Författare: ulrika

Vi är glada att kunna meddela att Maria Johansson förra veckan presenterades som ledamot i Rådet för de mänskliga rättigheterna vid MR-institutet. Maria nominerades av Fonden för mänskliga rättigheter, varför vi är ännu lite stoltare över hennes tillsättning i institutets rådgivande organ. Under de senaste två åren har hon varit projektledare hos oss på Fonden för mänskliga rättigheter med fokus på CRPD. Hon har främst jobbat med HandikappHistoriska Föreningens (HHF) projekt “Inget om oss utan oss!” som beskriver hur svenskar deltog i utformandet av FN:s konvention om rättigheter för personer med funktionsnedsättning (CRPD) samt vilken betydelse konventionen har fått i Sverige.

Läs MR-institutets presentation av Maria Johansson här:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/institutet-for-manskliga-rattigheter_torsdagsaktionen-bristandetillgaeunglighet-activity-7106884740875476992-ppmb?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Syntolkning: En porträttbild av Maria Johansson i färg med en inklippt logotyp för Fonden för mänskliga rättigheter i det övre högra hörnet samt en röd bubbla med vit text lydande: “Maria Johansson ledamot i Rådet för de mänskliga rättigheterna vid MR-institutet”.

Hallå Ulf Kristersson!

Vi skickade ett öppet brev till dig den 2 maj 2023 och lämnade över en budkavle den 29 juni där civilsamhället förklarade betydelsen av MR-institutet. Vi har fortfarande inte fått något svar. Kan vi lita på att MR-institutet kommer att finnas kvar med oförminskade resurser efter höstbudgeten som läggs fram imorgon?

Syntolkning: En porträttbild på statsminister Ulf Kristersson med svart ram. I bilden syns texten “Hallå Ulf Kristersson! MR-institutet är #ingenvanligmyndighet.”

“When rockets fly from the sky, you can’t stop them with your hands and I wouldn’t protect children with legal speeches under those conditions, so I was forced to travel abroad, and my husband stayed there, like millions of men. […] I would like to take this opportunity, to once again thank foreign specialists for their assistance to Ukraine in various fields. At the same time, I would like to draw attention to the fact that Ukrainians have been living in the war since 2014 and have not only theoretical but also practical knowledge, in particular, regarding the recording and qualification of war crimes in Ukraine. Therefore, we ask you to take into account the conclusions of Ukrainian specialists and to involve them in cooperation when compiling reports on Ukraine and planning activities aimed at helping Ukraine.” – Olena Sapozhnikova, the lawyer of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, June 15, 2022

On the 15 of June, the webinar “The importance of the European Human Rights System for peace and security – using the invasion of Ukraine as an example” took place. During the seminar, prominent experts within the field discussed the possibilities and challenges that the European human rights system offers, including in the light of the war currently going on in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Among them we listen to Olena Sapozhnikova, lawyer of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, addressing the reality of the war currently facing Ukraine and Europe and stressing the need for sufficient support by the international community in order to stop the heinous war.

A record of the webinar is now available on our YouTube. Do not miss out on the fruitful exchange of information and experience provided by the experts – especially at a time like this with an ongoing war in Europe and where the European human rights system is being put to test.

An article by Olena Sapozhnikova about the report and the webinar, including her speach, can be found here.

The SFHR is happy to announce that the report ”The role of regional human rights institutions and the quest for peace in Europe – with a comment on the invasion of Ukraine” now is available on our webpage. The report focuses on the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the European Union and explores the nexus between human rights and peace and security within the three intergovernmental organisations.

The conclusion on the role of the human rights institutions within the three intergovernmental organisations – the European Council, the OSCE, and the EU – must be that they do play important roles as for their contributions to peace and security in the region. They clearly relate to conflict prevention, early warning and peacebuilding in their work and connect this work to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights, the rule of law, access to justice and transitional justice. They liaise between themselves and they have access to and are used as experts by the decision-making bodies of their respective organisations.

However, at the time of writing, we have witnessed significant changes in the security situation in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the end of February 2022. This is not only a serious threat of the human rights, peace and security situation in Europe but also put the existing European Human Rights System to test.

