsingin Sanomat 30 March 2010 (in Finnish)
http://m.hs.fi/inf/infomo?site=hstxt&view=latestchild&feed:a=hs.fi&feed:c=news&feed:i=1135255749198

Norway

Somalis without a residence permit must leave Norway
Persons from southern Somalia who have not received asylum in Norway have until now been allowed to stay even if they do not have legal residence permits. This will now change after the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) changed its praxis in the matter. According to UNE, the security situation in southern Somalia, including Mogadishu, is no longer, by itself, basis for refugee status. The decision to revoke the suspension of the obligation to leave the country, which was introduced for Somalia in November 2006 because of the major regional conflict in the Horn of Africa, means that the south Somalis now are obligated to leave Norway. It also means that police can start implementing returns to south Somalia. About 3,000 Somalis can be affected by the decision. UNE Director Terje Sjeggestad says that they are aware that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees do not recommend returns to south Somalia, but points out that this is a five year old decision. Sjeggestad says that UNHCR's views dates back to 2005 and are of a general nature. The Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers, NOAS, reacts strongly against UNE's decision. The organization believes that it is totally irresponsible to send the Somalis back to the war-torn area. Acting Secretary General of NAOS, Sylo Taraku, says that the Somali situation is characterized by high levels of violence, and that you risk being killed if you return.
Dagbladet 30 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.dagbladet.no/2010/03/30/nyheter/utlendingsnemda/asylsokere/somalia/utenriks/11090416/
Verdens Gang 30 March 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=595346

Sweden

Faster processing of asylum applications
A new approach will reduce the processing time of asylum applications from six to three months. The model was introduced in Malmö last week. The Migration Board hopes that the new approach will be introduced throughout the country at the end of the year. The model was tested in Gothenburg, Solna, and Boden last year. The Migration Board describes it as "the largest investment to date to make sure that the applicant for asylum receives a fast and just decision". The approach is based on early intervention when a person is seeking asylum. It is about working in teams, problem solving, ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement in their daily work.
Skånskan.se 29 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.skanskan.se/article/20100329/MALMO/703299747/0/trelleborgvellinge/*/snabbare-asylbesked

Fewer Swedes are poor
According to a report from the National Board of Health and Welfare, fewer Swedes are living below the poverty line. Meanwhile, inequality has become greater, and a larger proportion of the poor are immigrants. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt says that the previous government's line was too focused on caretaking of asylum-seekers and refugees, and that his government is working on speeding up the integration of immigrants into the job market.
Sveriges Radio 30 March 2010 (in English)
http://sverigesradio.se/cgi-bin/international/nyhetssidor/artikel.asp?nyheter=1&programid=2054&artikel=3592881

NB. This story was also covered in Finland
Hufvudstadsbladet 29 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.hbl.fi/text/utrikes/2010/3/29/w45050.php

Health care for asylum-seekers criticized
The National Board for Health and Welfare is now strongly criticizing the Migration Board for the medical services in the Reception Center in Örkelljunga. A doctor has made two-hour visits, once every two months, to the center.  According to the National Board for Health and Welfare, the healthcare provided at the center is not sufficient. Among other things, there is no manager for the healthcare facility, and in addition to this, they say that the neither staff or facilities needed to provide good healthcare do not exist.
SVT 31 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.33782/1.1947613/vard_for_asylsokande_kritiseras?lid=senasteNytt_1765014&lpos=rubrik_1947613

[Roope]

Thursday 1 April to Wednesday 7 April 2010

Denmark

War criminal staying in Denmark on tolerated stay
Bosnian citizen Refic Saric, who has sentenced to eight years in prison and consequent deportation for committing crimes of war against fellow muslims in 1995 is still living in Denmark under so-called tolerated stay. Tolerated stay is applied in cases where deportations of sentenced criminals cannot take place due to for example difficult circumstances in their home country. At the moment there are 34 persons on tolerated stay. Saric claims that he has a heart condition that requires treatment in Denmark. Integration Minister Birthe Rønn Hornbech (Liberals) says that it is unsatisfying that the deportation cannot take place, but that it is a decision taken by the the Refugee Appeals Board. The fact that Saric remains in Denmark is critized by The Danish People's Party, among others.
Jyllands-Posten 7 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dE0Ev
Jyllands-Posten 7 April 2010 (English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dF0Ew

Finland

More and more Roma are found begging in Helsinki
The number of Romanian Roma have risen again after decrease during the winter's coldest months. Currently, there are around 120 Roma in the Helsinki region, and the number is increasing. The cause of the Roma migration is the same as before, and that is the bottomless poverty in their home country Romania. According to Roma who is in Finland, the Romanian State is currently unable to pay out social assistance and child allowances.
YLE 31 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dG0Ex

Finland will give 47.3 million euros in humanitarian aid
Finland will give 47.3 million euros in humanitarian aid to victims of world crises and natural disasters. The total budget Finland's humanitarian assistance for 2010 is 69.7 million euros. Finland's humanitarian assistance is based on the joint appeal by several UN agencies. The geographical focus is on Africa, but other serious crises which are now supported are Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen. The major channels of the aid is the United Nations Refugee Agency (15 million euros) and the World Food Programme (4.2 million).
Kauppalehti 1 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dH0Ey

Finland to slash number of asylum-seekers
Last year, officials rushed to set up housing for a sudden influx of asylum-seekers. Around 6,000 asylum-seekers came to Finland in 2009. Now the Finnish Immigration Service plans to slash that number to 4,000. Officials say the cuts will save millions of euros. However, Finland's refugee quota will remain unchanged. Last year, Finland spent around 130 million euros on refugee reception centers. Officials want to cut that number in half.
YLE 6 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dI0Ez
Aamulehti 6 April (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dJ0E1

Norway

Somali asylum-seekers may be returned to southern Somalia
The Immigration Appeals Board UNE opens up for the possibility of sending asylum-seekers back to southern Somalia. I Norway, 3,000 persons that have applied for asylum can be affected by the decision.  Refugees from the southern part of Somalia, including the capital Mogadishu, have, since 2006, not been returnable to their country of origin. Terje Sjeggestad, director of UNE, says that the decision to return persons to Somalia is possible given that a thorough individual evaluation of the individual case is done. The highest decision making entity believes that the security situation in southern Somalia and Mogadishu as such is not reason enough for granting of refugee status. UNHCR does not believe that refugees should be returned to Somalia, but this position is five years old. Terje Sjeggestad says that UN's statement is five years old and is of a general character. UNE's director denies the accusations that the UNE decision is the result of political pressure " This has nothing to do with political pressure. UNE is not receiving instructions from politicians, only from the legal framework.  The situation in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia is without a doubt difficult, and that that is why the highest decision making entity has highlighted the need and the importance of thorough individual assessments of each case."
In parts of Somalia where the militia is fighting for power, it is war, and in parts where they already are in power, crimes against humanity take place. The militia controls up to 80 per cent of the southern and central parts of Somalia, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) is strongly opposed to returns to these areas.

Roberta Russo, UNHCR's spokesperson in Somalia: - UNHCR strongly believes that this decision by Norway to return people to the south and central areas of Somalia is disturbing simply because it puts the lives of asylum-seekers at risk.
The country has been without a central power for 20 years, and the situation is close to anarchy. 1,5 million persons are internally displaced at the same time as many relief organizations are pulling out because of the security situation.
Roberta Russo: -The situation is extremely insecure. Many people die every day because they are caught in the fighting between the different fighting parties. Civilians do not have access to water, health facilities, to shelter facilities, and the situation is simply desperate.

The Norwegian Organization for Asylum-seekers, NOAS, reacts strongly against UNE's decision. They believe that it is indefensible to return persons to the war thorn country.  Sylo Taraku, Secretary General of NOAS: - The situation is violent, the humanitarian situation is troublesome, and one is risking to be killed when returned.

Mali Steiro Tronsm, leader of the Socialist Youth League of Norway says that it is a scandal that the UNE disregards the UN High Commissioner.  She believes that Norway undermines the UN, and that refugees in Norway are unable to expect legal security. - UNE should be replaced with a refugee court.
NRK Dagsrevyen 30 March 2010 'Somaliske asylsøkere' (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dK0E2

Return of Somalis
Return of asylum-seekers to southern Somalia is supported by the Government, even though certain political parties do not agree with the decision. Three year ago, the Socialist Left Party (SV) was pleased to hear that UNE's highest decision making entity would deal with cases of principle. Today, they are criticizing UNE. Bard Vegar Solhjell, Parliamentarian leader of SV, says that he wants the Minister of Justice to explain why UNE reaches a completely different conclusion in the matter than the UN does. He says that as long as they have the system that they have, it is important that the government respects the decision by UNE, but that it is important to dig deeper into the underlying arguments behind the decision. Pål Lønseth, State Secretary at the Department of Justice, says that the highest decision making entity is a politically independent organ that interprets the law, and leaves no room for influence from the government. Even though many criticize UNE, they have a large number of politicians on their side.  Per-Willy Amundsen, spokesperson for immigration politics (FrP) says that if it is possible to carry out a return, it is important to do so.
NRK Dagsrevyen 31 March 2010 'Retur av somaliere' (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dL0E3

Mentally ill 17-year-old detained
A 17-year-old is imprisoned at Trandum holding facility for the fourth day in a row is described as extremely mentally ill. Before he was sent to Trandum, he tried to commit suicide twice. According to a doctor, he suffers from a "very serious personality disorder" and has "huge post-traumatic disorder" because of violence and murder of close family members in Iraq. The boy is now in solitary confinement in the security department at Trandum. The boy came to Norway as a 14-year-old, but his application for asylum was rejected. In August last year, he was permanently expelled from the country. However, the boy returned because his stepfather threatened to kill him. Roar Hanssen at the Police's Deportation Unit (PU) says that the boy has a long record for his young age, and that he has just finished serving a sentence for drugs. Hanssen says that it is on the basis of his criminal past that he is to be expelled from Norway, and that it is the reason to why he is at Trandum.
Aftenposten 2 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dM0E4

Iceland

Ramses Family Can Stay in Iceland
The Directorate of Immigration decided last week to grant residence permits to Kenyan refugee Paul Ramses, his wife Rosemary Atieno and their son Fídel Smári. The permits were granted on the grounds that they might be persecuted in their home country. In July 2008, Ramses was sent to Italy on the basis of the Dublin Agreement and was made to leave his wife and son behind. He was later allowed to return after the decision to deport him was protested in Iceland. The family first applied for residence permits in February that year. During the two years that the application of the Ramses family has been assessed, they have been living outside the system to a certain extent. Fídel Smári could not go to kindergarten and Atieno could not obtain a driver's license, for example.
Iceland Revew 3 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dN0E5

Sweden

Wants to fire suspected police officer
The police forces of Västra Götaland wants to fire a border police officer that is suspected of serious misconduct. The police officer has in interrogation admitted that he committed crimes when he worked with rejected asylum-seekers, where he executed the deportation orders of asylum-seekers. The border police officer is accused of having asked for sexual favors from women that are under threat of being deported, in exchange for sending them further back in the processing line. Johnny Calvin, lawyer at the police department of Västra Götaland, says that the police officer decided to confess when they presented their evidence against him.
Skånskan.se 31 March 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dO0E6
Sveriges Radio 1 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dP0E7

Unaccompanied minor refugee children will receive an ambassador
The unaccompanied minor refugee children in Gävle will get their own ambassadors.
The Inheritance Fund (Allmänna Arvsfonden) has granted close to a million SEK to the project. The aim of the project is to increase the possibilities of refugee children, who come alone to Sweden, to be better integrated in society. Right now possible ambassadors who are supposed to serve as the refugee children's right hand and work as mentors or role models for the children are reviewed. The money from the Inheritance Fund will also be used to create a film that will be used for discussions on refugee children's situation. A team will go to Africa to record a movie on Somalia.
Gefle Dagblad 1 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dQ0E8

Gaza children can stay in Sweden
Children and parents from Gaza, who against all odds get to Sweden, now have a very good chance to be allowed to stay on humanitarian grounds. The Migration Board's legal advisor Michael Ribbenvik concluded in a decision on Thursday that it, from a humanitarian perspective, would be "offensive" to return children to the Palestinian territory. Since the Migration Board is reluctant to separate family members, this decision will also apply to the children's parents. Ribbenvik says that the situation has worsened since the war with Israel ended just over a year ago. Since Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory remains, and the terror-stamped Hamas still is in control, assistance does not reach the people in need. There is a lack of food, medicine, water and electricity.
Dagens Nyheter 1 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dR0EA
Dagbladet 1 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dS0EB

Unaccompanied minor child took his own life
The National Board of Health and Welfare is critical to the fact that the information transfer did not work when an unaccompanied refugee child took his life after having been refused asylum. The boy was in contact with Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, BUP, because he also was deeply depressed. According to his doctor, institutional care was the only option, but the doctor's information to the youth housing did not reach the personnel in charge. If it had, it is according to the National Board of Health and Welfare possible that the young man was not put in the institution.
Sveriges Radio P4 3 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dT0EC

Refugee children receive poor quality education
According to Bunar Nihad, Associate Professor of Sociology at Stockholm University, the knowledge of how to best to take care of refugees are poor in many places. He says that it is a lottery for the kids. If they are lucky, they receive dedicated teachers and principals. If they are not, they will end up in a kind of forced isolation. A report from the School Inspection published last year, indicates, among other things, that schools often does not bother to find out what knowledge the children and young people already possess. They often get too little tutoring in subjects other than Swedish and mathematics, and all too rarely get help in their native language.
SVT 4 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dU0ED

Fast-track asylum processes to be reviewed
The Migration Board's new approach is expected to halve the processing time for asylum cases. But the new approach may mean that investigations are inadequate and that the work is shifted to the Migration Court instead, and this will now be investigated by the Court. Refugee lawyer Hans Bredberg is critical to the Migration Board's new approach with quick decisions. He says that the biggest problem is that some asylum-seekers may not be able to meet with a lawyer.
Dagbladet 6 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dV0EE
Svenska Dagbladet 6 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dW0EF
Sveriges Radio 6 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dX0EG



UNHCR in the news

Brangelina visit refugees
During Easter, Angelina Jolie together with her husband Brad Pitt traveled to Sarajevo. They arrived late Sunday amid great secrecy and discretion, but photographers and reporters still managed to track their position down on Monday when the couple visited the refugees in a UN-run refugee camp in the town of Gorazde in the east of the country.
Metro Xpress 5 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dY0EH
Verdens Gang 6 April (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCiHG0ZqnfK0aYC0D3dZ0EI

[Roope]

Thursday 8 April to Friday 9 April 2010

Denmark

Man dies in asylum centre brawl
Mounting tensions in an overcrowded asylum centre, Sandholm, spilled over into a brawl involving up to 100 persons, some of them armed with knives. The main victim has been identified as a 30-year-old Afghan asylum-seeker who died from a stab wound to the chest. A 26-year-old man from Kosovo was charged with murder and five other men were charged with accessory to murder. The murder is the latest in a long line of incidents caused by tension at the centre in recent months. According to the Danish Red Cross' Secretary General Anders Ladekarl the Sandholm asylum centre, which houses both new asylum applicants and those who are awaiting deportation having been refused asylum, is overpopulated.
Jyllands-Posten 8 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qC0EL
Jyllands-Posten 8 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qD0EM
Berlinske Tidende 7 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qE0EN

Influx of refugees to Denmark
The number of asylum-seekers coming to Denmark increased by nearly 60 per cent last year. According to the Danish Immigration Service, 3,819 asylum-seekers came to Denmark in 2009, which is 58 per cent more than the year before. The Danish Immigration Service has opened a new reception center in Auderød in North Sjaelland. After the riots on Wednesday at the Sandholm asylum centre, which led to the killing of a 30-year-old Afghan asylum-seeker, the Danish Red Cross decided that all new asylum-seekers should be sent to the Center in Auderød.
Politiken 8 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qF0EO

Discrimination hotline launched
Copenhagen City Council is launching an anti-discrimination hotline in response to worrying figures of widespread discrimination, particularly among immigrants. A recent council study showed that 60,000 Copenhagen residents last year felt discriminated against on the grounds of sexual orientation, disability, gender, religion, age, ethnic background or nationality. Refugees and immigrants in particular feel they have been the subject of discrimination – 22 per cent of them, according to the council's study.
The Copenhagen Online Post 8 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qG0EP

Finland

Migration Minister considers consequences of amending residence permit law
On Wednesday, The Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors met with the Parliament's Administration Committee to discuss the pressure to amend the Aliens Act, which was prompted by the cases of the two grandmothers who were not given residence permits. They came to a conclusion that the Ministry of the Interior should examine the matter further, and the Minister and the Administration Committee will revert to the subject in mid-May. Thors added that there were no major differences in opinions at this point because parties have not taken a final stand on the matter. She said the meeting was important because changing the law would require broad support from parliament.
Helsingin Sanomat 8 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qH0EQ
YLE 7 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qI0ER
YLE 7 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qJ0ES

Amendment to Aliens Act would open doors to hundreds of grandparents
Currently some 20 elderly persons from countries of the former Soviet Union are waiting for Finnish residence permits. Proposed amendments to the Aliens Act could allow hundreds of elderly persons to move into Finland from Russia every year, estimates the Finnish Immigration Service. The most important spur encouraging aged persons to move to Finland would be Russia's significantly weaker level of social services and health care compared with that of Finland, as well as the applicants' children who live in Finland. Russians comprise the largest group of immigrants in Finland.
Helsingin Sanomat 8 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qH0EQ
Iltalehti 8 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qK0ET

Finland follows the EU's most lenient family reunification policy
Finland and Sweden are the most lenient countries in the EU to accept family reunification of asylum-seekers without subsistence requirements. In family reunification cases, Finland requires that a family member living in Finland has received a residence permit on the basis of international protection. Sweden is the only Nordic country that does not pose any requirements for the applicant's financial support. Finland is the only EU country that pays the flights of family members to Finland.
Aamulehti 9 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qL0EU

Latvia

Criticism towards proposal to grant citizenship to all non-citizens
Ex-head of the Naturalization Board, deputy of the Riga City Council Eizenija Aldermane does not support the proposal to grant Latvian citizenship to all non-citizens. Mrs. Aldermane states that citizenship is freely available through naturalization process. At the same time, she believes that naturalization process could be simplified for graduates of those minority schools where most of the subjects are taught in the state language and for the elderly persons who are not able to go trough examinations.
Integration and Minority Information Service 8 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0DVlf0EQ

Norway

Proposal for a reformed appeals board in Norway
On Wednesday, a commission led by a former Labour state secretary presented its proposal for a reformed appeals board system in Norway which gives Ministry of Justice right to instruct UNE, the Norwegian Immigration Appeals Board. Minister Storberget says political instruction over appeal will lead to more efficiency and humanitarianism. Amnesty refutes. The Socialist Left party would like a court system to ensure independence and rule of law. The Progress Party and the Conservative Party agree with the new proposal "We cannot have an independent appeals system which develops asylum policy. Who is granted the right to stay in Norway is above all a political question" says Conservative Party Leader Erna Solberg.
NRK Nett-tv "UNE" 7 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qM0EV
NRK Nett-tv 7 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qN0EW

A new reception center to be opened in Oslo after the end of the year
The Løren reception center in Sinsen area in Oslo will be the new national transit center for all asylum-seekers coming to Norway after the end of the year. The decision was taken before Easter, and it has aroused sharp reactions in the district of Bjerke in Oslo. The Directorate of Immigration has for several years struggled to find facilities that can take over when Tanum transit center in Bærum closes at the end of the year.
NRK 7 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qO0EX

Sweden

Less asylum-seekers investigated by SÄPO
Last year the Swedish Security Service, SÄPO, investigated 176 persons seeking asylum or applying for residency in Sweden for possible links with terrorism. This is a reduction of 65% compared with the 489 persons SÄPO investigated in 2008, and 485 the year before. SÄPO is currently analyzing why fewer cases are being investigated, but Magnus Ranstorp, expert on terrorism, thinks that the security situation in Iraq is one reason. According to Mr Ranstorp there are a handful of persons in Sweden who are of special interest for SÄPO. Both Amnesty and legal experts have criticized Sweden's handling of security cases as being legally uncertain. The reason for this is that the requirements for evidence are much lower than in other criminal cases and that the evidence is often classified.
Svenska Dagbladet 8 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qP0EY
Dagens Nyheter 8 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qQ0EZ
Sveriges Radio 8 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qR0Ea

Churches help asylum-seekers
On Thursday Archbishop Julius Abdulahad Shabo of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Sweden, and Henrik Törnqvist, a vicar in the Church of Sweden, presented a box containing 3,000 applications for asylum in Sweden by Iraqis, who are under threat of deportation, to the Swedish Migration Board. Among the 3,000 Iraqis who are applying to have their deportation orders overturned there are 360 families with young children. The majority of them belong to the afflicted Christian minority. According to Michael Ribbenvik, head of legal affairs at the Migration Board, there has not been any major change in Iraq to suggest there is a new situation. He adds that there have to be new individual reasons for the board to consider overturning a deportation order.
Dagens Nyheter 9 April 2010 p:11 (in Swedish)
Sveriges Radio 8 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qS0Eb
Dagen 9 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qT0Ec

Deportations to Kyrgyzstan stopped
The Swedish Migration Board announced on Thursday that all planned deportations to Kyrgyzstan are suspended due to the uncertain situation in the country. According to the Migration Board, at the moment there are around forty persons in Sweden waiting to be expelled to Kyrgyzstan.
Dagens Nyheter 8 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qU0Ed
Nyhetskanalen 8 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qV0Ee

Asylum decisions speeded up
The waiting times for decisions on asylum-seekers have halved due to changes in working practices at Sweden's Migration Board. Two years ago an asylum-seeker would have to wait on average nine months for a decision but according to the board's asylum chief, Jan-Olov Wallin, that waiting time is now four and a half months. Refugee lawyer Hans Bredberg is critical, though, of the quicker process arguing that the biggest problem is that many asylum-seekers do not have a lawyer to represent them.
Sveriges Radio 8 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qW0Ef

Immigration and Social Welfare key election issues
As the September election date draws nearer, local politicians are battling for voter support in the local and national elections. Beyond traditional issues, such as how to bring new companies and jobs to town, or building new sports arenas or shopping centers, there are conflicting views between parties over refugees and other immigrants. Parts of southern Sweden are especially noted for strong anti-immigrant feelings.
Sveriges Radio 8 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qX0Eg

