A study on the situation of men and women and boys and girls with disabilities in the Swedish asylum seekers and refugees process Pedro Landfors

The Agency for Participation Established to take a more comprehensive, cross-sectoral approach with the task to stimulate and develop knowledge building in the area of rigths of persons with disability participation, accessibility universal design digital technology living conditions and environment Mission: to accelerate the progress towards a society in which everyone can participate on equal terms, regardless of functional capacity

Council of Europe Disability Strategy …Refugees and asylum seekers with disabilities are more exposed to all forms of discrimination as well as exploitation, violence and abuse. A comprehensive, strategic approach to the integration and inclusion of migrants with disabilities is needed both at national and local levels. (Para 70)

Objectives of the study To provide data and knowledge for more in- depth studies and efforts to improve conditions for people with disabilities seeking asylum in Sweden, and for those people with disabilities granted a residence permit.

Number of applications for asylum 2010-2016 in Sweden

The new legislation may have consequences? For people with disabilities On 20 July 2016 the Swedish Parliament adopted a new law that will be valid for three years The new law generally means greater uncertainty for asylum seekers Limited family reunification creates a complex problem. The loss of the particularly distressing reasons have implications for people with disabilities. The main focus on employment and to be able to support one self economically in the new law may have greater implications on people with disabilities then on others – This is yet to be evaluated

Knowledge and statistics There is very little documented about disability in connection with the asylum process, the statistics available are often inadequate or non-existent A general lack of gender-based and type of disability statistics The mapping and statistics available concern primarily psychological health problems and often linked to the health controls carried out by the county councils

Parallel systems The developed processes for persons who just got their visa is not compatible with the regular systems regarding foremost: The educational system, and The labor market programs These processes works for people in general but is partly inadequate when it comes to person with disabilities and, Lacks proper methods and measures to find and support the needs of people with disabilities inside these processes The consequences of this is that people with disabilities don’t get their rights

Measures to improve the situation of men and women and girls and boys with disabilities seeking asylum in Sweden The disability perspective needs to be a part of studies and reports Improved methods to identify disability Develop methods for cooperation and knowledge exchange among actors Reinsure acessibility when it comes to facilities and services

Measures to improve the situation of men and women and girls and boys with disabilities seeking asylum in Sweden Information and actions is needed when it comes to secure the rights and the needs regarding: Healthcare, Housing, Social welfare, Education, and Labor market To prevent discrimination and to secure the same rights for the group as people in general

Thank you Pedro Landfors pedro.landfors@mfd.se +46 76 104 0336