UNHCR’s Representation for the Nordic and Baltic Countries has submitted its observations to Sweden’s proposed amendments to the Act on the Reception of Asylum Seekers and Others.
The proposed measures aim to encourage more asylum-seekers to live in the Swedish Migration Agency’s and the municipality’s accommodation, introduce an obligation for asylum-seekers to participate in the introduction to Swedish society, and to analyse the need for possible sanctions in the event of misconduct in asylum accommodation.
In UNHCR’s view, applicants who have the opportunity to stay with relatives or friends or who have sufficient economic means should not be required to live in collective accommodation centers. UNHCR is concerned that the proposed measures to direct, rather than offer, asylum-seekers to stay at collective asylum accommodation may in some cases, lead to further isolation, marginalization and worsened reception conditions, particularly for families with children and vulnerable individuals.
UNHCR’s observations are available here.
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