Man arrested over Kosovo war crimes
On Tuesday Swedish police arrested a man in western Sweden, on suspicion of involvement in a massacre in Cuska, Kosovo, in which 44 civilian Kosovo Albanians were killed. The police have had the man under surveillance for some time, and have also had the assistance of police colleagues abroad. The arrested man is the second suspected war criminal to stand trial in Sweden. In January the police arrested a Bosnian man suspected of the murder and torture of Bosnian Serbs in the Dretelj camp.
Sveriges Radio 7 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qY0Eh
Dagens Nyheter 8 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qZ0Ei
Svenska Dagbladet 8 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qa0Ep
The Local 7 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCib80ZqnfK0aYE0D3qb0Eq

[Roope]

Saturday 10 April to Monday 12 April 2010

Denmark

Iraqi man with dementia is granted residence permit
After years of proceedings and numerous refusals, the 72-year-old Hassan and his wife Gardie Gulizar Gardie has now received residence permit in Denmark. In a new decision, the Ministry of Integration writes that it has placed emphasis on new medical studies in that state that Hassan Gardie has been diagnosed with a so-called organic dementia. Hassan Gardie's disease makes him unable to make it on his own. The Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT) is pleased that Hassan Gardie received a residence permit on humanitarian grounds after years of waiting.
Jyllands-Posten 10 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCi5m0ZqnfK0aYE0D3up0EI

Finland

NBI concluding Thors death threat case
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) says it has identified one main suspect in a case involving internet threats made against Migration Minister Astrid Thors. Thors filed a criminal complaint over threats of violence in February, including death threats, made against her on Facebook. Göran Wennqvist from the National Bureau of Investigation says the Police are likely to complete their preliminary investigation within a month.
YLE 9 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCi5m0ZqnfK0aYE0D3uq0EJ
YLE 9 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCi5m0ZqnfK0aYE0D3ur0EK

Astrid Thors: online hatred hampers integration
The Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors (Swedish People's Party), warns that xenophobic groups in Finland could go from words to action as a result of the excited discussions on the web. Although direct racist terms are not used, Minister Thors notes that the discussion has transformed to xenophobia, which is based on the assumption that some immigrant groups cannot integrate in Finland. According to Minister Thors, persons who do not want to see good relations between the old and the new Finns manage to impede immigrants' access to working life and education and thus make it difficult for them to integrate into the Finnish society. Minister Thors believes that Finland's biggest problem is the lengthy processing of asylum decisions. In her view, this causes frustration to the applicants and costs to the society.
YLE 10 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCi5m0ZqnfK0aYE0D3us0EL
YLE 10 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCi5m0ZqnfK0aYE0D3ut0EM

Finland to withdraw troops from Chad
Finland is withdrawing its peacekeepers from Chad. A government committee and President Tarja Halonen made the final decision on the matter on Friday. The operation was tasked with protecting thousands of refugees and promoting aid work. Finland has around 80 peacekeepers in the eastern part of Chad. They are stationed there as part of an Irish-led mission. Ireland made a similar decision to withdraw troops last week.
YLE 9 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCi5m0ZqnfK0aYE0D3uu0EN
Helsinki Times 9 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCi5m0ZqnfK0aYE0D3uv0EO

Norway

Entered into an agreement on the return of Afghan asylum-seekers
On Sunday, Minister of Justice, Knut Storberget, signed an agreement with Afghanistan and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) regarding the return of Afghan asylum-seekers who have been refused residence in Norway. The agreement applies to both forced and voluntary return. According to NRK, the Norwegian government put pressure on the Afghan authorities to establish the agreement. Afghan authorities said to NRK that they believe that it is not safe to send the refugees back. The agreement is also about Norwegian support to the establishment of care centers for minor asylum-seekers in Afghanistan. The centers will be a place where minor asylum-seekers can get the care that they need and aid to education. Storberget says that he has always believed that it is important that they get a good start in life when they return, rather than staying illegally in Norway. Both Afghan and Norwegian authorities said that voluntary return is the best solution for Afghans who do not have a residence permit in Norway. Storberget believes that the agreement will encourage voluntary returns since they for example will receive money as they return. Secretary General Elisabeth Rasmusson of the Norwegian Refugee Council is very critical towards the agreement.
Verdens Gang 11 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCi5m0ZqnfK0aYE0D3uw0EP
NRK 11 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCi5m0ZqnfK0aYE0D3ux0EQ
Trønder-Avisa 11 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCi5m0ZqnfK0aYE0D3uy0ER

Ombudsman shaken after visiting Trandum
During Easter, Aftenposten.no reported that a boy (17) with major mental problems was kept imprisoned in the crisis-ridden holding facility Trandum in anticipation of his 18th birthday. Only then, on 6 of May, the police will forcibly return him to Iraq. The story made the Ombudsman for Children, Reidar Hjermann, react. On Thursday, he visited Trandum to see how minors are treated. He says that Trandum is a symptom of how bad it can get. The Ombudsman believes that the imprisonment of children at Trandum is "very troubling". After the visit Thursday he is particularly critical of the fact that the children do not receive follow-up mental health care.
Hjermann says that as long as they are on Norwegian soil, these children should have the same rights as Norwegian children.
Aftenposten 9 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCi5m0ZqnfK0aYE0D3uz0ES

Sweden

Ready to take on Sweden Democrats
Ahead of the previous general elections in 2006, four of the major parties' youth organizations refused to take part in debates together with the xenophobic Sweden Democrats, but now they have changed their mind. The youth organizations of the Social Democrats, the Green Party and the Christian Democrats are willing to take on their peers of the Sweden Democrats in public debates. The reason for their reversal lies in the risen support the Sweden Democrats received in the opinion polls, the heads of the youth organizations explain. Only the youth organization of the Left Party continues refusing public debates with the xenophobic parties.
Sveriges Radio 11 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCi5m0ZqnfK0aYE0D3u10EF

Refugee children were subjected to collective punishment
Since 2007, Östersund municipality has received around 60 unaccompanied refugee children. Now several of the municipality's employees testify of cases of mistreatment. The municipality is namely practicing a pedagogy which has resulted in a practice where several refugee children were subjected to collective punishment. For example, if one child had misbehaved, all children could be left without food. The Area Director at Östersund Municipality Ingemar Edström says he has never received any reports of collective punishment used in the municipality.
Nyheter24 10 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCi5m0ZqnfK0aYE0D3u20EG



UNHCR in the news

Over 200,000 displaced in Pakistan
Since November last year, over 200,000 civilians have fled their homes in the Pakistan tribal areas along the Afghan border, where the army leads an offensive against the Taliban militias. According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR most persons are fleeing from the tribal areas Orakzai and Kurram. Since November 2009, over 35,000 families, which according to a standardized calculation method corresponds to approximately 210,000 individuals, have registered as internally displaced persons.
Dagens Nyheter 9 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCi5m0ZqnfK0aYE0D3u30EH
Svenska Dagbladet 9 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCi5m0ZqnfK0aYE0D3u40EI

[Roope]

Tuesday 13 April to Wednesday 14 April 2010

Denmark

Organizations succumbed to Rønn's whip
When the amendment of the Immigration Act is first treated in parliament hall on Monday, it will be without input from several of the organizations and authorities affected by the changes. Minister of Integration Birthe Rønn Hornbech (V) gave her consulting partners 13 days to review the 150-page long law proposal for the Immigration Act. The 13 days included the Easter holiday, so in reality it was a consultation period of 5-6 days. Since given such a short time to comment on the law proposal, several organizations did not have time to respond. Out of 25 consulting partners that politiken.dk called, ten were unable to meet the deadline.
Politiken 12 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://politiken.dk/politik/article945598.ece

Finland

Eveline Fadayel's residence application rejected once again
The Finnish Immigration Service has rejected Egyptian grandmother Eveline Fadayel's most recent application for a residence permit. The Finnish Immigration Service and the various court instances justify the rejection and the deportation ruling by saying that according to Finnish legislation, Fadayel is not regarded as part of the nuclear family. The cases of Fadayel and of another grandmother facing deportation have prompted widespread discussion and even demonstrations on behalf of the two women. According to Finland's President Tarja Halonen, the deportation order does not square well with the sense of justice of ordinary citizens.
Helsingin Sanomat 13 April 2010 (in English)
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Eveline+Fadayel's+residence+application+rejected+once+again/1135256058153
Helsingin Sanomat 12 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/artikkeli/Eveline+Fadayel+sai+taas+kielteisen+päätöksen/1135256045624

PM Vanhanen disassociates himself from the views of the True Finns party
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre Party) disassociated himself dramatically from the views of the True Finns on refugee and development issues in the parliamentary debate on a budgetary framework on Tuesday. Pirkko Ruohonen-Lerner (True Finns) spoke of asylum tourism  and said the current form of development aid must be driven down. PM Vanhanen said he did not like the way concepts and even false images were used in context of the immigration debate, and that these false images were inciting people to xenophobia.
Aamulehti 13 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/vanhanen-sanoutui-irti-perussuomalaisten-pakolaisnakemyksista/175916
Turun Sanomat 13 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.ts.fi/online/kotimaa/124462.html
Ilta-Sanomat 13 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.iltasanomat.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/uutinen.asp?id=2090838&pos=hl-au-3
Uusi Suomi 13 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.uusisuomi.fi/kotimaa/89824-vanhanen-tama-on-yllytysta-ulkomaalaisia-vastaan
Pohjolan Sanomat 13 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.pohjolansanomat.fi/cs/Satellite/Kotimaa/1194640863768/artikkeli/vanhanen+runttasi+perussuomalaisten+pakolaisnakemykset.html

The Immigration Service deported four Romanians due to petty theft
The Finnish Immigration Service deported four Romanians who pilfered in Hämeenlinna last Thursday. Kanta-Häme District Court sentenced the four Romanians to pay 40 day fines for petty theft on Tuesday. The Immigration Service deported  the two Romanian men and women back to Romania after a request from the Kanta-Häme Police Department.
Aamulehti 13 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/maahanmuuttovirasto-kaannytti-romanialaisnapistelijat/175918
Ilta-Sanomat 13 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.iltasanomat.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/uutinen.asp?id=2090802&pos=hl-ul-3
YLE 13 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://yle.fi/alueet/hame/2010/04/napistelevat_romanialaiset_saivat_lahtopassit_1602517.html

Centre's chairmanship candidates differ on Finnish immigration policy
The candidates in the Centre Party's chairmanship race emphasize different aspects of Finnish immigration policy, a Finnish News Agency (STT) survey revealed on Wednesday. The large number of asylum-seekers from other EU countries was the biggest grievance for Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of Economic Affairs. Mari Kiviniemi, Minister of Public Administration and Local Government, suggested more cooperation
between the Nordic countries to discourage shopping for asylum places. Paavo Väyrynen, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, was concerned that the public did not seem to think that theasylum policy was under control. However, for Timo Kaunisto, MP, the inconsistencies in implementing immigration policy were of greater concern than public opinion.
NewsRoom 14 April 2010 (in English)
http://newsroom.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?app=803&newsid=24335
Maaseudun Tulevaisuus 14 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.maaseuduntulevaisuus.fi/uutiset/online_uutiset/15/fi_FI/keskustan_pjehdokkaat_eri_linjoilla_maahanmuuton_pulmista/

Norway

Storberget delighted over fewer asylum-seekers
Minister of Justice and the Police Knut Storberget is pleased that the number of asylum-seekers in Norway is now falling. In the first quarter of the year, 2,448 came to Norway, compared to the 3,837 asylum-seekers that arrived during the same period last year. That is a decline of 36 per cent. According to the Directorate of Immigration's figures the decline is even bigger when it comes to unaccompanied minor asylum-seekers. 221 unaccompanied minor asylum-seekers arrived in the first three months, which is a decrease of 58 per cent from the 520 applicants who came during last year's first quarter. Storberget believes that the decline is due to the government's tightening policy, and says that the Government has initiated efforts to return more of those who do not have permission to stay in Norway. Storberget says that faster processing and effective search are key reasons behind the reduction they see in arrivals of asylum-seekers. UDI director Frode Forfang believes that Norway is now being perceived as a relatively less attractive place to seek asylum in than it was a few months ago. He points out that while the number of asylum-seekers in Norway declines, there is an increase in Sweden and Denmark.
Aftenposten 12 april 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3602684.ece
RingeriksAvisa 12 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.ringeriksporten.no/lokalavisa/index.php/component/content/article/36-riksnyheter/1003-36-faerre-asylsokere-til-norge

Asylum decline from the Balkans after tightening
According to figures from the Directorate of Immigration (UDI), the Government's strict line in immigration policy has produced results. After the mid-March forced deportation of 78 persons from Serbia and Macedonia, which was closely followed by the introduction of the '48-hour processing of asylum applications' from people from Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro, only nine persons from Serbia and Macedonia has applied for asylum. Applicants who fall under the 48-hour procedure get a short asylum interview with the UDI. If the asylum application is rejected, the Police Immigration Unit transports the applicant out of Norway. Secretary of State Paul Lønseth at the Ministry of Justice says that the procedure sends out an important signal to applicants from Serbia and Macedonia with unfounded reasons for applying for asylum.
Aftenposten 13 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3602359.ece
Verdens Gang 14 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10000606

Minor asylum-seeker isolated at Ila
A mentally ill and suicidal child is put behind bars at Ila prison since the police fear that he will escape before his 18th birthday when he will be deported. He will be at Ila until May 11, five days after he turns 18 on May 6. The 17 year old has previously served a sentence for a crime of violence. Integration spokesperson of the Progress Party, Per-Willy Amundsen, says that since this person has committed crimes in the past and turns 18 in a month, he believes that the situation is unproblematic and not of political interest. He says that it is only natural that criminals are deported. According to the UN's Children's Convention, children who are imprisoned should be kept separate from adults, which is not the case at Ila. According to the Children's Ombudsman, Reidar Hjermann, this case shows how bad it can really get when the UDI is responsible for unaccompanied minor refugee children. Member of Parliament for the Christian Democratic Pary, Geir Bekkevold, criticizes the Government since they previously promised that the Child Welfare should be responsible for all 15 to 18 year old asylum-seekers, but that this never happened. He says that children are first and foremost children, and deserve only the best. The Ministry of Justice and the Police comments that it was not possible to include 15 to 18 year in the Child Welfare because of the large influx of unaccompanied minors in recent years.
NRK Nett-TV 13 April 2010 'Mindreårig asylsøker isolert på Ila' (in Norwegian)
http://www1.nrk.no/nett-tv/indeks/209078
Aftenposten 13 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3603786.ece

Forced return of Afghan asylum-seekers
Norway has entered into an agreement on forced return of Afghan asylum-seekers. NRK believes that the Government has put pressure on Afghan authorities to sign the agreement. The Afghan Government believes that it is to unsafe to return refugees. Last week, the Afghan Minister for Refugee and Integration asked that the Norwegian Government would not to force the Afghans to go back. But that is what the Norwegian government wants. Two days after NRK's interview with the Afghan Minister, he caved into the pressure from the Norwegians and signed an agreement with Norway and the UN on forced returns. Unaccompanied minors are also included in the agreement. Norwegian Minister of Justice and the Police, Knut Storberget, says that the agreement is very important to them. He says that they have entered into an agreement of return of those who come from Afghanistan to Norway and apply for asylum, but who are not allowed to stay. In these cases, they need to make practical arrangements for the return of these persons. The arrangements will, among other things, mean that Norwegian money will be spent on care centers for unaccompanied minors in Afghanistan. The Afghan Minister says that they are able to receive persons who arrive from other countries at the airport, and keep them in a guesthouse for some time. If they are vulnerable persons, he says that they will offer them assistance. Elisabeth Rasmusson, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, ask Storberget what kind of protection guarantees he is able to offer these children. She says that she doubts that Storberget would send his own children to Kabul by themselves today.
NRK Nett-TV 10 April 2010 'Tvangsretur av afghanske asylsøkere' (in Norwegian)
http://www1.nrk.no/nett-tv/indeks/208575

Sweden

Few want to accept asylum-seekers
Söderhamn has distinguished itself as the municipality in the country that receives the largest number of refugees. The municipality will receive 700 refugees. But now, the limit of what the municipality can handle is soon reached, and there is a weak interest in relieving the pressure on Söderhamn. Lars Ulander who is head of the Immigration Service in Söderhamn wrote a letter to all municipalities in the country and asked them to help them with housing for 30 to 50 asylum-seekers in order to reduce the pressure on the municipality. The letter was sent to municipalities over three weeks ago. To date, no municipality has offered to accept these refugees. Only one municipality, Hudiksvall, has shown interest in helping.
SVT 14 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.126217/1.1962933/fa_vill_ta_emot_asylsokande?lid=senasteNytt_1765014&lpos=rubrik_1962933

Premiere for photo exhibition in Södertälje
On Monday, the photo exhibit "Invisible In The City: the Lives of Urban Refugees' world premiered in Södertälje Hall. The exhibition's ambition is to depict everyday life through the eyes of refugees.
Lokala Nyheter Stockholm 12 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://stockholm.lny.se/premiar-for-fotoustallning-i-sodertalje-171067/

Lisa Ovesen praised for reportage
Sydnytt's reporter Lisa Ovesen Botwid received a prestigious honorable mention for her reportage series on unaccompanied refugee children at the Prix Circom Regional, a competition for regionally produced television in Europe. Contributions from 25 countries competed in a number of categories. Lisa Ovesen received an honorable mention in the category 'Vivre l'Europe' for her reportage on the stories of a number of children who fled to southern Sweden.
SVT 13 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://mobil.svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=52493&a=1961811

Sweden will send children to camps
Unaccompanied refugee children who are returned to Malta from Sweden face difficult conditions. Hangars, tent camps and other camps were initially ad hoc solutions, but they have become permanent and now work as a reminder of the fact that the integration of refugees in Malta is inadequate. The head of the UN Refugee Agency in Malta, Norwegian Jon Hoisaeter, has repeatedly criticized the refugees' conditions on the island. He says that the worst part of the hangars and the tent caps is the lack of possibilities for those who live there; it creates apathy and makes the integration of refugees worse than it already is. The background to the situation is a political game in which Malta has an interest in appearing as a victim of the tide of refugees arriving since they want other EU member states to share the burden that Malta believes that the refugees are. Bugri Ahmed is the head of one of Malta's major refugee centers, which is run by a Christian NGO. He says that it is obvious that the politicians in Malta use hangars and tent camps to get help from other EU countries, but that it does not change the reality for those forced to live there. He says that the situation is appalling and must be resolved and says that he ultimately believes that the solution is to improve conditions for Malta refugees and create opportunities for integration. He says that it also might be necessary to transfer refugees to other EU countries so that the number of refugees on the island decreases. For the unaccompanied refugee children, he sees only one solution - that they are allowed to stay in the country where they have sought asylum. Ahmed says that the criticism directed towards Sweden for sending children back to Malta is still valid since the Maltese society is a closed door for refugees in general, and vulnerable children in particular. He says that there is no future for them in Malta.
Svenska Dagbladet 13 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/utrikes/sverige-skickar-barn-till-lager_4562225.svd

Roma and Kosovo Albanians to Söderhamn
Close to 2,000 Roma and Kosovo Albanians have come to Sweden during the last two months. The Migration Board has experienced major problems when trying to find places for the refugees in different municipalities. 200 of the refugees will be housed in Söderhamn.
SVT 13 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.126217/1.1962079/romer_och_kosovoalbaner_till_soderhamn?lid=senasteNytt_1765014&lpos=rubrik_1962079

Sick man deported to Kosovo
On Tuesday, the police began to enforce the deportation of the 32-year-old man from Kosovo whose kidneys have stopped working and who needs dialysis every two days. The man was picked up by police in connection with his dialysis at the Central Hospital in Kristianstad. He was then transferred to the detention center in Malmö. According to his doctor, he is in need of a new kidney. According to the 32-year-old himself, he fears that the Kosovo health care will not be able to provide adequate care for him, and fears that he will die if he is deported. According to the Migration Board, the health care in Kosovo is as good as it is in Sweden.
Norra Skåne 13 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.nsk.se/article/20100413/KRISTIANSTAD/100419881/0/FORSIDE/*/njursjuk-utvisas-till-kosovo

Infant orphaned when father is deported
A four months old baby's mother refuses to take care of her and her father is now deported since he applied for residency in the wrong way. He will therefore have to return to Pakistan to apply again. The father is now begging the Migration Board to let him stay. When he is deported the child will be looked after by the Social Services in Örebro. They believe that a deportation of the father would be disastrous for the little girl and also believe that the decision is contrary to the UN's Children's Convention.
SVT 13 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.22620/1.1962364/spadbarn_foraldralost_nar_pappan_utvisas?lid=senasteNytt_1765014&lpos=rubrik_1962364

Infant's dad can stay
On Wednesday, the Migration Board decided that the father of the four month old infant's case will be re-investigated. They will determine whether he has grounds for asylum. While the investigation is under way, the father is allowed to stay in Sweden.
SVT 14 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.33831/1.1963239/spadbarns_pappa_far_stanna?lid=senasteNytt_1861793&lpos=rubrik_1963239

[Roope]

Thursday 15 April to Friday 16 April 2010

Denmark

No to new immigration laws
The Social Democrats and Social People's Party are ready to vote against some of the most central parts of the new immigration laws to be presented in Parliament by the government and the Danish People's Party. Among these is the system that awards points to immigrants integrating faster. Henrik Dam Kristensen (Social Democrats) is concerned that the system favours those who are more academically gifted over those who are not. Lawyers, doctors, social workers and The Danish Refugee Council warn that the new tightening of immigration laws is in violation of the UN and EU conventions.
Berlingske Tidende 16 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4K10E3
Jyllands-Posten 16 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4K20E4

Children denied asylum due to imprecise test
Children risk being denied asylum in Denmark based on a test deemed imprecise by those performing it. Last year 120 young persons were tested, 71 of these were transferred to the adult group based solely on the test. Adults are under stricter rules than children.
Politiken 16 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://politiken.dk/indland/article948343.ece

Finland

Deportations conducted more effectively
The Aliens Police in Helsinki have become quicker in removing deported foreigners from the country. In 2008, it took an average of 75 days before the foreigner had left Finland. In 2009, this took only 51 days. One of the reasons for this is the Aliens Police's ongoing project to speed up the process. The project, which began in August last year and continues throughout this year, aims at controlling immigration and combating illegal immigration.
YLE 15 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4K40E6