The report is being published following the SFHR’s webinar “The importance of the European Human Rights System for peace and security – using the invasion of Ukraine as an example” which took place today. During the seminar, prominent experts within the filed discussed the possibilities and challenges that the European human rights system offers, including in the light of the war currently going on in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A record of the webinar will shortly be posted on our Social Medias. Please follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube, and visit our webpage not to miss out the release of the webinar.

Click here to read the report!

Welcome to a webinar on 15 of June aimed at increasing the understanding of the European human rights system and facilitating an exchange between different actors. The seminar will consist of two parts: The first on the possibilities and challenges that the European human rights system offers, and the second putting the system to the test by using the example of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A report on the subject will be launched at the seminar.

When: Wednesday June 15, 2022, in English with subtitles.

Time: 10:00-12:00 CET.

Where: Zoom. Please see information on how to register below.

A wide group of actors will approach the subject from different perspectives, including:

– Olena Sapozhnikova and Anastasia Martynovska, representatives from the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union.

– Andrea Huber, Head of Human Rights Department at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

– Anna Rogalska Hedlund, Lawyer with experience of litigating before the European institutions.

– Carolina Vendil Pallin, Researcher at the Swedish Defence Research Agency.

– Helena Vazquez Sohlström, Head of the Department for Governance at the Folke Bernadotte Academy.

– Hanna Gerdes, lawyer specialised in the fields of human rights and international humanitarian law at Hanna and Goliath Law and Education, will facilitate the seminar.

How to register: If you wish to participate, register at info@humanrights.se. Please include: First name, last name, email, and institution or other. Registration no later than Monday 13 of June. We will provide you with a Zoom link on Tuesday 14 of June to the registered email.

Visual interpretation: An illustrated image with light grey background and the headline “Welcome to a webinar about the European Human Rights System!” In the middle of the image there is a red computer with a silhouette of a person showing on the computer and a symbol of a hand clicking on the computer, and under it the text “The nexus between human rights, peace and security – 15 of June, 10:00-12:00 CET”.

For the nexus between human rights, peace, and security in Europe.

Short about the webinar: Welcome to a webinar on 15 of June aimed at increasing the understanding of the European human rights system and facilitating an exchange between different actors. The seminar will consist of two parts: The first on the possibilities and challenges that the European human rights system the offers, and the second putting the system to the test by using the example of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A report on the subject will be launched at the seminar.

A wide group of actors will approach the subject from different perspectives including representatives from the Ukrainian human rights sector, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the legal side litigating before the European institutions, the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) and the Folke Bernadotte Academy.

Background:The Swedish Foundation for Human Rights has many years’ experience of analysing regional human rights systems from a human rights, peace and security aspect and has published several reports on the subject – most recently on the importance of the Inter-American human rights system for the nexus between human rights, peace, and security in the Americas.

How to register: The invitation and registration to the seminar will shortly be published on the Swedish Foundation for Human Rights’ social media. Make sure to follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook in order not to miss the opportunity to take part in the topical webinar on the importance of the European human rights system for peace and security in Europe.

A warm welcome to join us on the 15^th of June!

Visual interpretation: An illustrated image with light grey background and the headline “Save the date: Webinar about the European Human Rights System!” In the middle of the image there is an open calendar with the number 15 and a symbol of a hand clicking on the calendar and under it the text “We are inviting you to a webinar the 15 of June on the importance of the European human rights system.”.

 

Today, May 10, the Truth Commission, with the support of the Special Justice for Peace, will carry out in Soacha the event: ‘Encounter for the Truth: Acknowledgment of responsibilities regarding extrajudicial killings in Bogotá and Soacha’, with the participation of several organizations of mothers and relatives who are victims of this crime. This event will also have the contribution of María Ubilerma Sanabria, a member of the Swedish Collaborative Network in support of the Commission, and the mother of Jaime Estiven Valencia, who was kidnapped and murdered by members of the Colombian army in 2008.

“Jaime Estiven was tortured, executed, thrown into a mass grave in Ocaña, Norte de Santander and presented as a guerrilla member dead in combat by the 15th Mobile Brigade of the Colombian Armed Forces in 2008. He was only 16 years old”.

The extrajudicial killings, known as “false positives”, were assassinations of civilians performed by state agents to present them as members of armed groups who died in combat and thus show the results of their military operations. This phenomenon has left an open wound in Colombian society and a shameful imprint on the public force, whose mission was to protect citizens and respect the constitution, laws and International Humanitarian Law.

