Minimum rights policies targeting people seeking protection in Denmark and Sweden

Abstract

The temporary law changed the general view of Sweden in Europe. We used to be the generous country, and that affected us as a public agency, because this generous image has also characterized our approach. If you look around here in our office, the rooms are named after Malala, Raoul Wallenberg … all human rights advocates. We have the human rights convention framed on our walls … but now, we are supposed to adapt to an absolute minimum approach. We’re now at the edge of the European Convention. It’s a clear political signal, but we have to figure out what it means to us, this new focus on minimum levels and on return. (Richard, senior official at Swedish Migration Agency) own meals still entails. And, the asylum camps look more like detention camps now. This sends a signal that they are not welcome.