New internet site gives facts on immigration
Finland's Ministry of the Interior has unveiled a new internet site aimed at promoting facts and discussion on issues relating to immigration. Questions and articles on the subject can be posted on the site. However, the site does not have a discussion forum. Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the Interior Ministry, Ritva Viljanen believes it is essential to respond to the recent spate of hate postings on the internet. She considers the new site to be one avenue of approach. She notes that inciting hatred via the net cannot represent the reality in Finland and that a majority of people are definitely not opposed to immigration.
YLE 14 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4K50E7
YLE 14 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4K60E8

Reforms hoped to take reactionary edge off immigration debate
Politicians, researchers and officials view the public discussion on immigration as a field of misconceptions and populism. The critics of immigration view matters differently: the number of immigrants is growing steeply and municipal resources are under strain. In the coming months the Parliament will consider several proposals aimed at reducing unfounded applications for asylum. The Parliament is currently looking at changes to the Aliens Act which would limit asylum seekers' right to work and immigration based on family reunification. In the future an asylum-seeker will be forced to wait longer for a work permit if he is unable to prove his identity. The asylum-seeker's family members may also be denied a residence permit if he has given incorrect information about his family. In addition, age tests for young asylum-seekers will be enshrined in law.
Helsinki Times 15 April 2010 (in English)
http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/domestic-news/general/10605-reforms-hoped-to-take-reactionary-edge-off-immigration-debate-.html

Latvia

The number of applicants for naturalization increased
According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA), the number of applicants for naturalization grew after the takeover of the Naturalization Board's functions. Representatives of the OCMA explain that the increase in the number of applicants is caused by the fact that the OCMA has more regional branches all over Latvia. The biggest group of naturalization applicants is persons between 18-30 years old. At the same time, there are almost no applicants over the age of 50.
Integration and Minority Service 15 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0DVlf0E3

Norway

Fire in Kvadraturen reception centre might have been arson
The police have confirmed that the fire that took place a month ago in a reception centre in Kvadraturen, Kristiansand, might have been arson. Eleven asylum-seekers managed to get out of the burning building without injuries. Nobody has been arrested after the fire.
NRK 16 April 2010(in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4K80EB

Red-Greens in Hordaland criticize government's asylum policy
The Labour Party, the Centre Party and the Socialist Left Party in Hordaland County criticize the government's asylum policy. Local parties reacted strongly to the fact that unaccompanied minor asylum-seekers must leave Norway on the day they turn 18. The practice allows, among other things, that young asylum-seekers have to cancel their education and they are sent home without any certificate or other verification of the education they have received in Norway. Joril Christensen from the Hordaland Labour Party believes the practice is contrary to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and threatens to have the case tried in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
NRK 15 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4LA0EL

UDI forecast: less asylum-seekers coming to Norway
The immigration authorities believe that there will be 5,000 fewer asylum-seekers coming to Norway this year than previously thought. The forecast is adjusted down from 18,500 to 13,500 applicants. According to the Directorate of Immigration (UDI), Norway will receive 13,500 asylum-seekers this year and 1,300 of these are expected to be unaccompanied minor asylum-seekers. The reason behind the reduced forecast is that so far this year, there have been 36 per cent less asylum-seekers arriving in Norway compared to the same period in 2009.
Verdens Gang 16 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4LB0EM

Unclear how the EU's asylum system will affect Norway
Ministry of Justice would not speculate how the EU's common asylum system will affect Norway. The Directorate of Immigration's (UDI) annual report shows that the Norwegian authorities must increasingly deal with the EU's asylum policy. According to the report, UDI will in the future work more closely both with other countries' immigration authorities and the European Union. UDI also outlines the EU's goal to implement a common European asylum system (CEAS). The new asylum system is enshrined as one of the points in the Treaty of Lisbon, which entered into force on 1 December last year.
Nettavisen 15 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4LC0EN

Trandum reception centre emptied
The senior safety representative of the Police Immigration Unit (PU) decided to close the Trandum reception centre on Wednesday, and move the centre's asylum-seekers elsewhere, some of them to police custody. The reason for this was poor air quality due to a closed ventilation system after a fire last weekend. There have been several fires in the centre recently. Earlier on Wednesday evening Amnesty International Norway said that they are strongly critical towards the placing of asylum-seekers in police custody. Trandum reception centre is operated by the Police Immigration Unit. Asylum-seekers at Trandum have been denied residence in Norway and are waiting for deportation. The centre is also used for persons Norwegian authorities do not know the identity of.
NRK 14 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4LD0EO
NRK 14 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4LE0EP
Aftenposten 14 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4LF0EQ

Liberals want more immigrants
The Liberals want to reverse the Norwegian immigration policy and open the country to a substantial increase in labor migration. In addition, the party wants to allow asylum-seekers, whose application for asylum will be rejected, register as job seekers instead. According to Helge Solum Larsen, a Libelar Party politician, it is controversial that Norway lacks work force while there are many persons living in Norway who do not have permission to work. The Liberals would also make it easier for employers to bring foreign workers into the country.
Aftenposten 15 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4LG0ER

Sweden

Housing and work new requirements for family reunification
The requirements for family reunification have been tightened. Persons with residence permits who wish to bring relatives to Sweden must have a minimum of 4,549 crowns remaining after tax and rent is paid. In addition, the housing has to be of a certain size and standard, though the details of those rules have yet to be decided upon. The maintenance requirements have faced criticism from several organizations and opposition parties. This is why families with children and several groups of refugees are not affected by the new rules. The Migration Board has estimated that about 3,000 persons a year could be affected by the new requirements.
Dagens Nyheter 15 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4LH0ES
Sveriges Radio 15 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4LI0ET

Migration board launches online citizenship form
The Swedish Migration Board has announced the launch of an online citizenship application service. The new service officially opened for business on Tuesday and it is hoped that it will speed up and simplify the process. Migration Board director-general Dan Eliasson said in a statement on Tuesday that the Migration Board has carried out a broad development of services and by the end of 2011 it will have the most expedient citizenship application process in Europe. The Migration Board has issued a warning to potential applicants against seeking Swedish citizenship prior to eligibility, which normally requires five years of residency in Sweden.
The Local 14 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4LJ0EU

Review of practices
Foreign women are "imported" on a large scale into Sweden by men who offer marriage and a good life, including a residence permit for Sweden. In some cases the women end up in a vulnerable position in which they are exploited and abused physically and mentally. ROKS, the national organization for women's shelters, has looked at the problem and found that in 2008 over 500 women sought their help after being exploited. The Migration Board will now initiate a survey to find out how extensive the problem is. Fredrik Martinsson, spokesman at the Migration Board says this way the Board can develop its practice and get better at applying the legislation that already exists.
Nyheter24 14 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4LK0EV
Svenska Dagbladet 14 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4LL0EW

Group punishments of refugee children to be investigated
Östersund Municipality will now fast examine the treatment of unaccompanied refugee children that are said to have been subjected to collective punishment. The report should be ready in May. Also a study presented in 2008 revealed several deficiencies in the treatment of refugee children in the municipality. Already on Friday Östersund Municipality will complete an external investigation conducted by an investigator who is not connected to the municipality.
Länstidningen Östersund 15 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4LM0EX
SVT 15 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4LN0EY

Sweden's population to top 10 million
Sweden's population will top 10 million by 2021 as a result of high levels of immigration and a high birth rate, says Statistics Sweden. Since 2006 there has been annually a record high immigration to Sweden. This year is expected to be another record year with 103,000 immigrants coming to Sweden. Primarily, the number of refugees and foreign students is expected to increase over the previous year.
Svenska Dagbladet 16 April p:20 (in Swedish)
Webfinanser 15 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCjlS0ZqnfK0aYE0D4LO0EZ

[Roope]

Saturday 17 to Monday 19 April 2010

Norway

Outdated stereotypes of refugees in schoolbooks
Åse Røthing at the University of Oslo says that today's schoolbooks confirms myths about asylum-seekers and have an outdated "us and them" - attitude. She says that some of them reproduce stereotypes. Røthing bring up an example from one of the books where it is said that some apply for asylum even if they are not persecuted, because they are hoping for a better life. Røthing says that asylum-seekers are portrayed as liars and cheats who come to Norway without being entitled to do so.
NRK 17 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.nrk.no/programmer/tv/migrapolis/1.7083150



UNHCR in the news

162 000 refugees became citizens of Tanzania
Tanzania has naturalized 162,000 refugees from Burundi. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees calls it a historic decision and encourages others to follow suit. According to UNHCR, no country has previously offered so many foreigners citizenship at once. The decision covers the vast majority of Burundians who have fled to the larger neighboring country since 1972, and their children. Most of them are Hutus who fled from ethnic violence in Burundi, and most of them are already integrated into Tanzanian society. The UNHCR said in a statement that the High Commissioner calls on other countries with refugee populations that have been living in the country for a long time to follow Tanzania's example. In Tanzania, there are still around 97,000 refugees, mainly from Burundi and the DRC, in camps.
Dagens Nyheter 16 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkGp0ZqnfK0aYC0D4OE0EJ
Svenska Dagbladet 16 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkGp0ZqnfK0aYC0D4OF0EK

South Sudanese still living in exile
The agreement between northern and southern Sudan that was signed five years ago ended the conflict in the country that lasted for 22 years. The referendum that will be conducted in January 2010 might turn southern Sudan into an independent state. But after five years of peace, tens of thousands of Sudanese are still in exile, afraid to return to their home country.  In the refugee camp Kakuma in Kenya, the food rationing for a family of seven for two weeks consists of a sack of corn flour, a sack of beans, and cooking oil. A family interviewed would like to return to their home country Sudan, but since they are afraid to do so the refugee camp continues to be their home. Of the 60,000 refugees in the camp, nearly 20,000 come from Sudan. One refugee says that she sees no alternative to staying in the camp since she and her children are dependent on the food rations they receive from the UN. 2,500 Sudanese were killed in tribal disputed during 2009. Many say that it is the lack of security and access to food are the reasons as to why many Sudanese in exile are not returning to Sudan. The access to food is more important than the upcoming referendum and election in Sudan.
NRK Nett-TV 12 April 2010 'Urix: Eksil-sudanere' (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkGp0ZqnfK0aYC0D4OG0EL
NB. This story was produced on an annual press trip facilitated by UNHCR Regional Office for the Baltic and Nordic countries, in December 2009.

[Roope]

Tuesday 20 April to Wednesday 21 April 2010

Denmark

More cooperation within the EU on justice and asylum policy
The EU Commission wants to make the EU "a common area of justice and security". But the Danish legal prejudice is keeping Denmark out of most of the new proposals. European Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, says that the new proposal is a roadmap to a free and secure Europe and an opportunity for the EU to move closer to its citizens. In 2014, the European Commission plans to establish a common asylum system across Europe with "a strong focus on solidarity." Here, all asylum applications are processed in common ways, and all asylum decisions must be recognized throughout the EU. Most proposals in the Action Plan will collide with the Danish legislation, so Denmark will in the starting phase opt out from new rules and areas of cooperation.
Berlingske Tidende 20 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.berlingske.dk/politik/mere-eu-samarbejde-om-rets-og-asylpolitik

Singing pensioners escape with fine
The approximately 30 members of 'Bedstreforældre for Asyl' (Grandparents for Asylum) started to sing during a debate on deportation in parliament on Monday. The protest singers were released from police station Bellahøj later that same day, and are to expect fines for their actions. The activists themselves were satisfied with what they did. One member said that they repeatedly have tried to get the government and the politicians to take action, and that this is another way to show response – emotional response. The group believes that the Danish society abandons asylum children and society's vulnerable refugees.
Poltitiken 19 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkcV0ZqnfK0aYC0D4aY0Ex
Kristeligt Dagblad 19 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkcV0ZqnfK0aYC0D4aZ0Ey
Arbejderen 20 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkcV0ZqnfK0aYC0D4aa0E6

Finland

State pays refugees´ rent deposits
Some refugee reception centres have started to provide the deposit rents of refugees who on their own accord move to their own apartments, in cases where the municpality is unwilling to pay the deposit.  This is less expensive than keeping the refugees in the centres. Around 400 persons who already have residence permits are awaiting proper homes in the municipalities.
Hufvudstadsbladet 20 April 2010
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkcV0ZqnfK0aYC0D4ab0E7
Aamulehti 20 April 2010
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkcV0ZqnfK0aYC0D4ac0E8

Norway

Too scared to seek help
The organization Self Help for Immigrants and Refugees (Seif) fears that young people who are in danger of being forced into marriage may be too afraid to seek help. The government is planning to start gathering information on cases of forced marriage and keep it in a national registry, but Seif thinks that this might stop people from seeking help in the first place.
NRK 20 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkcV0ZqnfK0aYC0D4ag0ED

Sweden

Refugee children will learn about the forest
The Forest Service believes that since forests are a natural part of Medelpad, unaccompanied refugee children who arrive in the municipality should be introduced to the Swedish forests. The municipality has applied for 135,000 SEK in grants to launch a local conservation project. Jukka Kuivaniemi says that the majority of the young people come from countries where there is not much forest. They therefore wants to show them what it is and how the forest can be a resource. The program will be part of the integration efforts of the municipality.
Dagbladet 21 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkcV0ZqnfK0aYC0D4ah0EE

Exemption rules for asylum are investigated
Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström (Moderates) has asked Court of Appeals judge Eva Lönqvist to map out how the Aliens Act's exemption rules on particularly distressing circumstances as the basis of residence, especially to children, works. The application of the rule at both the Migration Board, the Migration Courts, and guiding decisions by the Migration Court of Appeal are to be reviewed. Billström says in a statement that if it should turn out that the provision of particularly distressing circumstances had a different effect than the legislature intended, the government is prepared to take the necessary measures to change it. The mapping is supposed to be completed on 30 April 2011.
Dagens Nyheter 20 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkcV0ZqnfK0aYC0D4ai0EF

Few places for refugee children in Skåne
Skåne municipalities were asked to find 150 seats for unaccompanied minor refugees. So far, few of these are in place. The seats would be presented within two months, but the deadline has long passed. So far, four municipalities have agreed to settle 41 minors. At least 39 seats are underway in other municipalities. Seven municipalities will not accept any children at all.
SVT 21 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkcV0ZqnfK0aYC0D4aj0EG

[Roope]

Thursday 22 April to Friday 23 April 2010

Denmark

UN: Aliens Act must be changed
The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, says in their comments that the new tightening of the Danish Aliens Act violates the UN Refugee Convention. This particularly applies the possibility to expel refugees who have committed for example benefit fraud, as well as the fact that refugees who are deported because of crimes committed will lose their refugee status. In UNHCR's comment to the new law, it says that the bill is in conflict with the 1951 Convention. UNHCR also believes that the proposed scoring system would be too rigid for fragile refugees, and that these fragile refugees therefore should be exempted from the rules - even if they do not fall under the so called Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. UNHCR also criticizes that the law proposal includes the possibility of revoking a refugee's residence permit if he or she visits his or her country of origin for a short period of time, for example for a vacation or a family visit. The Refugee Agency also criticized the fact that the rules on family reunification are tightened, so that you no longer can bring your spouse or children to Denmark if you receive social benefits.

The UN says that these rules should not apply to refugees. UN stresses that its recommendations apply to both refugees covered by the Convention, and others in need of international protection, for example asylum-seekers who have been granted residence permits on humanitarian grounds. UNHCR notes that the organization in the EU contexts recommends that refugees are to be granted permanent residency after three years of residence to avoid that the uncertainty will have a negative influence on the "person's sense of belonging and motivation to integrate". The government and Danish People's Party's law proposal was designed to make it easier for resourceful immigrants and refugees, "who have demonstrated ability to integrate", to obtain permanent residency and thus later Danish citizenship. The proposed scoring system will not make exceptions for personal reasons or specific vulnerabilities. According to the UNHCR this would probably not be in conformity with the Convention. The UNHCR delivered its law comments this week, which is two weeks after the deadline and also after the law proposal was a first read in parliament. Like dozens of Danish organizations, UNHCR finds it regrettable that the consultation period of less than two weeks was so short.
Berlingske Tidende 23 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4no0EB

Immigrants will demonstrate at SF's national congress
A group of refugees, immigrants and asylum-seekers have had enough of SF's shift to the right in their foreign policy. They will therefore demonstrate on Saturday at the Socialist Peoples Partys (SF) national congress. The group will focus on the 24-year rule, which is a rule that prevents a Danish citizen and a foreign national to get married before the age of 24. The 24-year rule was created to prevent forced marriages. The immigration group's spokeswoman Farhiya Khalid says that it may very well be that there are some women who are forced to get married, but that a 24-year restriction violates human rights.
Politiken 23 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4np0EC

Finland

Parliament's deputy ombudsman reprimands Finnish Immigration Service
Maija Sakslin, the Parliament's deputy ombudsman, reprimands the Finnish Immigration Service for excessive delay in processing a certain family reunification application. According to the deputy ombudsman the fact that the Immigration Service had not even started to address the issue was of particular concern. The application in question was processed for almost two years and four months, although the maximum processing time according to the Aliens' Act is nine months. The Immigration Service and the Minister of the Interior are expected to provide an account by mid August on the measures that have been taken as a consequence of the reprimand.
22 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4nq0ED
Helsingin Sanomat 22 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4nr0EE
YLE 22 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4ns0EF

Law on age assessments too vague
Finnish Parliamentary Constitutional Law Committee says the law on asylum-seekers' age assessments should be clearer than the government suggests. According to the committee the law should clearly state that the assessment can be done only if there are obvious reasons to doubt the reliability of the information received. The Committee describes the Government's view as too vague.
Helsingin Sanomat 22 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4nt0EG

Finland plans to deal with illegal entrants already in the countries of origin
Finnish authorities are trying to prevent future illegal immigration in advance already in the departure and transit countries. Intervention at a later state is more expensive.  An action plan which contains about 30 recommendations has now been made for various authorities. Illegal entry is increasingly linked to organized crime, and it concerns authorities as the Police, the Border Protection, the Immigration Service, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Immigration. Annually around half a million persons are caught residing illegally in the EU. In Finland, almost 7 000 such persons were found last year.
Iltalehti 21 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4nu0EH

Gay man faces imprisonment – Finland rejects asylum claim
The Manifesto for Free Movement- network, Seta, the Association for Sexual Equality, and Finnish Amnesty criticize Finland for rejecting the asylum application of a young Gambian gay man, who has been persecuted for his sexual orientation and is facing 14 years imprisonment for homosexual acts in Gambia. Katja Tuominen from the Manifesto for Free Movement- network notes that according to UNHCR persons who are attacked, subjected to inhumane treatment or serious discrimination because of their homosexuality, and whose governments are unable or unwilling to protect them, should be granted refugee status.
Uusi Suomi 21 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4nv0EI
Ilta-Sanomat 22 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4nw0EJ

Kurdish refugees continue hunger strike
Six Kurdish asylum-seekers started a hunger strike last Sunday at the reception centre in Oravais. Their state of health has deteriorated and two strikers were hospitalized because of low blood sugar. The asylum-seekers protest against a negative asylum decision from the Immigration Service. They face deportation to Iran and because the two men in the group have been both politically and also militarily active against the government of Iran they believe that the deportation threatens their lives.
YLE 21 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4nx0EK
YLE 22 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4ny0EL
YLE 22 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4nz0EM

Norway

Taught refugee children to say "Hello, hello. How are you? Just fine"
Gustav Lorentzen died of cardiac arrest in Bergen on Wednesday. The Ombudsman for Children Reidar Hjermann says that Gustav Lorentzen was an ambassador for children in difficult life situations. He is very grateful for the various projects Lorentzen was engaged in - whether that was in Norway or in Africa. Refugee Children from Afghanistan and Kosovo met Lorentzen in discussion groups. The song "Hello, hello" is one of Knutsen & Ludvigsen classics, and for many refugee children the first Norwegian words they learned were "Hello, hello. How are you? Just fine." The Ombudsman says that Lorentzen had a unique ability to communicate with these children. Lorentzen also wrote the book "Groups for refugee families" together with psychologists Magne Raundalen and Atle Dyregrov.
Dagbladet 22 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4n10E8
Dagsavisen 23 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4n20EA

Fears of refugee disaster
A new report from the Norwegian Refugee Council NRC's monitoring centre for internally displaced persons (IDMC) that was published last week shows that since the US-led military offensive against the Taliban in Helmand province began in February, more than 30,000 civilian Afghans have been forced to flee from the Marjah district. Secretary General of the NRC, Elisabeth Rasmusson, says that they are seriously concerned about the increase in fleeing civilians in the wake of military operations, and that the NRC fears that the number of refugees will increase during this summer when ISAF forces are stepping up the fight against insurgents in Afghanistan. A quarter of a million Afghans have been driven from their homes during the last three years because of fighting between international troops and the Taliban and insurgent groups. This is in addition to the approximately 2.8 million Afghans living in refugee camps in Pakistan and Iran. NRC emphasizes that it is difficult to get exact numbers on internally displaced persons in Afghanistan since the country is very inaccessible. Rasmusson says that they only have access to 50 per cent of the country and the security situation makes it challenging to get the overall view of emergency needs.
Dagsavisen 23 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4n30EB

Working together for refugees
Bodø municipality and the Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi) have entered into a partnership to improve conditions for refugees and immigrants. Regional manager Dulo Dizdrarevic at IMDi North says that Bodø is the first municipality in northern Norway to enter into such an agreement. The duration of the agreement is three years, and will contribute to knowledge on the situation of immigrants in the Norwegian municipalities. Dizdarevic believes that increased focus on immigrants and refugees will help to bring out the duties and responsibilities of the immigrants that have to be integrated into the Norwegian society. IMDi looks forward to cooperation, and says that Bodø is a community that has come a long way in their integration efforts.
Avisa Bodø 22 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4n40EC

Record number of asylum-seekers chooses voluntary return
A record high number of asylum-seekers have chosen to return home voluntarily this year. During the first three months of this year, 352 persons have returned home with help from the Norwegian authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). It is the highest number since the voluntary return program began in 2002. The majority of those who chose voluntary return are refugees from Iraq, Kosovo and Serbia. Jon Ole Martinsen from Self-help for Immigrants and Refugees (SEIF) is concerned that the number of so-called voluntary returns increases to areas in Iraq that UNHCR does not consider as safe and adds that many Iraqis may feel pressured to return voluntarily.
Utrop 22 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4n50ED