This meeting results from the efforts that the Commission has been carrying out for two years to promote actions for the recognition and dignity of the victims and the construction of a broad story, together with mothers and victims of this phenomenon. As a result of this process, the victims have spoken with those responsible for these crimes in three private conversations and at least 18 preparatory meetings. In addition, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace has found concrete evidence of 6,402 cases of extrajudicial executions in 31 of the 32 departments of Colombia.

It is essential to recognize the individual and collective responsibilities regarding extrajudicial killings. Hence, this event has the objective of dignifying those who were stigmatized, to the mothers and relatives who travelled the country, those who were disregarded at first about the disappearance of their loved ones, and those who, like María Ubilerma, were forced into exile due to their commitment to finding the truth. In her words,

“The recognition of the brigade members is an important step in the search for the truth for us mothers. However, the world needs to have clarity and condemn those who gave the order.”

• Watch the event here:

• Read full article in Spanish.

Varmt välkommen på ett seminarium om ekonomiska, sociala och kulturella rättigheter i Sverige. 

Arrangör: Sultan Kayhan – Riksdagsledamot och Fonden för mänskliga rättigheter i samarbete med Sensus studieförbund.

Datum & tid: 10 maj, 13:30-15:30
Plats: Riksdagen – Riksgatan 2, med möjlighet att delta på plats eller digitalt via Zoom. Vid deltagande på plats är det först till kvarn – vi meddelar om du fått plats senast den 6:e maj.

Anmälan: Via denna länk https://forms.gle/VVrAgCsaQJVaic66A senast den 5 maj.

Tillgången till ekonomiska, sociala och kulturella rättigheter är grundläggande för tillgången till andra rättigheter. Ändå ses de inte alltid som mänskliga rättigheter. Rapporten “Vägen framåt – pandemin och de mänskliga rättigheterna” (Ramboll 2022) belyser den ojämlika tillgången till mänskliga rättigheter samt att tillgången till rättigheter och strukturer för samverkan måste säkras under lugnare tider för att kunna bära i kris.

I det här seminariet vill vi diskutera hur vi kan arbeta för att stärka tillgången till mänskliga rättigheter – med ett intersektionellt angreppssätt och utifrån olika samhällsaktörers ansvar och roller. Vi utgår från några civilsamhällesaktörer som sätter ljuset på specifika perspektiv. Med avstamp i

dessa perspektiv diskuterar vi hur olika samhällsaktörer – utifrån olika roller – kan samverka för att skapa ett bättre och mer kontinuerligt genomförande och uppföljning av mänskliga rättigheter i Sverige med hjälp av den internationella granskningen.

Medverkande i seminariet:

Per-Anders Sunesson – Socialdepartementet

Anders Kompass, Charlotte Palmstierna, Linde Lindkvist – MR-institutet

Tobias Rahm – Nationell samordnare mänskliga rättigheter Länsstyrelsen

Mari Siilsalu- Independent Living Institute

Anna Hartman – Äldreupproret

Nina Trollvige – Trajosko Drom

Elias Ibrahim – Byrån mot diskriminering i Östergötland

Ett mer detaljerat program kommer i början av vecka 18.

Välkomna!

As part of its mandate, the Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence, and Non-Repetition (“Commission” or “CEV”) has developed a pedagogical strategy to generate cultural and educational initiatives for the dissemination and social understanding of its final report and its recommendations. With this, the Commission intends to anchor in the citizenry -resident in Colombia and abroad- processes of cultural and social transformation that contribute to the non-repetition of the conflict, taking into account the territorial, ethnic, and gender approach. Hence, the Commission has advanced efforts to fulfil this objective through Collaborative networks in different countries of Europe and America, which have also contributed to the pedagogical efforts founded on recognition, coexistence and not repetition.

The Swedish Foundation for Human Rights (“MR-Fonden”) has supported the Truth Commission through different efforts such as supporting information dissemination activities, taking testimonies, delivering reports and carrying out listening acts. In addition, it has carried out collaborations, within the Commission’s pedagogy strategy framework, through alliances with social organizations to disseminate and mobilize society around the mandate of Truth and a culture of peace in Colombian society, especially that who resides abroad.

