1. 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

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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.

5. Number of applications for asylum 2010-2016 in Sweden

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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