Simon and his father deported
The ten year old refugee Simon from Eritrea and his father has once again been deported from Norway. The two of them were picked up by police in their home in Flore and transported to the airport. The mayor in Flora municipality, Bente Frøyen Steindal says that it is tragic and sad that authorities are unable to show consideration of a young boy.  In August last year, the boy and his father were deported for the first time from Norway. They were then forced to live outside in a park in Bari, Italy. Their case has been used as an example in the debate on Norwegian asylum policy. In november last year they were back in Flora and applied for asylum again, but the UDI deported them while reviewing their case. Bente Engesland, Communications Director at UDI says that it is easy to understand why so many people are involved in Simons case, but that Simon and his father have been granted asylum in Italiy. She therefore advises them to get in contact with the Italian authorities to receive the assistance they are entitled to. When asked why they are forced to leave Norway while UDI is reviewing their case, she says that it takes a lot, like for example serious illness, for that to happen. She also says that it is important to remember that UDI has reviewed their case twice, and that they have been denied asylum twice. The Dublin Regulation says that you have to apply for asylum in the first European country you arrive in. For Simon and his dad, this was Italy, where they now have been granted asylum. A representative from the Support group of Simon says that Italy does not treat children in accordance with the UNs Children Convention. The representative says that since the Norwegian government once again deported Simon to a country where he has not received any help at all from the authorities, they are now responsible for what happens to him in Italy.
NRK Nett-TV Simon og far sendes ut 14 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4n60EE

Sweden

Billström and Astudillo in a debate on immigration policy
The introduction of stricter rules for family reunification became a hot topic when the Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström (Moderate Party) and the Social Democratic Luciano Astudillo discussed integration policy in Sveriges Television's programme "Debate" on Thursday. Luciano Astudillo was critical towards the new family reunification rules, according to which persons with resident permits in Sweden must have income and housing before they can bring their relatives to live the country. Billström accused Luciano Astudillo of changing the party line while Luciano Astudillo defended himself by talking about the importance of lex Vellinge which means that all municipalities have to contribute to refugee reception.
SVT 22 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4n70EF
Expressen 22 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4n80EG

Immigrants denied identification papers
Since 1 June last year, the Swedish Tax Agency has had the overall responsibility for issuing ID cards in Sweden. The requirements for obtaining an ID card have become stricter. The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKL) estimates that there might be some 10 000 persons in Sweden who cannot obtain identity cards despite they are allowed to stay in the country. The Swedish Tax Agency is afraid that the value of a Swedish ID card could decrease if the high standards are not maintained.
SVT Uppdrag granskning 21 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4oA0EQ

Trial against man who set himself alight
On Wednesday began the trial against a man who a year ago set himself on fire in a Migration Board centre in Alvesta. The triggering event was a discussion where he was told that his deportation order was permanent and would be enforced by the police if he refused to follow it. The prosecutor argues that the man was indifferent to the fact that the fire could have spread to other parts of the detention centre.
Sveriges Television 21 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCkxd0ZqnfK0aYE0D4oB0ER

[Roope]

Saturday 24 April to Monday 26 April 2010

Denmark

Debate: Cheating in refugee emergencies
Several researchers and experts who deal with refugees and migration in the Middle East, have recently questioned the actual number of Iraqi refugees in neighboring areas. It is now argued that some states, politicians and various international humanitarian organizations deliberately manipulate the number of refugees to support their own agendas. The Norwegian research institution Fafo published a report in 2007 in collaboration with the Jordanian authorities in which they initially estimated that the number of Iraqis in Jordan to be significantly lower than official numbers, but did, apparently under pressure from the Jordanians, later change their original conclusion about the number. The Jordanian and Syrian authorities as well as some international organizations maintain that the many Iraqi refugees are there, but for various reasons they simply have not been registered. The author says that it should be added that the UN and other humanitarian organizations to some extent have to accept and abide by the official statistics used by the countries in which the organization operates. If they would use completely different numbers and statistics than the official figures, this would quickly be expected to create more diplomatic difficulties which might have a negative impact on their future humanitarian work. For UNHCR, it is therefore a balancing act between cooperating with the countries in which they work, while maintaining their credibility and integrity in relation to donors, media and the general population. In the case of Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan, it seems as the organization has gone very far to follow the host countries' statistics. For UNHCR and other international humanitarian organizations, it seems short-sighted to play on the host countries' dubious high number of refugees to ensure international media coverage, more funding and a wider political support to the organization's other policy objectives and agenda. In the case of Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, the author believes that it seems to be evident that the UNHCR puts their credibility at stake.
Politiken 20 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://politiken.dk/debat/kroniker/article949455.ece

Rønn attacks the UN
In their law comments, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) proposed a number of ways in which the Danish government should change their new Aliens Act. Minister of Integration Birthe Rønn Hornbech (V) says that there is absolutely no reason to change anything in the law. Rønn Hornbech says that UNHCR is constantly trying to interfere with Danish legislation, but that they are speaking to deaf ears. UNHCR wishes to exclude refugees and others in need of international protection from a number of areas in new tightened Aliens Act. Rønn Hornbech says that UNHCR has a political agenda that goes far beyond the Refugee Convention framework, and that she has told the UNHCR this several times. She emphasizes that Denmark will continue to respect all conventions and international obligations. She says that all deportations in Denmark must be settled by the courts, and that the UNHCR does not know the case law. She concludes by saying that is no reason to change the law proposal.
Berlinske Tidende 23 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.berlingske.dk/politik/roenn-vil-blaese-paa-fn
Avisen 23 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://avisen.dk/dansk-udlaendingelov-moeder-skarp-kritik-fra-fn_126473.aspx
Danmarks Radio 23 April 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Politik/2010/04/23/175932.htm

Finland

Heinäluoma outlines hardened SDP position on immigration
The opposition Social Democratic Party has started sketching a hardline platform against employment-based immigration. In an interview with the Swedish mainstream daily Hufvudstadsbladet, SDP Parliamentary Group Chairman Eero Heinäluoma said that government policy on work-based immigration is dangerous in light of the current unemployment situation. To support his position, Heinäluoma pointed to draft legislation that would allow workers from outside the EU to enter Finland without a support means analysis.
YLE 24 April 2010 (in English)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/04/henaluoma_outlines_hardened_sdp_position_on_immigration_1630454.html
Hufvudstadsbladet 24 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.hbl.fi/text/inrikes/2010/4/24/w46137.php
YLE 24 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/talous_ja_politiikka/2010/04/heinaluoma_kovensi_demarien_linjaa_tyoperaisesta_maahanmuutosta_1629745.html

Politicians react in immigrant worker debate
Statements by SDP MP Eero Heinäluoma opposing employment-based immigration have stirred up a minor political storm, with politicians on all sides clarifying their party positions on the sensitive issue. For instance, responding to the emerging SDP platform on employment-based immigration, Centre Party Chair and Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said that the statements made by the SDP's Eero Heinäluoma were offensive. Green League Chair and Labour Minister Sinnemäki said that the recent hard line positions on immigration championed by SDP Chair Jutta Urpilainen and Eero Heinäluoma indicate that the party has adopted an immigration rhetoric practiced by the True Finns.
YLE 24 April 2010 (in English)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/04/politicians_react_in_immigrant_workers_debate_1630508.html
Aamulehti 24 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/vanhanen-pitaa-heinaluoman-lausuntoa-vastenmielisena/177108
YLE 24 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/talous_ja_politiikka/2010/04/sinnemaki_sdp_perussuomalaisten_linjoilla_1629981.html
YLE 24 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://yle.fi/alueet/keski-pohjanmaa/2010/04/urpilainen_heinaluoman_linjoilla_1630283.html
Turun Sanomat 24 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.ts.fi/online/kotimaa/127064.html

Norway

Ministry of Justice: Progress Party's policy results in more asylum-seekers
At the same time as the Progress Party's national convention was held last weekend, the Ministry of Justice argued that the Progress Party's policy would lead to opposite results of what the party wants. The Progress Party's budget proposal for 2010 would more than halve the funds to the Directorate of Immigration and nearly halve funds for the Immigration Appeals Board, which administers the asylum applications in Norway. The Ministry believes that this would lead to an increase in the number of asylum applicants that would be granted residence. Secretary of State Paul Lønseth says that if you cut down on personnel there will be less opportunity to process applications, and that the careless treatment of applications will lead to more people being alloewed to stay. Lønseth also believes that the Progress Party's strict asylum policy would result in more crime and lack of places in custody, since less money for the reception centers would result in more asylum-seekers being left without shelter. The Progress Party's immigration spokesman, Per Willy Amundsen, dismisses the allegations. He says that since the budget is much stricter than the previous ones far fewer will come and seek asylum.
Aftenposten 23 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3620747.ece
Adresseavisen 23 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.adressa.no/nyheter/innenriks/article1474524.ece

Final rejection for 10-year-old Simon
On Friday, the Immigration Appeals Board decided that ten-year-old Simon and his father will not be allowed to return to Norway and Florø. Simon and his father are now in a camp outside of Rome with about four hundred other asylum-seekers. The two have sought asylum in Norway twice. In September last year they were deported from Norway and sent back to Italy. They then came back to Florø before Christmas, and lived in a church for three weeks before the Norwegian authorities agreed to let them submit a new asylum application. Leif Kåre Hollevik from Simon's support group has not given up. He says that they have asked Simon's father, Fkadu, to keep a daily log to document everything that happens in Italy. He says that this log will in time show that they are not receiving any assistance in Italy. Deputy Director of the Immigration Appeals Board, Jon Arne Jensen, says that it is Italy that is responsibility for the case now. The final decision can not be appealed.
NRK 23 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_sogn_og_fjordane/1.7093989

Sweden

Malmström on xenophobic parties in Europe
Half of the EU countries' parliaments have more or less xenophobic parties. Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs and responsible for immigration and asylum issues, finds this very worrying. Although she thinks that every country has its own specific prerequisites, she names the economic crisis as the biggest common cause for xenophobic parties in most of the countries. Many Member States have expressed their wishes to form a common EU policy on immigration and asylum based on European values. In order to accomplish this, Malmström says that all parties sharing this desire should act together. She notes that many European countries will soon be in need of work-based immigration. According to Malmström her difficult duty is to work against xenophobic opinions and make it easier for those who are in need of asylum to enter Europe and receive the help they are entitled to according to international agreements. In her opinion, there is no immediate solution to the situation especially due to the economic crisis. She adds that fighting xenophobia will not be easy and will acquire leadership, alliances and real arguments. It is a big challenge for the already existing political parties to accomplish the values that the EU countries stand for.
SVT Play "Agenda" 25 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svtplay.se/v/1977941/agenda/del_13_av_19?sb,p103431,1,f,-1

Hidden persons' right to health care to be investigated
The ambiguity surrounding the care and treatment of hidden undocumented persons in Sweden will now be examined, despite the divided opinions in the government. Erna Zelmin, director general of the National Board of Forensic Medicine, was today appointed as responsible for the investigation. The Minisiter for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström has signaled that only those who reside in Sweden legally are entitled to health care.
Sveriges Television 23 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.22620/1.1975484/gomdas_ratt_till_vard_ska_utredas

SD member leaves the party
Kenneth Sandberg, chairman of the Sweden Democrats in Kävlinge, has chosen to leave the party. He feels that the Sweden Democrats' immigration policy is not restrictive enough. Now he and several other Sweden Democrats in Kävlinge have formed a new party that will stand in the autumn's municipal elections. Sven-Olof Sällström, party's press secretary says that the fact that Sandberg is leaving the party will only have a short term impact locally and it will not affect the Sweden Democrats nationally.
Sveriges Radio 25 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=101&artikel=3652156
Svenska Dagbladet 24 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/politik/sd-profil-hoppar-av_4612903.svd
Svenska Dagbladet 25 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/sd-avhoppet-en-lokal-fraga_4616383.svd



UNHCR in the news

UN: - Assaults in Congo
The civilian population in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are constantly exposed to new injustices. The UN says that the government in Kinshasa shows no willingness to prevent assults or to set the perpetrators to justice. From some Congolese areas there are an average of 14 serious sexual assaults reported each day. But, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, the real figure could be far higher, since many of the victims are reluctant to report the assaults. A report by UNHCR published last Friday said that over the past ten years, about 200,000 rapes have been officially reported in the DRC. A third of these have happened in the war-torn provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu.
Aftenbladet 23 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenbladet.no/utenriks/1194629/FN_-__Stadig_nye_overgrep_i_Kongo.html

[Roope]

Finland

Attitudes towards immigrants divide SDP
Social Democratic Party chairman Eero Heinäluoma's comments about immigration have generated a lively debate within the SDP. Some think it was good that Heinäluoma raised the problem of the hundreds of thousands of unemployed Finns while the government wants to attract workers from abroad. Other Social Democrats find it very unpleasant that the party which previously emphasized solidarity and internationalism now abandons its values and lets the True Finns lead the immigration debate in Finland. Eero Heinäluoma was surprised over the reactions to his statements. He says that his statements were rather meant as criticism towards work-based immigration than racism or intolerance.
Hufvudstadsbladet 26 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCloU0ZqnfK0aYE0D48Q0EO

Norway

Terrified Chechens have to hide their faces
When the Russian president drove by Oslo Plaza, a group of about 30 Chechens protested against the Russian president and how he dealt with the Chechnya conflict. The Chechen protesters fear that someone may kill, harass, or persecute their families at home if they show their discontent against President Dmitry Medvedev. They therefore hid their faces. Russia has long been in conflict with Chechnya, and thousands of people have been tortured and killed. Several thousand Chechens have been granted residence permits in Norway as a result.
Verdens Gang 26 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCloU0ZqnfK0aYE0D48R0EP

Former resident suspected of asylum-center arson
A former resident is suspected of starting the fire in an asylum center in Kristiansand. The suspect has previously lived in the reception center. The police have concluded that a flammable liquid was used in connection with the fire. Superintendent Hans Petter Sandell at Kristiansand police says that they are questioning an asylum-seeker in his 20's. The asylum-seeker denies having caused the fire. None of the eleven residents were injured when a fire broke out at the center on March 21st, but several of them had to jump from the second floor in order to get out of the building. The large wooden building was completely destroyed in the fire.
NRK 26 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCloU0ZqnfK0aYE0D48S0EQ
Aftenposten 26 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCloU0ZqnfK0aYE0D48T0ER

Half of all refugees move
According to figures from Statistics Norway, Sogn og Fjordane is one of the municipalities in the country that has the greatest depopulation of refugees. Statistics Norway have mapped where all the refugees, who were settled in 2003, lived in 2008. Most moved to their relatives in the east. Sølve Sætre from the Directorate of Integration and Diversity says that although the chances of getting a job and living a good life in Sogn og Fjordane are good, many are drawn to Oslo, Østfold and the Swedish border. 200 refugees will be settled in Sogn og Fjordane this year.
NRK 28 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCloU0ZqnfK0aYE0D48U0ES

Sweden

Regulating immigration in Europe
This week Cecilia Malmström, European Home Affairs commissioner, will visit Malta, which struggles with an influx of refugees coming by sea from Africa. Opinion is divided among EU member states as to how the refugee influx should be handled. Italy, for example, wants tougher controls to stop and to return the illegal migrants. To date the EU has agreed to open its borders to a well-educated workforce, which has been criticized by poor countries. Malmström will shortly present proposals for the regulation of unskilled seasonal workers for seasonal labour for six-month periods.
Dagens Nyheter 27 April 2010 p:15 (in Swedish)

Municipalities in Skåne arrange more places for refugee children
Last winter, the municipalities in Skåne set a goal of arranging 150 new places for unaccompanied refugee children. At a meeting in Malmö on Tuesday they presented a report which shows that almost all places are found. The Migration Board expects that there may be more than 3,000 unaccompanied refugee children coming to Sweden this year. Last year Sweden received 2,250. Many children have to stay in temporary accommodations in Malmö, Stockholm, Sigtuna and Mölndal, because there are not enough places in other municipalities.
Sveriges Radio 27 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCloU0ZqnfK0aYE0D48V0ET

Sweden Democrats: "Children are never threatened"
An advertisement for the Sweden Democrats in a local newspaper Spegel in Skåne has raised strong reactions from readers. The advertisement says that Sweden should not accept unaccompanied refugee children because "children are never exposed to the threat of death and persecution". Lars-Anders Espert, chairman of the SD in Burlöv who was behind the ad says that children are never threatened in principle but admits that if an entire ethnic group is persecuted, it affects everybody.
Fria Tidningen 27 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCloU0ZqnfK0aYE0D48W0EU

Assaulted Chinese woman risks deportation
The Swedish Migration Board has decided to deport a Chinese woman who lost her residency permit when her Swedish husband filed for divorce in revenge for her reporting his repeated assaults. The divorce meant that the woman and her children no longer had any connection to Sweden and had no legal right to remain in the country.
The Local 27 April 2010 (in English)
http://www.thelocal.se/26320/20100427/'
Dagens Nyheter 27 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCloU0ZqnfK0aYE0D48X0EV

[Roope]

Thursday 29 April to Friday 30 April 2010

Finland

Halonen regrets nuances of racism in the immigration debate
President Tarja Halonen thinks it is regrettable that there are racist overtones in the immigration debate in Finland. The president remarks that racism and general intolerance usually is spread during economically difficult times. In President Tarja Halonen's view, people should not be treated as mere labor and immigrants should be seen in a more humane light.
YLE 29 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCmAT0ZqnfK0aYE0D5K80EX

Heinäluoma defended his immigration statements
Eero Heinäluoma, chairman of the Social Democratic Party parliamentary group, defended his controversial statements about immigration. During the parliamentary hearing he said that labor migration is necessary and rational if there is work in Finland that otherwise would not be performed. Heinäluoma pointed out that there is still much to be done to improve the working conditions of foreign workers in Finland.
Vasabladet 29 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCmAT0ZqnfK0aYE0D5LA0Eh
Turun Sanomat 29 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCmAT0ZqnfK0aYE0D5LB0Ei

Romanian Roma seeking asylum in Finland
Romanian Roma have begun seeking asylum in Finland. According to the Police, there have been 53 asylum applications in April lodged by asylum-seekers from Romania at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport. Some of the Romanian Roma have just arrived in the country, others have stated that they have already been in Finland for three weeks. The number of applicants from Romania in April amounts to as many as the Immigration Service recorded throughout last year. Reception centers in Helsinki are currently accommodating 41 asylum-seekers from Romania.
YLE 28 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCmAT0ZqnfK0aYE0D5LC0Ej

Latvia

Number of illegal immigrants detained in Latvia doubled last year
Last week the Latvian security police opened a criminal investigation into the alleged smuggling of nine illegal Afghan immigrants into Latvia. Two suspects have already been held in connection with the case, and a search is on to find a third suspect. The group of traffickers had allegedly helped organize the trip of the illegal immigrants from the Central Asian state to Europe through Russia.
Baltic News Service 27 April 2010 (Subscription required)
www.bns.ee

Population decline due to long-term migration
According to the data of the Central Statistical Bureau, population decline due to long-term migration intensified in Latvia during 2009: 2,688 persons immigrated (22.4% fewer than in 2008), while 7,388 persons emigrated (23% more than in 2008). As a result of migration, the number of ethnic Latvians declined by 1950, ethnic Russians by 1826, Ukrainians by 348 and Byelorussians by 181, while the number of Romanians increased by 60, Swedes by 47, Germans by 40. Among emigrants in 2009, Latvian citizens constituted 53%, Latvian non-citizens – 13.5%, other EU nationals – 10.6%, foreigners – 22.9%. Among immigrants in 2009, Latvian citizens constituted 19.4%, Latvian non-citizens – 0.2%, other EU nationals – 40.4%, foreigners - 40%. Comparing to 2008 data, migration increased to the UK (twice) and Russia (1.3 times), while declined to Ireland (2.1 times).
Integration and Minority Information Service 28 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCmAT0ZqnfK0aYE0D5LD0Ek

Sweden

Xenophobia on the rise in Finland
Public opinions towards refugees in Finland are becoming more negative. Wille Rydman, the President of the National Coalition Party's youth organization, said in a (Swedish-language daily) Hufvudstadsbladet interview a few weeks ago that Finland should receive fewer quota refugees and fewer foreigners in general. Finland's current refugee quota is 750 per year. Rydman also expressed his wishes that Finland should do what ever it can to avoid becoming a multicultural society and named Sweden's immigration policy as a warning example. When interviewed by Svenska Dagbladet, Rydman claimed that a multicultural society might prohibit individuals becoming a part of the society. In his opinion those who do not integrate in the Finnish culture can move away, but he also thinks that those who already reside in Finland actually like living in the country. Opinion polls show that the immigration critical party True Finns enjoys an increasing support in Finland. According to Rydman, the True Finns are not pursuing a responsible policy and the National Coalition and Centre parties express the peoples' opinions on immigration issues better than the True Finns. The Minister for Foreign Aid and Development Paavo Väyrynen expressed his support to Rydman's statements on refugee quotas and multiculturalism by saying that Finland could indeed decrease its refugee quota. But Minister of Labour Anni Sinnemäki strongly disagreed by saying that especially women and children, which she thought were the most vulnerable ones, would suffer from a reduced refugee quota and reminded that these are persons who have been granted a refugee status by UNHCR. Last week the Social Democratic Party Parliamentary Group Chairman Eero Heinäluoma argued that Finland should decrease work-based immigration due to the country's high unemployment rate. He received support from the SDP Chair Jutta Urpilainen.
Svenska Dagbladet 28 April 2010 p:14-15 (in Swedish)

Malmström visits Malta on Friday
Cecilia Malmström, the European commissioner for home affairs, is to visit the much criticized refugee camps in Malta on Friday and meet Maltese politicians. Malmström has already said that Malta is breaching EU regulations on the reception of asylum seeking minors. Sweden is sometimes criticized for returning minors to Malta and the commissioner says that current rules do not actually force Sweden to return these minors.
Dagens Nyheter 30 April 2010 p:10 (in Swedish)

Great interest to help refugee children
The interest in becoming a contact person or a foster family for unaccompanied refugee children was great when the City of Stockholm arranged for the first time an information meeting on the subject in Kulturhuset on Wednesday. In total, hundreds came to the briefing and 95 persons registered their interest to receive more information.
Webfinanser 28 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCmAT0ZqnfK0aYE0D5LE0El