An important example of these efforts was the “First International Meeting of Colombian Students in Europe. The truth: The value of knowing” convened by the Círculo de la Palabra de Barcelona, ​​which the support of MR-Fonden, the International Catalan Institute for Peace (ICIP), the Institute of Studies on Development and International Cooperation of the Basque Country (HEGOA), and the Catalonia Collaborative network of the Commission. Before the Meeting, five seminars were held with experts on the Colombian conflict who reflected on the country’s reality and questions about the legacies of truth and its character as a public good, its polyphonies and expressions in art, fanaticism and improbable dialogues. Among the expert guests were professors Hernando Valencia Villa (Seminar 1: The truth as a public good: political education and citizenry), Víctor de Correa Lugo (Seminar 2: Disarming fanaticisms: improbable dialogues for truth and peace), Andrés Bernal (Seminar 3: Diversity and Polyphonies of truth), Laura Quintana (Seminar 4: The legacies of truth for a society in transition) and María Elisa Pinto (Seminar 5: The path of arts and reflections on a re-humanizing artistry).

• Watch the full seminars here.

The meeting lasted three days. On the first day (September 28), the students participated in the workshop ‘The historical truth: common good and legacy for a society in transition”, with special interventions by Commissioner Carlos Martín Beristain, the director of the Hegoa Institute, Irantzu Mendia, and Professor Hernando Valencia Villa, who presented an analysis on the Constitutional Court and the future of the Commission’s mandate.

• Watch all the meeting sessions here.

 

The second day (September 29) focused on ‘The clarification of the truth in Colombia: moving from fanaticism to polyphony’. In this work table, the students presented their papers and exchanged perspectives with Dr. Vera Samudio, researcher at CINEP/PP and the Technical Secretariat of the International Component for Verification of the Peace Agreements between the Colombian Government and the FARC-EP. The Secretary-General of MR-Fonden, Ulrika Strand, also made a special intervention, together with the professor and doctor in anthropology and member of feminist and victim movements Diana Gómez.

The week ended (September 30), with the presentation of the Transmedia of the Truth Commission by Commissioner Lucía González, and the workshop “Arts, languages ​​and aesthetics of truth”, facilitated by Dr. Andrea Rodríguez Sánchez. Ana Isabel Barrera gave the closing statements from ICIP, while the organizers re-stated their commitment to the work of the CEV. Most importantly, the students took centre stage through their theoretical and methodological presentations on truth, memory, and its multiple dimensions.

Just three months before the end of its mandate, the Commission has the task of explaining what happened during the conflict, why it happened, what consequences it left on the communities and what must be done so that this experience does not happen again. The narrative about the conflict that will be presented in its final report and its recommendations entail a tool for non-repetition and an instrument for reflection for the entire Colombian society, in which war refuses to die. Faced with a context of continuous violence, citizen initiatives, as well as initiatives from the Collaborative networks and organisations aimed at supporting the work of the Commission, acquire vital importance.

• More information on the work of the Círculo de la Palabra de Barcelona.
• Read full article in Spanish.

Till och med 30 juni kan du boka biljett med 20% på ordinarie pris och hela 30% om du bokar en grupp på minst tio personer. Erbjudandet gäller myndigheter/företag samt ideella organisationer/lärare. Du hittar mer information här: https://www.mrdagarna.nu/nu-slapper-vi-biljetterna-till-manskliga-rattighetsdagarna-i-orebro/

MR-fonden är en av arrangörerna till forumet som äger rum 17-18 november på Conventum i Örebro.

Vi kommer bland annat att anordna ett seminarium på temat ekonomiska, sociala och kulturella (ESK) rättigheter. För att kunna utnyttja rätten till ett liv i trygghet och säkerhet behöver våra grundläggande rättigheter tillgodoses: rätten till bostad, rätten till arbete, rätten till ekonomisk trygghet. Genom att belysa ESK-rättigheterna och utforska hur Sverige lever upp till sina åtaganden knyter vi an till MR-fondens kontinuerliga arbete samt till temat Rätten till ett liv i trygghet och säkerhet.

Syntolkning: En formgiven bild med ljusgrå bakgrund med rubriken ”Äntligen biljettsläpp för MR-dagarna” i mitten av bilden finns en knuten näve, bakom den en regnbåge allt i mörkgrått och två röda biljetter, under finns texten “MR-fonden är en av arrangörerna till Mänskliga Rättighetsdagarna som äger rum 17-18 november i Örebro.”