Swedish editor resigns in 'racist' press subsidy row
Martin Ahlquist, editor-in-chief of Swedish news weekly Fokus, has resigned his post on the Press Subsidies Council (Presstödsnämnden) after a decision to award state funds to an extreme-right newspaper. The decision to award 2.3 million kronor ($319,000) in state press subsidies to the openly xenophobic National Democrats' newspaper Nationell Idag ('National Today'), has prompted Ahlquist to call for a change in guidelines governing support. The National Democrat party, which enjoys very little support among the electorate, blames the majority of Sweden's modern day problems on immigration, as it explains on its website.
The Local 23 April 2010 (in Engish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCmAT0ZqnfK0aYE0D5LF0Em
Dagens Nyheter 23 April 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCmAT0ZqnfK0aYE0D5LG0En

NB. This story was also covered in Iceland
IceNews 28 April 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCmAT0ZqnfK0aYE0D5LH0Eo



UNHCR in the news

Starvation catastrophe in South Sudan
Four million people, a third of the population, in South Sudan are threatened by  starvation in the coming months, a drastic deteroriation of the current situation. This is partly due to irregularities in rain patterns. Due to a very rudimental infrastructure, reaching those in need is difficult in South Sudan. Many of the concerned are internally displaced following the civil war that lasted for more than 20 years and that ended in 2005. According to UNHCR, 320.000 refugees have returned to South Sudan since 2005. Incidents of unrest still occur and the need for help is acute.
Aftenposten 30 April 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCmAT0ZqnfK0aYE0D5LI0Ep

[Roope]

Saturday 1 May to Monday 3 May 2010

Finland

Migration Minister calls for crackdown on chat sites
Minister Thors says she is shocked by the insults and bullying circulating on the internet and says online message boards should be monitored more closely. For instance, she pointed to some discussions on the popular Finnish social networking website, Suomi24. Last month Thors told YLE she was extremely concerned about spreading xenophobia on the internet. She called for immediate condemnation of the hostile rhetoric before it escalates into violence.
YLE 3 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCme70ZqnfK0aYE0D5QA0Et
YLE 3 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCme70ZqnfK0aYE0D5QB0Eu
YLE 3 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCme70ZqnfK0aYE0D5QC0Ev

Finland chooses quota refugees on dossier basis only
The Finnish Immigration Service's Director General Jorma Vuorio has decided that Finland will not travel to Rwanda this year to interview the 150 Congolese refugees who Finland intends to receive. The decision was made in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior's Immigration Department. This is the first time Finland has selected quota refugees on dossier basis only. Decision was made after the Finnish Security Police (SUPO) announced that it would not attend the selection mission. According to SUPO, Congolese women and children do not pose a threat to the Finnish national security. Another reason is that the Immigration Service lacks resources. Third reason is that during the previous years, Finland has received refugees from the same area and their situation and history are well known to the selection officials. Quota refugees are refugees who have been granted a refugee status by UNHCR. Internationally, the policy Finland has chosen to follow is not exceptional. Sweden selects half of its quota refugees on dossier basis only.
Helsingin Sanomat 30 April 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCme70ZqnfK0aYE0D5QD0Ew

Sweden

Paperless boy found on boat
A twelve-year-old boy without both passport and money was found on board the German Stena Line ferry in Gothenburg. The boy claims he is from Iraq but the boat personnel say that he probably comes from Morocco. The boy says he wants to seek asylum in Sweden and has now been transferred to the Migration Board facilities.
Nyheter24 2 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCme70ZqnfK0aYE0D5QE0Ex
SVT 2 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCme70ZqnfK0aYE0D5QF0Ey

No to Högsby municipality's requirements
Högsby municipality will not receive state compensation for hosting refugees. The municipality requested SEK 1.9 million for compensation for a group of persons who came from Liberia in 2006. The Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström says no to the municipality's requirements, saying that the government should not determine how a court will judge.
Sveriges Radio 3 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCme70ZqnfK0aYE0D5QG0Ez

[Roope]

Tuesday 4 May to Wednesday 5 May 2010

Finland

Roma deportations conducted faster than before
Asylum-seekers from the EU are deported faster than before. The time that the Bulgarian and Romanian asylum-seekers reside in Finland has been reduced by several weeks after the Finnish authorities started using fast-track procedures last month. The experiment continues until the end of May. Finland has received over 3,700 applications for asylum from Bulgarian and Romanian Roma during the past ten years. None of them has been successful.
Helsingin Sanomat 4 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/Romanien+turvapaikkahakemusten+k%C3%A4sittely+lyheni+viikoilla/1135256567463
Aamulehti 4 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/romanit-kaannytetaan-suomesta-viikkoja-aiempaa-nopeammin/177940
YLE 4 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/2010/05/eu-kansalaisten_kaannyttaminen_suomesta_nopeutui_viikoilla_1652906.html
Turun Sanomat 4 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.ts.fi/online/kotimaa/129039.html

Asylum-seeker avoided deportation order
A Gambian asylum-seeker has succeeded to resist his expulsion. The police tried to deport the Gambian but he resisted strongly. The man might face a new deportation, since the Administrative Court has not abolished the deportation order. The Immigration Service rejected his asylum request although the man says he is persecuted in his home country due to his homosexuality and will face prison or even death if deported.
Helsingin Sanomat 4 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://m.hs.fi/inf/infomo?site=hstxt&view=news_kaupunki_child&feed:a=hs.fi&feed:c=news&feed:i=1135256586469
Aamulehti 4 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/178032.shtml

Norway

More will be sent out of Norway
The government will spend 90 million DKK to get more criminals and unwanted asylum-seekers deported or detained. Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg says that in his experience, an increased number of deportations reduces the number of asylum applications from people without the need for protection. Figures on the number of asylum-seekers arriving in Norway from the Directorate of Immigration shows a decrease of 36 percent in the first quarter of 2010. He says that people who are not entitled to stay in Norway shall not stay here. Minister of Justice Knut Storberget agrees and says that it is important to preserve the trust for, and basis for, the asylum policy. However, on Monday a ruling from the Supreme Court came that clearly undermines their efforts. A 22 year old man from Ghana was arrested after trying to sell the three grams of hashish. Both the Court and the Court of Appeal concluded that the asylum-seeker undermined the politics behind asylum and sentenced him to imprisonment. The Supreme Court changed the verdict and said that he and other asylum-seekers are equal before the law and should be treated just like Norwegians would be treated. The Progress Party's leader Siv Jensen criticizes the government for not proposing legislative amendments, and says that setting aside more funds for voluntary and involuntary returns will not help. She says that the only thing that will get the Supreme Court to act in line with the governments is changes in legislation. Storberget responds that the Court decides on the sentence, but that the government will decide on whether to deport these criminals when they have served their sentence or not. Many are deported to Greece, and Peter Eide, Secretary General of the Norwegian People's Aid, is criticizing the government for doing this since the asylum-seekers are not receiving any assistance or help there. Jensen responds that Greece is a EU country with an asylum system in place, and that Norway therefore should continue to return asylum-seekers to the first EU country they arrived in in accordance with the Dublin Convention. Out of the 90 million DKK, the government plans to distribute 37 million to strengthen the work on voluntary return, 22 million to strengthen the police's deportations efforts, and 33 million to 50 new spots at Trandum detention center. As a result, the government's targeted number of returns in 2010, including both voluntary returns and returns by force, is increased from 4900 to 5900.
NRK 4 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/norge/1.7109958
Aftenposten 4 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3636844.ece
Dagbladet 4 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.dagbladet.no/2010/05/04/nyheter/innenriks/politikk/innvandring/asylpolitikk/11578261/
NRK Nett-TV 'Asylsøkere – utkastelse' 4 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www1.nrk.no/nett-tv/indeks/212154
NRK Nett-TV 'Strengere asylpolitikk' 4 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www1.nrk.no/nett-tv/indeks/212165

Refugees living in Norway with secret identities
Of the 6,000 refugees that received residence permits in Norwaylast year, 59 received  protected identities. Figures that TV 2 has obtained from the Directorate of Immigration show that there are 490 refugees in Norway that have protected identities in total. Personal information on these refugees are kept secret by the UDI. The Directorate for Integration and Diversity (IMDi) that settles refugees must apply for access to these cases. According IMDI one of the reasons as to why these people are living with hidden identities in Norwegian municipalities is the fear of assassination by foreign intelligence services. Another reason is that some are exposed to violence and threats. The UDI determines whether a refugee should be hidden in the data register or not.
TV2 Nyhetene 4 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.tv2nyhetene.no/innenriks/flyktninger-lever-i-norge-med-hemmelig-identitet-3196754.html

Sweden

Sudden cease of refugee boats to Malta
In recent years the EU's smallest member country Malta has received an influx of refugees arriving on boat from Africa. But since September, there have not been new boat arrivals to Malta. Jon Hoisaeter from UNHCR Malta notes that more than 10,000 refugees have come to Malta but now the influx of refugees has ceased. Hoisaeter adds that there is some reason behind this fact and it worries him. One reason for the sudden cease of refugees to Malta is believed to be Libya's measures to stop the boats before they set course northwards to Europe. This is something that worries human rights organizations since although Malta's refugee camps are known to have difficult conditions the situation is even worse in Libya. EU commissioner Cecilia Malmström visited Malta recently and says that the EU will now try to establish a dialog with Libya and aim at closer cooperation in migration issues.
Sveriges Television 4 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.22584/1.1989840/plotsligt_slut_pa_nya_flyktingbatar_oroar

More asylum-seekers in the EU
Figures from Eurostat, the European Commission's statistical information service, show that more than 260,000 asylum seekers registered with the authorities in the EU countries last year. The highest number of asylum-seekers registered with the authorities in France. The total number of asylum-seekers increased by 20,000 compared with 2008. The majority of persons applying for asylum in the EU come from Afghanistan, Russia, Somalia and Iraq. Most of the 19,100 Somali refugees who sought for asylum registered with the authorities in the Netherlands or in Sweden.
Dagbladet 4 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://dagbladet.se/nyheter/utrikes/1.2003295-fler-soker-asyl-i-eu-lander

Policeman who requested sex from asylum-seeker fired
An officer employed within the Swedish border police in Västra Götaland has been fired after offering a female asylum-seeker assistance in return for sex. The man now risks up to six years in prison. The man, who is in his sixties, has had his employment terminated with immediate effect following a decision by the National Swedish Police Disciplinary Board.
The Local 5 May 2010 (in English)
http://www.thelocal.se/26460/20100505/
Svenska Dagbladet 4 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/polis-begarde-sex-sparkas_4663855.svd

Iranians protest outside the Migration Board in Kållered
On Tuesday some 20 Iranians protested outside the Migration Board in Kållered. The goal was to stop the forcible returns of Iranians who are critical towards the regime. Tofigh Mohammadi from the national organization for Iranian refugees said in a statement that those who have participated in demonstrations against the government during last year are likely to be imprisoned, tortured or executed if they return.
Göteborgs Fria Tidning 4 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.goteborgsfria.nu/artikel/83645



UNHCR in the news

Insecurity hampers the work of UNHCR in Afghanistan
The High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres says that the security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated in recent times. UNHCR has to use local workers and Afghan organizations to reach the thousands of refugees the organization is trying to help. Guterres said in Geneva that international aid workers now have access to only half of the area where UNHCR staff previously has worked. According to Guterres, aid workers have been subjected to violence partly because the difference between the humanitarian and military personnel is becoming increasingly blurred. Both seek to attain the confidence of the local population for example by building bridges and digging wells, but Afghans find it difficult to know who represents what. UNHCR has renewed its working methods by sending administrative personnel to Bangkok and by acquiring a strong security system. Guterres notes, however, that barbed wires, protection against explosion or armed guards are not enough to convince Afghans that relief organizations differ from foreign soldiers.
YLE 5 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/ulkomaat/2010/05/turvattomuus_haittaa_avustusjarjestoja_afganistanissa_1658139.html

[Roope]

Thursday 6 May to Friday 7 May 2010

Denmark

Human rights organization will respond to new immigration law
The Institute for Human Rights (IMR) has dropped its boycott of Minister of Integration Birthe Rønn Hornbech (V) and agreed to respond to the government's bill for new immigration legislation. IMR had originally declined to comment, claiming that the government was trying to rush the new legislation, but has now had a change of heart after Ms Hornbech promised that any response would be studied carefully. Head of IMR Jonas Christoffersen says that since the minister assured them that their input is invaluable they will do all they can to live up to their share of responsibility. He also says that the proposed legislation contains substantial changes, with very significant consequences for human rights, that they need to shed light on. The bill was given its first reading on 19 April and the IMR has to respond before the second reading on 20 May.
NordJyske 6 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qZ0ED

Estonia

Trafficking in Estonian women on the rise
According to Tiina Jokst, Consul at the Estonian Embassy in Athens, fictitious marriages between Estonian women and illegal immigrants living in Greece and Cyprus have become a serious problem during recent years. The reason behind the growing number of fictitious marriages is a recent ruling that provides immigrants with a better chance of getting a residence permit if they are married to citizens of the EU. According to various sources the sum paid to girls for marrying an illegal immigrant is up to 6,000 euros.
Baltic News Service 6 May 2010 (in English) (Subscription required)
www.bns.news

Finland

Refugees remain in limbo far too long
Refugees have to wait far too long for a decision on asylum, according to Ritva Viljanen, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of the Interior. Viljanen was speaking at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Finnish Red Cross in Turku on Thursday. Viljanen urged municipalities to take in refugees who have been granted residence permits. She added that expenses increase when holders of residence permits are forced to live at refugee reception centres. Furthermore, she said it prohibits the integration process. Currently about 500 refugees who have been granted residence permits remain in limbo at reception centres. According to the UNHCR, there are over 15 million refugees worldwide. The number rises to over 42 million when including internally displaced people.
YLE 6 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qa0EK
YLE 6 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qb0EL

Refugees top the list of unemployed immigrants in Finland
There are significant differences in the employment situation for immigrants of different nationalities in Finland. The highest rates of unemployment are found among Somalis, Iraqis and Afghans who have arrived as refugees. For example, the rate of unemployment for Somalis, Iraqis and Afghans is over 50%.The Director of Immigration Affairs for the City of Helsinki, Annika Forsander, is dismayed by the position of Somalis in the Finnish capital. In other countries, Somali immigrants have integrated well into society. Language skills are often an excuse used by employers to turn down foreign job applicants.
YLE 7 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qc0EM
YLE 7 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qd0EN

Gambian gay man not to be deported
Helsinki Administrative Court has overturned the deportation order of a Gambian man who is persecuted in his home country due to his homosexuality. The man has sought asylum in Finland because of his sexual orientation. In Gambia, homosexuality can lead to 14 years imprisonment. The Immigration Service issued a negative decision in March.
Aamulehti 6 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qe0EO

Norway

Drops asylum proposal
In September 2008, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg proposed 13 restrictive measures to decrease the number of asylum-seekers. The government has now decided to drop one of the proposals, a requirement of four years of working as a prerequisite to allow family reunification of refugees. The proposal was meant to apply both persons who have the right to stay on humanitarian grounds, as well as those with refugee status. The Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers (NOAS) has criticized the proposal and says that they consider such a strategy to reduce the number of asylum-seekers arriving in Norway to be very disturbing. The Red Cross was also against the proposal, since they believe that each case should be individually evaluated. The Progress Party believes that the government's turnaround is a sad day for the Norwegian asylum policy. The Progress Party's spokesperson Per-Willy Amundsen says that Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is adopting the Socialist Left Party's naive politics.
Dagsavisen 6 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qf0EP
TV2 Nyhetene 6 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qg0EQ
Halden Dagblad 6 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qh0ER

Lowest number of asylum applications in three years
A total of 3,029 applications for asylum have been registered so far this year. According to the UDI, that is a decrease of 41 per cent compared to same period last year. UDI Deputy Director Frode Forfang says that the decline in April continues the trend that they have seen in recent months, but that it is still too early to say with certainty whether this is a lasting trend or not. For unaccompanied minors, the decline is even bigger with 62 per cent fewer applicants so far this year. The decline will lead to a decline in the number of reception places needed, but no reception centers are currently being closed. The situation will be evaluated throughout the year.
NRK 7 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qi0ES

Sweden

Malmström: Guardian for all unaccompanied minors
On Thursday Cecilia Malmström, the European Commissioner for home affairs, announced an action plan attempting to create a common European approach to the estimated 100,000 unaccompanied minors who arrive in Europe every year. The plan includes a proposal to provide all unaccompanied minors who come to the EU with a guardian and legal representation in the country in which they arrive, and to return in a dignified manner those without grounds for protection. The majority of unaccompanied minors arrive in Europe from Afghanistan, Iraq and some African countries. Most of them are boys between 16 and 18 years old. In order to reduce the influx of unaccompanied minors to the EU, Malmström suggests information campaigns to be held in the countries of origin. However, she does not want to propose a common methodology for age assessment, which several countries have demanded. She refers to the fact that there is no sure method to assess age at the moment. Instead, Malmström emphasizes the importance of increasing training on age assessment and develop common guidelines in the long term. At the same time as Malmström announced her plan, a report by the European Migration Network was published showing that different countries use very different methods to assess the age of unaccompanied minors.
Sveriges Television 6 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qj0ET
Expressen 6 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qk0EU
Sveriges Radio 6 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5ql0EV
Sveriges Radio 6 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qm0EW
Nyhetskanalen.se 6 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qn0EX

Sweden wants to send back more unaccompanied minors
Tobias Billström, the Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy, has tasked the Swedish Migration Board to find suitable care centres in Iraq and Afghanistan as a first step in the efforts to send back unaccompanied minor asylum-seekers who are not in need of protection. The Migration Board is due to visit Baghdad and Kabul this month. The centres will be opened already this summer. The biggest group of unaccompanied minors coming to Sweden is Somali boys, who have a strong need for protection and are usually allowed to stay. In May, the Migration Board will return 158 unaccompanied minors, of which 75 to Iraq and 12 to Afghanistan. Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and the UK have all made plans to establish care centres for unaccompanied minors in the countries of origin. According to Dan Eliasson, Director of the Migration Board, children who are returned back will be provided with housing and secure access to education and health care. Save the Children Sweden criticizes these plans saying many of the children will try to come to Europe again, and that the care centres could attract traffickers.
Dagens Nyheter 6 May 2010 p:14 (in Swedish)

UN criticizes Sweden for treatment of asylum-seekers
On Friday for the first time, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva will hold a hearing on the human rights situation in Sweden. The UN criticizes Sweden for lack of respect for human rights and says the country does not follow the major UN conventions. In a report the UN writes that hate crimes and diffusion of white power music and propaganda in Sweden are on the rise. The report also mentions that children of ethnic minorities and asylum-seekers are subjected to disturbing xenophobia and racist attitudes. Some asylum-seekers face long detention periods, or deportation because their case is pending. The UN also criticizes Sweden for the treatment of unaccompanied minors, and writes that a worrying number of these children disappear from the reception centres. In addition, the report mentions that undocumented children in Sweden are entitled to emergency treatment only, which violates the children's rights.
Svenska Dagbladet 6 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qo0EY
Sveriges Radio 7 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qp0EZ

Sweden increases refugee forecast again
The Swedish Migration Board has increased its forecast to 31,000 for the number of persons expected to seek asylum this year. It has also requested an additional 60 million kronor ($7.86 million) in 2010 to cope with the increased pressure. Previously, the Migration Board estimated that there would be 25,000 asylum-seekers in 2010, but in February, it increased its forecast to 28,000 and asked for an additional 50 million kronor for its budget. It has also increased its projection for next year by 1,000 to 28,000. The increase in the number of asylum-seekers is largely due to more persons from Serbia and Kosovo seeking refugee status following the abolition of visa requirements.
The Local 6 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qq0Ea
Blekinge Läns Tidning 6 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qr0Eb
Dagbladet 6 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qs0Ec

Asylum-seeker freed from arson charges
The 28-year-old asylum-seeker who was charged with arson was acquitted on Wednesday. The man set himself on fire in April last year inside the Migration Board offices in Alvesta after having been told that he could not stay in Sweden. The man himself says he only intended to hurt himself. The 28-year-old has now a temporary residence permit in Sweden which allows him to stay in the country until the summer.
Sveriges Television 5 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCnOa0ZqnfK0aYE0D5qt0Ed

[Roope]

Saturday 8 May to Monday 10 May 2010

Finland

Thors on hate crimes
Minister of Migration and European Affairs Astrid Thors spoke at the Swedish People's Party's Youth Congress (SU) in Pargas on Saturday. Minister Thors said that the current racist discussion on the internet affects the morale of the society. She also said that on May Day there was a peak of violent racist crimes which she thinks are connected to the explosion of racist writings on the internet. Minister Thors wants that hate crimes, even on the internet, should have a more independent role in the legislation so that the society can intervene before a crime happens.
Hufvudstadsbladet 8 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.hbl.fi/text/inrikes/2010/5/8/w46717.php

Norway

Plans to establish care centre in Kabul
Norwegian authorities want to stop the flow of unaccompanied minor asylum-seekers to Norway. Most of the children are Afghans, and therefore efforts to establish a care center in Kabul has been started. Norway uses the Netherlands' experience with a care center in Angola as a good example of such care centers, where only one minor applicant has been returned to the center since it was established in 2003. 168 others were also returned to Angola, but they were picked up by relatives. Dutch Justice Ministry sources they were surprised that relatives suddenly appeared, but that they "know" that the children were not obtained by unauthorized persons. The number of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers from Angola to the Netherlands decreased considerably after the care center was established. The Norwegian Centre in Kabul will have 100 seats, of which 50 will be reserved for the return of young asylum-seekers coming to Norway. The plan is that the center will be completed this fall. There are also plans for a center in northern Iraq. State secretary K. Pal Lønseth says he is fairly certain that a care center in Kabul will lead to fewer unaccompanied minors from Afghanistan seeking asylum. Manizha Bakhtari, Afghanistan's ambassador in Oslo begs the Norwegian authorities to not return the young asylum-seekers by force.  Human rights organisations have critized the plans.
Aftenposten 8 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3643510.ece

Stopped deportation of asylum-seekers in the 11th hour
Just hours before the 29-year-old from Afghanistan was to be sent out of Norway, a judge in Strasbourg stepped in and stopped the Norwegian process. On Friday, Asylum lawyer Arild Humlen contacted the Greek judge Christos Rozakis in the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg who put a put a full stop to the planned deportation at 6 am Saturday morning. Humlen says that the judge was brave to do so since there is a very strong political push in Europe to send asylum-seekers back. But according to the international standards that many countries have, this should be a legal and not a political issue. The Immigration Police Unit (PU) confirms that the planned deportation is stopped. The man is still in prison, and he will not be released even if the deportation case has been put on hold.
Verdens Gang 7 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10005629

UDI denies the Red Cross access to information
The Directorate for Immigration (UDI) will not grant the Red Cross access to their tracing services that could help determine whether persons who are reported missing by their family live in Norway. President of the Norwegian Red Cross, Sven Mollekleiv, is dissatisfied with UDI's refusal and says that for them this is vital work. He says that all they are asking for is to be able to help people find their nearest. Last year more than 200 people asked for help to find relatives they believed were staying in Norway. UDI's rejection is based on legal grounds, but also justified by policy considerations, resources, and practical and security reasons. According to the UDI so-called refugee espionage, which means that foreign actors engage refugees to gather intelligence on their own citizens or citizens of other countries, occurs in Norway.
NRK 10 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/norge/1.7118049

Sweden

UN Committee Against Torture slams Sweden
The UN Committee Against Torture has said that Sweden breached the rights of an Egyptian man when it deported him to his home country where he was later tortured. The Committee had already criticized Sweden in 2005 for having expelled Ahmed Agiza, together with another man, Mohammad Alzery, in 2001. The two were suspected of involvement in an extremist organization with links to al-Qaeda.
Svenska Dagbladet 7 May 2010 p:12 (in Swedish)
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/fn-fel-att-avvisa-egyptier_4686175.svd

Sweden receives criticism from the UN Human Rights Council
At a review by the UN Human Rights Council on Friday, many countries criticized Sweden for growing discrimination of asylum-seekers, immigrants and refugees and for more hate crimes against ethnic minorities and racist crimes. The leader of the US delegation stressed that Sweden must do more to integrate immigration groups. Fredrik Belfrage, leader of the Swedish delegation, said afterwards that Sweden had received a generally positive assessment. Belfrage admitted that Sweden faces significant challenges such as hate crimes, anti-Semitism and discrimination of ethnic minorities and that these challenges are taken extremely seriously and will be dealt with.
Svenska Dagbladet 7 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/fn-lander-stallde-sverige-till-svars_4686093.svd

Investigation on health care for paperless refugees
Asylum-seekers' and paperless refugees' right to health care are currently being investigated. Parts of the study have received criticism. According to a committee directive issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs the proposals of the study must not contribute to more persons remaining illegally in Sweden. Anita Dorazio from the Asylum Committee (Asylkommittén) is very critical towards the directive, saying that the discussion is about health care and not about individual asylum cases. Minister for Health and Social Affairs Göran Hägglund believes research and examples from other countries show that free health care to paperless persons has no negative impact on migration policy and that the exact wording of the directive will not make any difference.
Sveriges Radio 7 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=103&artikel=3682652

Firm sues Sweden over dislodged Muslim lawyer
A law firm is suing the Swedish state for discrimination after one if its lawyers, a Muslim woman, was removed from a case following a complaint from a Christian asylum-seeker. The lawyer was appointed last autumn by the Migration Board to represent an Egyptian man seeking asylum in Sweden. The man, a Christian, said he and his family were seeking asylum on grounds of persecution by Muslims in their home country.
The Local 8 May 2010 (in English)
http://www.thelocal.se/26528/20100508/

[Roope]

Tuesday 11 May to Wednesday 12 May 2010

Denmark

Danish People's Party want to introduce asylum stop
Refugees from certain countries could for periods of up to one year be excluded from the possibility of seeking asylum in Denmark. The Danish People's Party believes that this is the way to curb the rising number of asylum-seekers coming to the country. The Danish People's Party are now asking Minister of Integration Birthe Rønn Hornbech (V) to consider their proposal. Thomas Gammeltoft-Hansen, a researcher in refugee law at the Danish Institute for International Studies believes that an asylum-stop would probably be in violation of both the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. He says that both the conventions state that there is a responsibility not to send people back if they are in risk of being persecuted or tortured. Gammeltoft-Hansen says that in practice this means that Denmark must let everyone apply for asylum.
Kristeligt Dagblad 11 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/365820:Danmark--Dansk-Folkeparti-vil-indfoere-asylstop

Sick refugees must still wait for help
According to the Danish Refugee Council, refugees traumatized by for instance torture are still waiting up to 18 months for treatment despite a two-month treatment guarantee in the psychiatric field. This is due to a lack of resources at the treatment centers. Traumas worsen over time when left untreated, and there is a risk that the traumas are transferred to the children when parents are unable to give them the emotional support and feeling of safety that they need. Danish Refugee Council has reviewed the waiting lists at 14 rehabilitation centers in Denmark. Only three met the healthcare guarantee.
Danmarks Radio 11 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2010/05/11/160015.htm
Jyllands-Posten 11 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://jp.dk/indland/article2065187.ece
Berlingske Tidende 11 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.berlingske.dk/danmark/regioner-beklager-flygtningerod
Jyllands-Posten 11 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://jp.dk/indland/article2065303.ece

Thinned group of rejected Iraqis
One year after the government signed a repatriation agreement with Iraq, the group of rejected Iraqis has thinned out considerably. When the agreement was signed in May last year, there were 280 Iraqis who had been refused asylum in Denmark. 76 of them have now left. Some have left voluntarily, and others have been forcibly returned to Baghdad. A total of 88 Iraqis are waiting to be sent back to Iraq in the near future.
Politiken 12 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://politiken.dk/indland/article969156.ece

Norway

Will move asylum registration from the police to the UDI
Today the Police Immigration Unit (PU) is responsible for registering new asylum-seekers that come to Norway, but the Justice Department wants to transfer this responsibility to the Directorate for Immigration (UDI). The government wants the police immigration unit to spend more time on evicting people without residence permits. Moving the registration of asylum-seekers to the UDI is not uncontroversial. Sources in the PU says that it is crucial that the professional police personnel carry out the initial registration of newly arrived asylum-seekers since they, among other things, are experts at exposing lies and false identification papers. The Department of Justice will not comment on the matter until they have talked with representatives from the police on Tuesday.
Aftenposten 11 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3646189.ece
TV2 Nyhetene 10 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.tv2nyhetene.no/innenriks/politikk/vil-flytte-asylregistreringen-til-udi-3205314.html

Sweden

Refugee lawyer critical towards deportations of beggars
The number of EU citizens who beg on the streets of Sweden has risen sharply in recent years. But despite the fact that begging is not illegal in Sweden, the police have increasingly begun to directly deport beggars to their home countries – in most cases to Eastern Europe. Refugee lawyer Hans Bredberg believes that the police do not often have legal grounds for the expulsions, and says it is doubtful that the police can take such decisions. He adds that an EU citizen cannot be deported on the basis of begging.
Sveriges Television 11 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.22620/1.1998135/tiggare_direktavvisas_av_polisen



UNHCR in the news

UN calls on countries to take more refugees from Somalia
The UN refugee agency UNHCR urged its member countries on Tuesday to provide asylum for refugees from Somalia, even if they do not meet all formal requirements. The organization says that it has changed its recommendations because persons fleeing from central and southern Somalia are in need of international protection. UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming says the circumstances in Somalia have deteriorated steadily and the situation in the country's southern and central parts is acute. The Islamist militias have waged a war against Somalia's weak government since 2007. The militias are in control of most of southern and central Somalia. Around 1.4 million persons have been forced to flee the fighting to calmer parts of the country. Over half a million Somalis have fled to Somalia's neighboring countries.
Vasabladet 11 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.vasabladet.fi/Story/WireStory.aspx?storyID=19452
Keskisuomalainen 11 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.ksml.fi/uutiset/ulkomaat/yk-kehotti-ottamaan-lis%C3%A4%C3%A4-pakolaisia-somaliasta/560203

[Roope]

Thursday 13 May to Monday 17 May 2010

Denmark

Human Rights institute criticizes government's new immigration laws
The Danish Institute for Human Rights criticizes the Government's new immigration laws that are based on a points system, allowing immigrants to gain permanent residency in four years if they get enough points through both paid and voluntary work and other signs of integration. They warn that the system will in effect exclude immigrants from the Danish society, scare away qualified foreign labour and lead to violations of human rights unless exceptions are made. Large groups of immigrants are not able to live up to the demands which include passing a test in the Danish language, having full-time employment for 2½ out of 3 years and not having received any type of public aid in the same period. With demands this high, the Institute fears that many will not even try. The Danish People's Party denies that demands are too high.
Berlingske Tidende 13 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCo7T0ZqnfK0aYE0D6cF0E3
The Copenhagen Post 14 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCo7T0ZqnfK0aYE0D6cG0E4

Fewer Iraqi asylum-seekers coming to Denmark
There has been a clear decrease in the influx of Iraqi asylum-seekers coming to Denmark after the country signed an agreement on forced returns of rejected Iraqi asylum-seekers. In 2009, 305 Iraqis sought asylum in Denmark compared with 1,071 in 2007 and 562 in 2008. This year the figure will continue decreasing. The improved security situation in Iraq is thought to be one of the reasons behind the decrease in Iraqi asylum-seekers. Today, 71 rejected Iraqis are waiting for a deportation from Denmark.
Jyllands-Posten 13 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCo7T0ZqnfK0aYE0D6cH0E5

Families are split when one parent is deported
There are several foreign citizens with Danish permanent residencies who are living as sole parents because the Danish authorities have decided to deport the other parent, splitting the families. The motivation is that the couple has a stronger connection to the country of origin than to Denmark, which is why the application for family reunification has been denied. The Liberals have commented on one case, saying that it is not a right to lead one's family life in the country one happens to be in. The Social Liberals have commented on some other specific cases that it is "unreasonble" to expect that persons with certain backgrounds could go back to Iraq and resume family life there. The Socialist People's Part says that the Convention on the Rights of the Child always must be followed, but that it is also important to be consistent when it comes to asylum, and if an application is denied it is denied for a reason.
Politiken 17 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCo7T0ZqnfK0aYE0D6cI0E6

Estonia

Majority of stateless live in the capital and in the country's northeast
Of the 103,800 stateless persons living in Estonia with a residence permit or residence right the overwhelming majority lives in the capital Tallinn and in East-Viru County in the country's northeast. Stateless residents younger than 15 years of age number 2,065. The number of stateless residents decreased by 5,502 last year, from 110,315 on January 2009 to 104,813 on January this year.
Baltic News Service 13 May 2010 (in English) (Subscription required)
www.bns.ee

Naturalization of new citizens decreasing
The naturalization of new citizens has been on a downward trend in Estonia in recent years. Only 1,670 persons became Estonian citizens during 2009, the smallest number since the country regained its independence. Estonia granted citizenship to 2,124 persons in 2008, to 4,228 in 2007 and to 4,753 in 2006. During this decade the number of Estonian citizens increased the most in 2005 when the government granted citizenship to 7,072 persons. The peak time of granting Estonian citizenship was in the mid-1990s, with 22,773 persons granted Estonian citizenship in 1996. The proportion of stateless has constantly contracted after the restoration of Estonian independence. In 1992 the percentage of stateless was 32, in 1999 13 per cent and at present less than 9 per cent of the population.
Baltic News Service 13 May 2010 (in English) (Subscription required)
www.bns.ee

Finland

Parliament wants report on benefits for immigrants and asylum-seekers
The Finnish Parliament is asking the government for a broad clarification of matters related to family unification. The Parliament's Administrative Committee is interested in how Finnish rules and benefits compare with those in other European Union countries and Nordic Countries. The committee also wants to know if there is something about the Finnish rules which would make Finland a particularly attractive country for asylum-seekers.
Helsingin Sanomat 17 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCo7T0ZqnfK0aYE0D6cJ0E7

Committee wants to prevent adult children of refugees from moving to Finland
The Parliament's Administrative Committee wants to make it more difficult for the children of refugees to be granted residence permits. The committee, which is working to change Finland's Aliens Act, is proposing that refugees' children be granted residence permits only if they are minors when officials make the decision. Currently, these children can receive a residence permit if they come to Finland as minors but turn 18 by the time their applications are processed. The group is also proposing that officials be allowed to use certain biological evidence if they suspect a child's documented age is false. For instance, if an applicant claims to be a minor but is able to grow a beard, this could be used as evidence against him. Finland had given up using such evidence to determine an individual's age in the past after officials said the methods had no legal basis.
YLE 12 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCo7T0ZqnfK0aYE0D6cK0E8

EU asylum-seekers' applications on fast track
The Finnish Immigration Service intends to continue the speedy processing of asylum-seekers' applications from the EU. In April, the agency began the quick processing on a trial basis. The trial period is to end by the end of May this year. Since launching of the trial, officials have noted a drop in the number of asylum-seekers from Bulgaria. In April, the Immigration Service began making decisions on applications from EU citizens on the same day that applicants were interviewed by the police. Esko Repo, the director of the asylum unit at the Immigration Service, says the fast-track processing of applications from the EU will continue. He adds that the word of Finland's fast process will spread quickly among asylum-seekers in various countries. EU citizens cannot be granted asylum in Finland. However, they have the right to social benefits for as long as their applications are processed. It is expected that the number of EU citizens seeking asylum in Finland will taper off once they can no longer receive benefits.
YLE 12 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCo7T0ZqnfK0aYE0D6cL0EA
YLE 12 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCo7T0ZqnfK0aYE0D6cM0EB

Begging may be banned outright
Finland's Ministry of the Interior is studying the basis for an outright ban on begging. Begging has become more aggressive in nature, and more closely linked to criminal phenomena. For example, Finland's National Bureau of Investigation has uncovered traces of international human trafficking among the Romanian beggars arriving in Finland. In Helsinki alone, some estimates place the number of Romanian beggars at as high as a couple of hundred. The number is expected to rise as summer approaches. A ban on begging was already considered a couple of years ago. A working group at the time decided against proposing a change to the law, however. The group concluded that a ban would not prevent poor EU nationals from arriving in Finland.
Helsinki Times 14 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCo7T0ZqnfK0aYE0D6cN0EC

Local authorities worried about costs concerning asylum-seekers
If a proposed law amendment becomes reality, rejected asylum-seekers from the EU countries will have to leave reception centers as soon as they are rejected by the Immigration Service. The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities is concerned that asylum-seekers from other EU countries become clients of the municipal social services in the future, instead of being cared for by the state. The municipal costs would rise to half a million euros, estimates Jussi Merikallio, the associations Director of Social and Health Affairs. Expenditures would be composed of the asylum-seekers' social support, housing and health care costs.
YLE 15 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCo7T0ZqnfK0aYE0D6cO0ED

The capital area will tackle integration problems
The integration of immigrants in the metropolitan area will be made more effective. In a project funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the municipalities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa have tackled the shortcomings causing integration problems for immigrants. The capital Helsinki is concentrating on informing immigrants so that they know by whom, how and where they are cared for. Espoo will provide language classes for mothers and Vantaa will work with family reunification. The number of immigrants has doubled in recent years and the municipalities in the metropolitan area lack employees dealing with immigration issues.
YLE 14 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCo7T0ZqnfK0aYE0D6cP0EE

Norway

Norway's deportations in breach of UN recommendations
Norway returns asylum-seekers to some countries and regions which the UN does not consider safe. Greece and parts of Somalia and Iraq are examples of this. Several Human rights organisations including The Norwegian Association for Asylum-seekers (NOAS), Amnesty International, Save the Children and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee have during the past winter been running a campaign called "Do as the UN says, Jens!". Sylo Taraku, Secretary General of NOAS, says that there has been an orientation towards a more restrictive interpretation of UN recommendations in the past years. State Secretary Pål K Lønseth at the Department of Justice denies that there has been a change of policy. UNHCR has understanding for the fact that Norway does not always follow UN recommendations when it comes to the returning of asylum-seekers. Hanne Mathisen, spokeswoman for the UNHCR Regional Office for the Baltic and Nordic countries, says that Norway does not ignore the UN recommendations, but studies them and refers to them when processing asylum applications. Hanne Mathisen notes that it is understandable that Norway comes to conclusions that are not in line with UNHCR's recommendations, and that the question is whether Norway could have done a bit more for some groups. She adds that it is not often that UNHCR comes with categorical recommendations against the return of persons to a country or a region. Mathisen says that it can be difficult to be the only country in Europe that does not conduct returns to Greece. She adds that UNHCR's criticism is not so much directed against Norway which is only following European standards, but that all European countries should be more restrictive when it comes to returning persons to Greece, since there is a risk that those in need of protection will be left without it.
Aftenposten 16 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCo7T0ZqnfK0aYE0D6cQ0EF

UDI denies police access to its archives
The Directorate of Immigration (UDI) will close its extensive archive from the police. 1.6 million persons who have sought or have gained a residence permit in Norway are registered in the system. The Police will no longer be able to use UDI's archives for investigation and criminal matters. UDI refers to privacy issues.
NRK 14 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCo7T0ZqnfK0aYE0D6cR0EG

Somalia risks facing starvation
According to the UN, 3.4 million Somalis, about 43 per cent of population, need food aid in order not to starve. The security situation in Somalia is becoming worse, and is particularly acute in central and southern parts of the country. UNHCR fears that food rations need to be reduced by June this year unless the international community provides the support that has been requested. Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) urges the Norwegian government to follow UNHCR's recommendations and give refugees from Somalia protection in Norway.  Elisabeth Rasmusson, Secretary General of NRC, says that by returning persons to Somalia the Norwegian authorities contribute to more persons becoming internally displaced. Since January 2010, 336 Somalis have sought asylum in Norway.
NRK 17 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/verden/1.7122113'

Sweden

Iraqi journalist stabbed in Sweden
Ali Taleb, asylum seeking journalist and documentary filmmaker from Iraq, was stabbed by an unknown man on Sunday evening in Jakobsberg, north of Stockholm. Reporters Without Borders suspect that he was stabbed because of his journalistic work. In March this year Ali Taleb reported to All-Hurra from Sweden about Iraqi refugees who are forced to return to Iraq. After that, Ali Taleb and his family received death threats.
Sveriges Television 13 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCo7T0ZqnfK0aYE0D6cS0EH



UNHCR in the news

UN: over 300,000 Somali refugees
The UN refugee agency UNHCR estimates that 315,000 Somalis will have to leave the country as refugees this year. According to the UN the humanitarian crisis in Somalia has deteriorated. Already more than half a million Somalis have fled to neighboring countries and around 1.4 million live in Somalia as internal refugees. UNHCR has appealed to donors saying over 38 million dollars is needed to assist refugees. The Western countries support the government of Somalia, which fights against the Islamic militias dominating large areas of the country's central and southern parts.
YLE 12 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCo7T0ZqnfK0aYE0D6cT0EI

[Roope]

Tuesday 18 May to Wednesday 19 May 2010

Denmark

Fewer repatriate despite of increase in monetary bonuses
The latest figures from the Danish Refugee Council show a marked decline over the past few years in the number of refugees, along with those in the country per family reunification guidelines, who have returned to their native countries. Despite the considerable increase in the monetary bonuses offered to them by the state, only 70 have returned to their homelands so far this year. This is far fewer than the parties behind the government's repatriation programme expected. In November last year, the Liberal-Conservative government and the Danish People's Party (DF) passed a proposal to raise the amount accompanying repatriation from just over 28,000 kroner per person to up to 117,581 kroner during the period of 2010 to 2013. It was the DF that pushed for the change, arguing that it would inevitably save Danish society millions of kroner. But if the trend from the first four and half months remains consistent for the rest of the year, only about 200 foreigners will return home in 2010. That figure would be less than in previous years, with the exception of 2007.
Jyllands-Posten 17 May 2010 (in English)
http://www.cphpost.dk/news/national/88-national/48993-refugees-scoffing-at-home-return-bonus.html
TV2 Lorry 17 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.tv2lorry.dk/moduler/tv2nyheder/default.asp?id=30602926&

Every other granted asylum
Every other applicant is granted asylum in Denmark. A significantly larger number of those who are granted asylum are first-time applicants. The Danish People's Party (DF) integration spokesman Peter Skaarup wants an explanation for these figures from the Minister of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs. In 2004 only 10 per cent were granted asylum, and the Minister of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs Birthe Rønn Hornbech (Liberal Party) sees this as a sign that less apply if they do not really need asylum.
Danmarks Radio 18 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2010/05/18/055304.htm

Asylum approval level up
The Liberal-Conservative government's stricter immigration policies have not led to fewer applicants for asylum being granted legal residency, and the percentage of those being approved is at its highest level since 2001, according to figures from Immigration Service and the Ministry for Integration. In all, 44 percent of processed applications were approved by Immigration Service and a further 30 percent were approved on appeal to the Migration Court. Under the Social Democrat-led government in 2001, 53 percent of processed applications were approved by the Immigration Service. The following year under the new Liberal-led government, only 10 percent of applications were successful.
The Copenhagen Post 18 May 2010 (in English)
http://www.cphpost.dk/news/politics/90-politics/49005-asylum-approval-level-up.html

Norway

'Return to Greece immoral'
Director of the Health Directorate of Greece appeals to Norway not to return asylum-seekers to Greece under Dublin II. 1,500 asylum-seekers are pending such return from Norway. Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) is considering starting a reception center in Greece for unaccompanied minors. Secretary General Petter Eide of NPA says that returning to Greece means that Norway is renouncing its legal obligations and that this is very serious. State Secretary Paal Lønnseth stresses that we need common solutions and that Norway cannot do all alone. He also says that the country is only doing like the rest of Europe. Meanwhile Norway is advocating for a better burden sharing mechanism than what Dublin II allows for today. Geir J Baekkevoll from the Christian Democratic Party (KrF) notes that Norway is hiding behind the rest of Europe and that the situation is bound to get even worse in Greece. He adds that returning asylum-seekers to a country which lacks a functioning asylum system will result in rights not being met, which is immoral in his view.
NRK Radio P2 'Politisk kvarter' 12.5 kl 07.45 (in Norwegian)
http://www.nrk.no/programmer/sider/politisk_kvarter/

Asks Støre for help to get around the Israeli blockade
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) asks Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre for help to get around the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. Israel threatens to halt an emergency shipment of Norwegian school gear that is now on its way. Secretary General Elisabeth Rasmusson writes in a letter to Støre that it is urgent to find alternative solutions to the current situation, and that the majority of the population of 1.5 million people continues to suffer due to acute shortage of food, drinking water, health care, education, electricity and shelter. NRC and other Norwegian aid organizations are not participating in the convoy of ships which are now on their way to the Gaza Strip, but would like to team up with Norwegian authorities and the UN before they challenge the Israeli blockade. Rasmusson recently visited the Gaza Strip and discussed this with the head of the UN relief organization for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), John Ginger. Rasmusson also discussed sea transport of supplies with the UN emergency relief coordinator John Holmes and several other key UN players.
Dagsavisen 18 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.dagsavisen.no/utenriks/article485970.ece

Nordbybråten reception center will be shut down
After many years of turbulence surrounding the reception center Nordbybråten, it will now be closed.  After a series of violent episodes and thefts, it all culminated with the so-called Chechen fight in 2008. 23 people were seriously injured and more than 50 were indicted in the case that received major national attention. The center is closed since there has been a reduced need for places. Today there are about 70 persons staying at the reception center. These will move to other centers.
Moss Avis 19 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.moss-avis.no/nyheter/nordbybraten-transittmottak-legges-ned-1.5268898

Eritreans in Norway are forced to pay taxes to the country they fled from
All Eritreans have to pay an annual 2 per cent income tax to Eritrea. If they do not pay they are refused to repatriate or visit their families. There are also examples of incidences where relatives have been harassed and imprisoned when their relatives in Norway did not pay their tax. A representative of the Eritrean embassy in Scandinavia denies that there are any consequences for Eritreans who do not want to pay the 2 per cent tax.
NRK 18 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/verden/1.7128324

Sweden

Sweden orders return of 16-year-old to Malta
Yesterday the Swedish border police in Malmö remanded a 16-year-old asylum-seeking Somali boy in custody. The boy was to be deported to a refugee camp in Malta as of this morning. Cecilia Malmström, the EU commissioner for home affairs, considers that the conditions for asylum-seekers in Malta are appalling, and that the country is in breach of the rights that minor asylum-seekers have. Yesterday a fire broke out in the renowned airplane hangar where many underage asylum-seekers are placed. DN writes that the Swedish Migration Board has said that it would welcome a review by the Migration Court of Appeal to see if Sweden could make exemption to the so-called Dublin Regulation and allow the underage asylum-seekers to have their claims tried in Sweden.
Dagens Nyheter 18 May 2010 p:13 (in Swedish)
Sveriges Television 17 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.22584/1.2005052/15-aring_avvisas_till_nedbrant_flyktinglager?lid=senasteNytt_1447662&lpos=rubrik_2005052

Continued criticism of deportations to Malta
On Tuesday, a 15-year-old Somali boy was sent back to Malta from Malmö. The deportation occurred despite the fact that the refugee camp had burned down, leaving 400 refugees homeless.
SVT 18 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.33782/1.2006332/fortsatt_kritik_mot_maltaavvisningar?lid=senasteNytt_1851294&lpos=rubrik_2006332

Cooperation to stop SD
A study conducted by Sveriges Radio shows that three out of four politicians are willing to form a majority across block boundaries to stop the Sweden Democrats (SD). Nevertheless, 14 per cent of the respondents cannot imagine shutting out the Sweden Democrats this way. The study included more than 1,100 politicians.
Dagens Nyheter 17 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.dn.se/nyheter/valet2010/samarbete-for-att-stoppa-sd-1.1098803

Swedish Public Employment Service to take responsibility from municipalities
The municipalities in Sweden are in charge of the reception of newly arrived refugees. But now Parliament has decided that starting from this winter the Swedish Public Employment Service is to take the primary responsibility over newly arrived refugees. Municipalities will continue to work to find housing and with refugee children and young persons.
Sveriges Radio 17 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=161&artikel=3702919

Quota refugee policy
The European Parliament has approved a proposal whereby EU countries that receive quota refugees (people whom the UNHCR has mandated as being in particular need of help) are to be offered up to 6,000 euros per refugee from the common EU budget.
At the moment there are only some ten countries including Sweden that have programmes for the resettlement of quota refugees.
Svenska Dagbladet 19 May 2010 p:17 (in Swedish)

Missing girl apprehended
The ten-year old girl who was found Tuesday night after having been missing since Friday, has been taken into care by the social services. She refuses to say where she has been. The girl was found when she was coming out from a shop in Borås, and an employee of the shop recognized her from the newspaper pictures. She was then taken to the police station in Borås. The girl belongs to a refugee family who received their deportation order last week. Since the girl disappeared, the deportation has been postponed.
Sveriges Television 19 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.22620/1.2006785/aterfunnen_flicka_omhandertagen
Svenska Dagbladet 19 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/aterfunnen-flicka-omhandertagen_4734201.svd
Dagens Nyheter 19 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/forsvunnen-flicka-aterfunnen-1.1107723

Dahlström wants to terminate refugee agreement
To date, Katrineholm municipality has a contract with the Migration Board to receive 100 refugees per year. But Katrineholm receives more refugees than that and Mayor Goran Dahlström now wants to terminate the agreement. Dahlström says that they have received far more than they agreed, over 200 each year. At the municipal hearing on 26 May, he suggests that the municipality terminates the agreement. According to Dahlström, the main reasons for the Social Democrats in the municipality to terminate the agreement is the housing situation in Katrineholm and the high unemployment rate, as well as high pressure on social services and schools. Dahlström says that the municipality simply cannot offer refugees housing and jobs.
Katrineholms Kuriren 19 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://kkuriren.se/nyheter/katrineholm/1.705544



UNHCR in the news

Refugees going back to Afghanistan
More people are returning to Afghanistan from refugee camps in Pakistan. The situation in Afghanistan has not improved, but people are tired of waiting for peace. There are officially 1,7 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan. These have arrived since the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Until recently, when the Pakistan authorities said that the refugees will be allowed to stay until 2012, their future in the country has been uncertain. Since UNHCR's center in Peshawar recently re-opened after the winter season, about one thousand persons have left Pakistan for Afghanistan each day. Babar Baloch, UNHCR's spokesperson in Pakistan, says that if this trend continues, more persons will return than in previous years. Some leave Pakistan because they believe that their life here has become more difficult. Both the inflation rate and unemployment rates have increased. The security situation in parts of Pakistan is so bad that some even believe that it is better on the other side of the border. The refugees receive 100 dollars per family member as a relocation allowance from the UN, but after that they are forced to make it one their own. Baloch says that refugees have to find jobs and homes after they return to Afghanistan. He says that most of the refugees go to urban areas, the province capitals and Kabul, where the opportunities are greater.
Aftenposten 15 May 2010 p:6 (in Norwegian)

[Roope]

Denmark

Grandparents nominated for UN Award
SOS Against Racism in Denmark has nominated Grandparents for Asylum (Bedsteforældre for Asyl) for the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR's international award, the Nansen Award. A committee will decide who will receive the prize. The Nansen Award is given every year in October and consists of an honorary medal and $100,000. The money will be used to help asylum-seekers and refugees in cooperation with UNHCR. Nansen Award is given to a person or organization in recognition of an exceptional and dedicated assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers. SOS Against Racism says that the Grandparents for Asylum should receive the award since they, for example, on every Sunday for over two years have stood in front of the asylum centers Sandholm, Avnstrup and Kongelunden to protest against Denmark's treatment of asylum-seekers. The Grandparents for Asylum are moved by the nomination.
Sjællands Nyheder 20 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.sn.dk/Bedsteforaeldre-nomineret-til-FN-pris/Alleroed/artikel/62022
Sjællands Nyheder 21 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.sn.dk/Bedsteforaeldre-roert-over-indstilling/Alleroed/artikel/62120

Norway

Shut down Senjehesten reception center
Senjehesten reception center in Senja will be shut down because of the decreasing number of asylum-seekers that are coming to Norway, and because the Directorate of Immigration is not satisfied with the operator. The reception center has been criticized for poor living conditions and the very long distance to the nearest town.
NRK 19 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/troms_og_finnmark/1.7130638

Kritiansand the best on settlement and integration of refugees
Kristiansand is the winner of the Directorate for Integration and Diversity's (IMDi) 2010 settlement prize. Last year, Kristianstad distinguished themselves by helping unaccompanied minor refugees. Audun Lysbakken says that theye was an urgent need to settle unaccompanied minors last year, and Kristiansand developed new standard for flexibility in their settlement efforts. 606 unaccompanied children and young people were moving to municipalities last year. Kristiansand received 46 of them, and settled all within three months.
Agderavisen 20 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://agderavisen.com/article.php?story=20100520125331957

Sweden

Christian Iraqi to be deported
A 20-year-old Iraqi male who lives in Värmdö will be deported, even though UNHCR advices against deportations to Baghdad. Local municipality politicians across the policial field have come together to protest against the deportation. Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström said in a debate on Swedish radio that if the Migration Court rules that an individual does not have sufficient reasons for asylum, he should, regardless of where he comes from, be deported.  The reporter commented that UNHCR does not think that Christian Iraqis should be deported to Baghdad or the central parts of Iraq, asking why Sweden makes a different assessment. Billström replied that UNHCR, following its mandate, can make broad collective assessments, whereas the Swedish system is based on a legally certain individual assessment. According to Billström, UNHCR can make a statement concerning a whole region, but the Swedish system is built on the opposite approach, i.e. the individual and the protection needs of the individual. He also said that he has visited Baghdad, and knows that some of the minorities experience great difficulties, which is why some Christian Iraqis are granted asylum.
Sveriges Radio 21 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=1650&artikel=3712641

Stieg Larsson Prize awarded
The Stieg Larsson price of SEK 200,000 was awarded Anne Sjögren. The prize is the second Stieg Larsson Award and was awarded Sjögren for her earnest efforts to provide care for paperless refugees. The jury says that Sjögren has through her longstanding commitment to the Rosengrenska Foundation "shown great courage and vigorously defended human rights."
Norran 19 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://norran.se/nyheter/norrochvasterbotten/article1040329.ece

Sweden proposes immigrant orientation
The government has proposed that newly arrived immigrants should undergo courses in core values of society and be taught about how Swedish society works. Erik Amnå, professor of Political  Science, says that without knowledge of fundamental societal values an important prerequisite to be able to live and work in Sweden is missing. Amnå, whose proposal has been presented to the integration minister Nyamko Sabuni, suggests that the courses should be divided into three key areas - values (the constitutional foundations), the welfare state (public institutions), and everyday life (practical applied knowledge of how the welfare state works). Erik Amnå proposes that municipalities should be instructed to offer 60 hours of schooling to each new immigrant or refugee.
SVT Rapport 20 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.22620/1.2009266/invandrare_ska_lara_sig_om_svenska_varderingar?lid=senasteNytt_275216&lpos=rubrik_2009266
The Local 20 May 2010 (in English)
http://www.thelocal.se/26742/20100520/

The government criticizes the red-green migration policy
According to the government's calculations, the red-green's draft on migration policy costs up to four billions more than more than was stated in the autumn budget proposal. During the Green Party congress last weekend, it was decided that the party will go to the polls on the issue of amnesty for paperless refugees. This is an issue that the Left Party also sees as important. Migration Minister Billström says that the government does not want to see any amnesty reforms. He says that it would substantially undermine the policy and result in a system where people can come here and say 'hey, here I am and I want to stay here." He says that Sweden's asylum system should be open to the people who actually have a need for protection and not for persons with other reasons.
SVT 21 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.128339/1.2009737/regeringen_sagar_de_rodgronas_migrationspolitik



UNHCR in the news

Students on the run in Horndal
On Wednesday, students from Johan Olov School in Horndal got a small glimpse of what it is like to be a refugee who is forced to flee from war and persecution. Connexion, a three-year integration project at the school, organized role-playing game called "the Escape". The game is a reworked version of an role-playing game created by the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR. When fleeing from the war, the students were robbed by unknown criminals, one student was shot, and several refugees were abducted by paramilitary units that were raging in border areas. Staff from the Swedish United Nations Association, the Red Cross, the Swedish Church and the Home Guard participated in role play. A group of pupils at the school have been involved in preparing it, together with the project manager for Connexion. The project is funded by the Inheritance Fund.
SVT 19 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.33557/1.2007909/elever_pa_flykt_i_horndal?lid=senasteNytt_1709147&lpos=rubrik_2007909

[Roope]

Saturday 22 May to Monday 24 May 2010

Denmark

DF will save money on quota refugees
Before going into negotiations with the government over the recovery plan where 24 billion Danish crowns has to be saved, the Danish People's Party said that Denmark can save money if the country stops accepting 500 quota refugees every year and instead focuses more on the refugees that are already in Denmark. According to Peter Skaarup from the Danish People's Party, the government will save billions in expenses that they are now spending on immigrants and refugees that do not work as much as the Danes.
Politiken 22 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://politiken.dk/politik/article977788.ece
Danmarks Radio 22 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Politik/2010/05/22/133947.htm

DF will reduce pensions for refugees
On Monday's talk on the recovery plan, the Danish People's Party proposed to cut retirement opportunities for refugees. Today, refugees are automatically eligible for the maximum pension at retirement age, regardless of how long they have been living in Denmark. Others must have lived in Denmark for the last 40 years to receive the maximum amount. Otherwise you will be paid a fraction of your pension. Danish People's Party's social spokesperson Martin Henriksen says that refugees should be treated in the same way, and subject to the same rules, as the Danes and other immigrant groups are.
Jyllands-Posten 24 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://jp.dk/indland/indland_politik/article2076774.ece
TV2 Lorry 24 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.tv2lorry.dk/moduler/tv2nyheder/Default.asp?id=%0D%0A%09%09%09%09%09%09%09%0930739534

Denmark pays for an empty house in Nigeria
Each year, Denmark pays thousands of dollars for a house in Nigeria, where victims of trafficking can hide. However, a so-called safe house in Benin City in Nigeria is completely deserted. According to the site's neighbors, it has been empty for a long time. A report from the Norwegian Research Institute for Working life and Welfare has previously suggested that there are no women in the houses, but Denmark continued to pay for it. Last year, Danish authorities identified 54 women who were victims of trafficking. Approximately half of these women come from Nigeria and were sent back either forcibly or voluntarily. The UN has previously adviced against the return of women to Nigeria since both integration authorities and the police there have problems with corruption. This means that a proportion of trafficked women who are sent to Nigeria will return to the hands of the traffickers.
TV2 Lorry 23 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.tv2lorry.dk/moduler/tv2nyheder/Default.asp?id=%0D%0A%09%09%09%09%09%09%09%0930663168

Finland

Fadayel is encouraged to travel back home
Eveline Fadayel, an Egyptian grandmother who has applied for a residence permit in Finland and has received two negative decisions, has been encouraged to buy a plane ticket and fly home. Her entire family lives in Finland, but she does not meet the requirements for family reunification according to the Finnish Aliens Act. She was to be deported earlier this year but the action was suspended since there was discussion on a potential change in the law that would have allowed her to stay.
Helsingin Sanomat 21 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/Poliisi+kehotti+egyptil%C3%A4isiso%C3%A4iti%C3%A4+ostamaan+menolipun/1135257066689
Hufvudstadsbladet 21 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.hbl.fi/text/inrikes/2010/5/24/w47417.php

Sweden

Swedes more tolerant of immigrants
A newly released report from the SOM Institute at Gothenburg University indicates that Swedes have become more positive towards immigrants and and the reception of refugee over the years. The survey, conducted in the autumn of 2009, shows that 36% of Swedes think that there are too many foreigners living in Sweden. In 1993 the figure was 52%. Urbanites, women and young people are the ones that are the most positive towards immigrants. Professor Marie Demker says that sespite attempts by groups such as the Sweden Democrats to stir opposition to immigration, these groups are still a peripheral subculture. The survey has also shown that Moderate voters are the most skeptical towards foreigners (38%) while Green Party voters are the least skeptical (20%).
Dagens Nyheter 24 May 2010 p:4 (in Swedish)
Svenska Dagbladet 24 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/svenskar-positivare-till-invandrare_4759139.svd
Sveriges Television 24 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.22620/1.2012654/svenskar_positivare_till_invandring?lid=senasteNytt_1765014&lpos=rubrik_2012654

NB. This item was also covered in Finland.
Hufvudstadsbladet 24 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.hbl.fi/text/utrikes/2010/5/24/w47414.php
Iltalehti 24 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://www.iltalehti.fi/ulkomaat/2010052411721859_ul.shtml

Party ditches candidate over pro-immigrant views
The nationalist Sweden Democrat party has excluded a candidate from election to the local council in Ljusdal in eastern Sweden after the politician expressed support for a refugee reception center in the town. Fredrik Hansson was the Sweden Democrats' sole candidate for election to Ljusdal's council until his comments led local leaders in Gävleborg county to withdraw the party's candidacy in the town. Sweden Democrat's county chairman Roger Hedlund says that Hanssons remarks contradicts the party's programme. Fredrik Hansson says that the decision is ridiculous, and argues that further immigration is necessary if Sweden wants to cope with the problems associated with an ageing population.
The Local 22 May 2010 (in English)
http://www.thelocal.se/26794/20100522/
Svenska Dagbladet 22 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/sd-kandidat-petad-for-sina-asikter_4752487.svd

Södertälje - a society in society
In Södertälje, the ethnic segregation is so severe that there now is an Iraqi society within society. The municipality has long tried to encourage Iraqi refugees to move to other municipalities, but many of those who have done it moved back. Since the war in Iraq started in 2003, 7,000 Iraqis have moved to Södertälje. They live in the same areas, they often work together and they socialize mostly with each other. Evin Cetin, political secretary in Södertälje says that it creates a sense of exclusion, where people do not feel involved in the Swedish society, and that it creates a society where children do not meet a single ethnic Swede and it is enough that one can only speak Arabic.
SVT 21 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.22620/1.2004610/sodertalje_-_ett_samhalle_i_samhallet

Uzbek refugees are tortured after deportation
When being returned or returning to Uzbekistan, asylum-seekers are accused of and sentenced for having campaigned against the Uzbek regime and for seeking asylum. The Uzbek security services has engaged in extensive espionage of Uzbek refugees in Sweden. The espionage results in the imprisonment and the torture of the Uzbek asylum-seekers who return home or are deported.
Sveriges Radio 24 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://mobil.sr.se/site/index.aspx?artikel=3718029&unitid=83

Introduces bonus to SFI students
The controversial experiment to give bonuses to immigrants and refugees who quickly finish their studies in Swedish will now be implemented everywhere, despite the fact that it has been widely criticized and has not been be evaluated. The bonus system was tested in the SFI education in 13 municipalities.
Sveriges Radio 21 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=128&artikel=3715153

[Roope]

Tuesday 25 May to Wednesday 26 May 2010

Denmark

DF goes after foreigners in negotiations
Danish People's Party are in negotiations with the government over the savings plan that is supposed to strengthen the treasury by 24 billion Danish crowns. They propose that refugees should not automatically receive full state pension and that the pension should be calculated according to how long they have been in Denmark, that foreigners themselves must pay for interpreters in schools, hospitals and in municipalities, introducing fees on residence permits and visas, and that Denmark should stop receiving quota refugees. Danish People's Party's treasurer Kristian Thulesen Dahl rejects the accusations that the DF has launched a hunt to cut public benefits for foreigners, he merely believes that the proposal makes up for the fact that foreigners have previously received too much.
Jyllands-Posten 24 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://jp.dk/indland/indland_politik/article2076995.ece

Medical Association: DF-proposal can have serious consequences
Mads Koch Hansen, chairman of the Medical Association fears that the Danish People's Party might be breaking the health law if they would deprive foreigners of free interpretation at hospitals and in municipalities. He says that the health law says that you must have easy and equal access to health care, and that by removing the interpreters, it may be a barrier, which means that you break the law. He also says that it is important that messages are understood correctly by the patient so that the doctor may say that there has been an informed consent. The proposal from the Danish People's Party is a part of the savings plan, which the government expects will be negotiated on Tuesday.
Politiken 24 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://politiken.dk/politik/article978719.ece

DF gets some of their wishes fulfilled
Danish People's Party (DF) has on many occasions proposed to cut foreign aid and child allowances. It is now a reality. Less aid to developing countries and a limit to the money for children will save 2.4 billion crowns in 2013. Since a majority of the families with non-Western parents have more children than families with two Danish parents, this change will mostly affect immigrants and refugees. DF also got its way with savings on interpreters, which should result in savings of 15 million crowns in 2013, as well as the possibility of health care fees for foreigners which would result in savings of 82 million crowns. DF also proposed that refugees would no longer automatically receive the full state pension. The pension should instead be given according to how many years the refugees has lived in Denmark. Evaluation work is now underway to look at the opportunity of changing the pensions for refugees. However, Peter Skaarup's wish of stopping the reception of quota refugees was rejected.
Jyllands-Posten 25 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://jp.dk/indland/indland_politik/article2078090.ece
Jyllands-Posten 25 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://jp.dk/indland/indland_politik/article2078018.ece

Finland

Groznyi Angel's asylum application will get new examination
The Immigration Service is to re-examine the case of the "Groznyi Angel" Khadizhat Gatajeva and her husband. The Gatajevs have applied for asylum in Finland claiming they are persecuted in Lithuania, where they have been indicted for crimes related to orphanages that they have been running in the Chechen capital Groznyi and in Lithuania. Human rights organisations suspect that the case has political motives. The Gatajevs' application was denied in March 2010, but now the Helsinki Administrative Court has ordered the case to be looked at again. The Immigration Service will either do this, or apply for a permit appeal. The decision is not public. Meanwhile, the Gatajevs' case is to be retried in Lithuania, but even if they are freed, they are not safe in the country, according to Teemu Matinpuro who is part of a support group for the couple.
YLE 25 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/2010/05/quotgroznyin_enkelinquot_kielteinen_turvapaikkapaatos_kasitellaan_uudelleen_1710438.html

Police to go ahead with Grandmother deportations
National Police Commissioner Mikko Paatero believes that the highly-publicized deportation of an Egyptian grandmother, Eveline Fadayel,  will go ahead as planned. Her deportation was suspended as the government considered amending immigration laws, but Paatero now says that authorities can wait no longer for reforms. The government has said it would consider reforms to legislation that would allow immigration officials to consider extenuating humanitarian circumstances on a case-by-case basis. Paatero says that if new legislation were to come before summer it may change the situation, but that this is unlikely. Paatero stressed that police have to obey the laws, and that not even the Supreme Police Command can overturn a deportation. Helsinki Police will also continue the implementation of a deportation order against Russian grandmother, Irina Antonova. Under current Finnish immigration laws, grandmothers cannot be granted residence permits as they are not classed as being part of the immediate family.
Minister for Immigration Astrid Thors admitted that any legal change would take time. Earlier she had hoped legislation could have been amended before this summer. Russian media has criticized Finland severely. The issue will probably be discussed as Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits Finland later this week.
YLE 25 May 2010 (in English)
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/05/police_re-instate_deportation_of_egyptian_and_russian_grandmothers_1708213.html?print=true
YLE 25 May 2010 (in English)
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/05/russian_media_criticises_finland_over_deportation_1710756.html

Norway

UDI want to give work permits to asylum-seeker with undocumented identities
The Directorate of Immigration (UDI) proposes new guidelines that would make it possible to grant work permits to asylum-seekers with undocumented identities in cases where the UDI and the police use more than three months to establish their identity. Director Svein Oppegaard of NHO says that in their view, it is not advisable for any employer to employ workers without knowing their identity.  Attorney Kurt Westlien at the NHO says that they believe that the identity must be determined before starting work to make sure that you do not end up in a situation where people are starting to work with a fake identity, and the employer runs into problems with for example payment of salaries at a later stage. In UDI's proposal, it is up to the asylum-seekers who have received a final rejection to notify their workplace.
Verdens Gang 26 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=10007409
Aftenposten 26 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3664372.ece

Conservative Party: Norway should consider cutting the aid to Eritrea
Eritreans protest today against the regime in Eritrea. Between 30 and 40 persons protested against the President Isaias Afwerki, who by experts in Eritrea is described as a dictator. He has imprisoned thousands persons for their political views without charges or trial. The protesters demands that the president should be prosecuted for war crimes. Eritreans in Norway are blackmailed into paying an annual 2 percent tax on all income, to the country they fled from. Family and friends in Eritrea are in risk of being fined or harassed if the tax is not paid. Torbjørn Røe Isaksen from the Conservative Party says that Norway should reconsider the aid of nearly 60 million that the government donates to Eritrea every year.  Røe Isaksen says that it must be clear that if Norway can not demand that Eritrean authorities respect human rights and legal protection to people who stay in Norway, he says that he thinks it must also have consequences for development assistance to the country.
NRK 25 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/verden/1.7138633

60 asylum-seekers live with mould in the ceiling and polluted drinking water
The persons in charge of Vaterholmen reception center in Verdal have been given a week to improve the living conditions at the center if they want to avoid fines or closure of it. There is mould in the ceilings and walls in the shower, the condition in the kitchen is unsanitary, the indoor air quality is very poor, and there is e-coli bacteria in the drinking water. These things were all pointed out in a report as early as in the beginning of April. A municipality doctor concludes that the old military barrack is unsuitable as a home for people. In March, the Directorate for Immigration (UDI) monitored the reception center in Verdal without visiting the controversial camp in Vaterholmen. After meetings with the employees, it was concluded that "the residents of the reception center are well taken care of." Acting Regional Director of UDI, Mette Moen Baatvik, does not believe a physical inspection would have made them reach different conclusions in the report.
Dagbladet 25 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.dagbladet.no/2010/05/25/nyheter/asylmottak/innenriks/asylpolitikk/udi/11859719/

Sweden

16-year-old charged with arson
A 16-year-old boy has been charged in Värmland District Court for arson or alternative vandalism after having started a fire at a housing for unaccompanied minor refugees in Filipstad. The incident occurred in January when the boy set fire to his clothes in his room. The staff managed to evacuate the housing, so no one got hurt. The prosecutor, however, claims that the fire was endangering another's life and caused extensive destruction. The boy admitted that he started the fire.
Dagens Nyheter 24 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/16-aring-atalad-for-mordbrand-1.1110772

[Roope]

Thursday 27 May to Friday 28 May 2010

Denmark

Refugees sent back to Greece
A new Danish Red Cross study of 300 refugees shows that the rights of asylum-seekers are routinely violated in Greece. Despite this, Denmark sends asylum-seekers back to Greece if this was the first EU country they were registered in. Secretary General Anders Ladekarl says that their study clearly demonstrates that asylum-seekers are treated inhumanly in Greece and that Denmark therefore must immediately stop sending asylum-seekers back there. The Dublin Regulation gives Member States the right to handle asylum cases from applicants who first arrived in another EU country. In the case of Greece, the United Nations recommends the use of this opportunity not to send refugees back. But Denmark has since 2006 deported 20 refugees to Greece. On Wednesday afternoon, the Ministry of Integration announced that it will now automatically send asylum-seekers back to Greece, without first checking with Greek authorities, as has been the practice in the past. This has shocked the Danish Red Cross.
Danmarks Radio 27 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cB0EF
Danmarks Radio 27 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cC0EG

Researcher: Denmark disregarding human rights
Thomas Gammeltoft-Hansen, a researcher in refugee and EU asylum policy at the Danish Institute for International Studies says that Denmark could have violated the international conventions, notably the European Convention on Human Rights, by sending asylum-seekers back to Greece. He says that the Dublin Regulation is not something that ranks above human rights. Minister for Integration Birthe Rønn Hornbech explains that the Danish immigration authorities simply follow the EU's quite normal practice.
Danmarks Radio 27 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cD0EH

Amnesty criticizes Denmark on several points
In 2009, torture occurred in 111 countries, 55 countries were accused of lack of rule of law and in 96 countries, severe limitations on freedom of expression occurred. In Amnesty's annual report, Denmark is criticized for undermining human rights and for failing to fulfill its international obligations towards vulnerable groups in the world. Denmark is criticized for disregarding UN recommendation by forcibly returning asylum-seekers to Iraq, even though UNHCR has said that asylum-seekers should not be sent back to central Iraq until the security situation has improved.
Politiken 27 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cE0EI

NB. This story was also covered in Norway
Aftenposten 27 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cF0EJ
Aftenposten 26 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cG0EK

Finland

"Grandmother Laws" next year at the earliest
Changes to immigration laws that would include grandparents as part of the nuclear family will not come into force until next year at the earliest. This comes much too late for two elderly women who are being deported in June. Pentti Visanen, Director-General of the Migration Department at the Ministry of the Interior, says that as long as Parliament is given the bill for consideration by November, the law could come into force at the beginning of 2011. Earlier this year, the plight of two grandmothers, Eveline Fayadel and Irina Antonova, caught the sympathy of the public and many politicians. They were denied residence permits. Both grandmothers have families living in Finland, and no close relatives in their home country. Visanen says that grandmothers who are now returned back to their home countries could apply for a residence permit again when the amended legislation is in force.
YLE 27 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cH0EL
YLE 26 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cI0EM
YLE 27 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cJ0EN

Poll: Majority of Finns opposed to more immigrants
Nearly two thirds of Finns say Finland should not encourage more foreigners to move here, according to a YLE survey. A whopping 82 per cent of True Finns backers were of the same opinion. For Centre Party supporters the number was 70 per cent, while 68 per cent of Social Democratic backers felt the same way. Meanwhile, 45 per cent of backers of the conservative National Coalition Party said they supported more immigration while 53 per cent were opposed. One third of respondents said that immigration would play a significant or very significant role in their voting decisions in the next elections.
YLE 28 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cK0EO
YLE 28 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cL0EP
Aamulehti 28 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cM0EQ
YLE 28 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cN0ER

NB. This story was also covered in Sweden
Sveriges Radio 28 May 2010 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cO0ES

Integration programmes unsupervised and unequal
Finnish language and integration education offered to immigrants varies greatly and lacks any official oversight. Training programmes are technically the purview of both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture. Dual management has led to neither ministry taking responsibility for supervision. The National Board of Education drew up general guidelines for programmes to teach culture and language skills to immigrants, but the Board has no authority to oversee the educational institutions that offer these programmes. This means that every school has the power to broadly interpret what they offer, creating a number of parallel but unequal programmes. One major problem is that while the number of immigrants is increasing, the money earmarked for this area has stayed the same.
YLE 27 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cP0ET

Oulu Police reach out to refugees
Police in Oulu have launched a programme to reach out to new refugees, especially youth. Police officials admit it is something they should have started a long time ago. The idea is to invite young refugees to education sessions where police can explain some legal and social issues and the role of police. Chief Investigative Officer Jouko Autio says that at the lectures, the police simply go through Finnish life and laws, that is, how to live in Finland and how committing crimes could affect their residence and so forth. He adds that the police feel these training sessions are necessary and that it is important to explain to persons from different backgrounds for example what a sexual crime is and the position of women in Finland.
YLE 27 May 2010 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cQ0EU

Norway

Progress Party: - To ease the identification requirement is stupid
In a new proposal, the UDI says that asylum-seekers should be able to obtain a work permit if it takes more that three months for UDI and the police to establish their identity. The Progress Party fears that foreign criminals and terrorists will take advantage of more liberal regulations. Acting Secretary General Sylo Taraku at the Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers says that some are waiting for answers on their applications for years, and that although the police are  not hundred per cent sure who someone is, it would be better if the applicant could provide for himself instead of living on government money during this time. The Secretary General of Amnesty International says that the possibility of working is one of the most important measures of countering passivity, poor mental / physical health, preventing the transition to the black labor market and other forms of illegal activity among asylum-seekers.
Aftenposten 26 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cR0EV
Aftenposten 26 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cS0EW

Storberget on Sinsen reception center
Knut Storberget does not believe that the new reception center at Sinsen becomes more troublesome for the community than the current transit reception center. Residents in the area have reacted very strongly against the decision to move the reception center from Tanum to Sinsen at end of the year. Storberget believes that the reception center should be centrally located in Oslo, since this will enable a faster processing of asylum applications. He also says that by moving the reception center, its proximity to the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) and the police immigration unit will be ensured. The Progress Party's Christian Tybring-Gjedde wants Storberget to prevent the move of the reception center to Sinsen, saying that Tanum has been close enough to UDI and that the reception center has been successful.
NRK 26 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cT0EX

- Lack of rule of law in UNE
The Norwegian Bar Association's action and procedure group has assisted 19 rejected asylum-seekers through court cases, of which 12 rejections have been reversed. Leader of the action group, lawyer Arild Humlen, says the results so far show that UNE does not work from a legal perspective. He adds that there is an urgent need for strengthening the rule of law in UNE, and that the current situation is not satisfactory.
Aftenposten 26 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cU0EY

Oslo police harsh on asylum-seekers dealing drugs
Asylum-seekers who are engaged in crime in Norway damage the country's reputation, according to the Oslo police, which urge politicians to act. Kåre Stølen from the police says that these persons are abusing the Norwegian asylum system and ruin chances for others who really are in need of asylum. Since January, the Oslo police have caught 401 asylum-seekers for drug dealing. These account for over 650 cases. Stølen adds that the police have no means to keep these persons in custody and instead end up using resources on them which could be used for children and young persons in the area.
Verdens Gang 28 May 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cV0EZ

Sweden

Migration Board shortcomings in LGBT issues
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons seeking asylum in Sweden can receive different decisions on their asylum claims, depending on the person in charge of the case. Two reports show that the Migration Board lacks a clear picture of what the situation for LGBT persons looks like in different countries. There is a lack of quality information, and the information available is general, vague, and based on few and outdated sources.
Sveriges Radio 27 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cW0Ea
Dagens Nyheter 28 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cX0Eb

No collective punishment of refugee children used
According to an investigation by the social welfare board, there was no collective punishment used in the residences of unaccompanied minors in Östersund. However, the investigation shows that there is a confidence gap between the refugee children and the leadership, a gap the investigator Jan-Erik Nilsson believes is due to the children's changing situation. He notes that they have had adult roles in the countries they come from and now they become children again and have to adjust to a collective system.
Sveriges Television 26 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cY0Ec

Unemployment benefit – a carrot
Green Party member Mikaela Valtersson heads the working group that has been tasked by the government to study ways to facilitate circular migration, making it easier for non-EU migrant workers to move freely in and out of Sweden. The report proposes that migrant workers and persons who have been granted asylum in Sweden should be entitled to a larger share of the Swedish social security system, even if they return to their home countries.
Svenska Dagbladet 28 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7cZ0Ed

Proposal to waive visa requirement
The European Commission yesterday adopted proposals to enable citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina to travel with biometric passports to the Schengen countries without requiring visas. The proposal aims to simplify travel to EU countries (except the UK and Ireland) and to Switzerland, Norway and Iceland (non-EU members of the Schengen area). Last December the EU waived the visa requirement for citizens of Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro. However, visa requirements remained in place for citizens from Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina as neither country met the criteria set by Brussels at that time. Since then significant progress has been made by both countries in improving passport security, strengthening border controls and reinforcing the institutional framework to fight organized crime and corruption.
Dagens Nyheter 28 May 2010 p:27 (in Swedish)

NB. This story was also covered in Denmark
Jyllands-Posten 27 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/y/eCq3d0ZqnfK0aYE0D7ca0Ek

[Roope]

Saturday 29 May to Wednesday 2 June 2010

Denmark

5 million crowns to send refugee children home
The government and the Danish People's Party are preparing to contribute with 5 million DKK in development aid to a care centre in Kabul that will provide shelter for many of the unaccompanied Afghan and Iraqi asylum-seeking children who arrive in Denmark every year, only to be sent back home again. Denmark will help finance the Norwegian project, alongside Holland, Sweden and the UK. 542 unaccompanied minor refugee children arrived in Denmark last year, where 392 came from Afghanistan and 33 came from Iraq. Although many have been granted asylum, the government hopes to send those who were only given temporary humanitarian residency permits back to the care centre as soon as it is up and running.
Berlingske Tidende 29 May 2010 p:8 (in Danish)

Refugee children in asylum limbo
Right now, 75 youths and children who have fled to Denmark are waiting for their asylum procedure to be initiated. Unaccompanied minors must have a personal representative before the authorities begin considering an asylum case, and at the moment there are not enough of representatives. The persons are drawn from volunteers, and they are essential to the process, says project manager at the Danish Red Cross' asylum department, Karen-Inger Thorsen. Thorsen say that the representatives look after the interests and well-being of the child, and that when the minor is interviewed by the Danish Immigration Service and the Police, the representative's role is to ensure that the minor is heard and understood. The Danish Red Cross cannot keep up because there has been an explosive increase in the numbers of unaccompanied minors who seek asylum in Denmark. Last year, 529 unaccompanied minors sought asylum in Denmark. In 2007, that number was 93.
Danmarks Radio 31 May 2010 (in English)
http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Andre_sprog/English/2010/05/31/113010.htm
Danmarks Radio 28 May 2010 (in Danish)
http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2010/05/28/203656.htm

Norway

Asylum-seeker had Securitas guards for DKK 14,000 a day
An unaccompanied minor asylum-seeker from a country in the Middle East was before Christmas considered to be so dangerous to himself and his surroundings that Torshov transit center hired security guards from Securitas. The Directorate of Immigration spent nearly NOK 400,000 on security for a month. Director Siri Rustad of UDI says that it is an expensive service when they use it, but that it is used on very few people. Rustad says that they  are responsible for ensuring that the centers are a safe, quiet place for all who live there. In this case, the Torshov resident was eventually moved to a reinforced unit at a different center in a different region. In such units, they have additional staff and psychiatric nurses. The Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers (NOAS) believes that many European countries are better than the Norwegian authorities to identify asylum-seekers with special needs in an early stage. Acting Director General Sylo Taraku at NOAS says that you must ensure that such persons are sent for treatment or to the reinforced reception centers so that it does not become a burden for the other residents. Norwegian Directorate of Health says that the guidelines for health care for asylum-seekers are under revision.
Aftenposten 1 June 2010 (in Norwegian)
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article3673356.ece

Sweden

Prosecutor to investigate case of Mir Abbas
A year after his suicide, Mir Abbas Safari was finally laid to rest last Thursday in a churchyard in Gävle. Mir Abbas Safari, a homosexual from Afghanistan, who had sought asylum in Sweden but had his application rejected, committed
suicide whilst being held in custody in Gävle prior to deportation. He was held in custody even though he had a history of depression. The UN committee against torture has criticized Sweden several times for keeping people who are to be deported, but who are not suspected of having committed any crime, locked up in a cell 23 hours a day. Last week Amnesty criticized Sweden for the number of suicides committed by deportees who are held in custody. No one will accept any responsibility for the fact that Mir Abbas Safari was able to kill himself, and the case has now been handed over to the public prosecutor.
Dagens Nyheter 29 May 2010 p:36 (in Swedish)
Dagens Nyheter 29 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/nu-ska-aklagare-granska-fallet-1.1113763
Dagens Nyheter 29 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/mir-abbas-sista-resa-1.1113760

Sweden Democrats' shadow budget
The Sweden Democrats presented their first "shadow budget" in Landskrona on Monday. The party wants to save SEK 9.5 billion on aid by shrinking Sweden's aid budget to 0.7% of GDP, and SEK 12.4 billion on immigration in the first year, by reducing immigration for asylum-seekers and next-of-kin by 90% by 2012. This would mean that Sweden would have a lower number of immigrants than both Denmark and Finland.
Dagens Nyheter 1 June 2010 p:18 (in Swedish)
Svenska Dagbladet 1 June 2010 p:14 (in Swedish)
Dagens Nyheter 31 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.dn.se/nyheter/politik/sd-minska-bistandet-och-satsa-pa-forsvaret-1.1114575
Sveriges Radio 31 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=83&artikel=3741895

Swedish Imam accused of terrorist acts
An imam from Uzbekistan, who has lived in Sweden since he was granted refugee status by the UN, is accused by Uzbekistan's state television for financing and preparing terrorist acts in Uzbekistan. The documentary aired only days after the Swedish Public radio SR reported that the Uzbek secret service is spying on Uzbek refugees in Sweden, and that that the Uzbeks who are returned are imprisoned and tortured. The imam is on Interpol's wanted list.
Sveriges Radio 29 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/gruppsida.aspx?programid=3304&grupp=6240&artikel=3737497
Sveriges Radio 30 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://mobil.sr.se/site/index.aspx?artikel=3737777&unitid=78&offset=0
Nyhetskanalen 28 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.nyhetskanalen.se/1.1657564/2010/05/28/uzbekistan_terrorplaner_i_sverige
SVT 28 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://svt.se/2.22620/1.2020558/uzbekistan_terrorplanering_i_sverige?lid=senasteNytt_275224&lpos=rubrik_2020558

Future Ambassador critical of orphanage
Sweden's future ambassador to Afghanistan, Secretary General of the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan Torbjörn Pettersson, is highly critical of the Minister of Migration's proposals of opening orphanages in Afghanistan where unaccompanied refugee children can be sent instead of staying in Sweden. The idea behind the orphanages is that children should be able to reunite with their parents, but Torbjörn Pettersson does not believe in this. He says that the problem is that the Afghan government can not ensure public safety, and that is why the refugees are fleeing. The idea that it will be possible to create care centers that would be able to guarantee the safety in this environment feels like a very big and difficult challenge.
Sveriges Radio 29 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/gruppsida.aspx?programid=3304&grupp=6240&artikel=3737472

Deported Burundians are subjects to violence
Burundi in East Africa is a country characterized by violence and ethnic conflicts. Sweden has chosen to deport Burundians despite the fact that many of them get into serious trouble when they return to their home country. Fredrik Beijer, Director of the Asylum Procedures at the Migration Board, says that Burundi has improved on the political side, but that violence towards individuals still occurs. Beijer says that the new information that recently has emerged is worrying, and that the Migration Board will, with the help of embassies and UNHCR, try to get more information on the situation in Burundi. The Migration Board is currently granting residence permits to about 50 per cent of the persons from Burundi who apply for asylum in Sweden.
Sveriges Radio 31 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=1650&artikel=3739663



UNHCR in the news

Crises strike hardest among the poor
Maeve Murphy, UNHCR's field officer at the world's largest refugee camp on the border between Kenya and Somalia, says that the world's interest in Somali refugees is not very big. The 300,000 refugees in the camp have left the neighboring country that has been shaken by civil war for the last 20 years, and the camps are so overcrowded that they are about to collapse. But Murphy does not expect a lot of aid from the outside world since she believes that people are busy trying to save their houses from the bank. On Monday, the World Bank's yearly conference on Development Economics in Stockholm with the theme "Development Challenges in a Post Crisis World" starts.
Svenska Dagbladet 29 May 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.svd.se/naringsliv/nyheter/kriser-slar-hardast-bland-de-fattigaste_4784435.svd

[Roope]

Thursday 3 June to Friday 4 June 2010

Finland

Antonova's deportation suspended
The deportation order for the Russian grandmother Irina Antonova has been suspended. According to Antonova's son-in-law, the deportation order taking effect on Thursday will not be enforced. Helsinki Police has confirmed the matter to be true. Meanwhile, they have not given an official reason for the suspension. Antonova's son-in-law said that the police stopped the deportation after they received a medical certificate confirming Antonova's poor health. The support group for Irina Antonova also heard from the police that adequate arrangements had not been made on the Russian end for receiving the grandmother.
YLE 2 June 2010 (in English)
http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/06/antonovas_deportation_suspended_1731154.html

Sweden

Malmö asks for help with unaccompanied minors
The city of Malmö wants to share the burden of receiving unaccompanied refugee children and says that individual municipalities should be obliged to receive these children. Today, only nine out of Skåne's 33 municipalities have signed contracts with the Migration Board to accept unaccompanied minors. At the same time, 3,000 new unaccompanied minors and young persons are expected to arrive in Sweden in 2010. The Moderate Party in Malmö even suggests a temporary halt for the reception of unaccompanied refugee children in Malmö. The Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström (Moderate Party) is very critical towards the Malmö Moderate Party's proposal. He also says that the vast majority of Skåne's municipalities have the ambition to start receiving unaccompanied minors which means 150 new locations. Contrary to the Moderate Party, the Green Party in Malmö wants the city to receive more unaccompanied minors than they do today.
Sveriges television 2 June 2010 (in Swedish)
http://mobil.svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=52493&a=2026277
Sydsvenskan 4 June 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.sydsvenskan.se/malmo/article891700/Tobias-Billstrom-kritisk-mot-Malmomoderaternas-utspel.html
Sydsvenskan 4 June 2010 (in Swedish)
http://www.sydsvenskan.se/malmo/article891883/MP-vill-ta-emot-fler-flyktingbarn.html