Join us
Imagine to be persecuted and risk imprisonment because you are of another political opinion that that of the ruling government. Picture a social climate where you do not have the right to participate and influence the development in your own home country.
This is unfortunately the way things look in many countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Still, there are people who work for a democratic development in spite of threats and harassment. The Swedish Initiative is a religiously and politically independent organization that works to support these courageous people.
Freedom of association - a democratic touchstone
The right to engage in voluntary organizations goes without saying in Sweden. It is a way for the citizens to influence politicians. The right of association is an important democratic right. The Swedish Initiative cooperates with voluntary organizations and human rights activists in Sweden and in the East. Through campaigns and seminars we have raised public opinion against the war in Chechnya and against trafficking with women in Moldavia.
Another important task is to spread knowledge about these issues in Sweden. We do this, inter alia, by being visible in the debates in the media. The Swedish Initiative has also published the book Brännpunkter öst (in Swedish) on human rights in the former Soviet republics.
Do you want to become a member?
If you want to do something against injustices in the East you are welcome to become a member of the Swedish Initiative for Human Rights. Membership is 100 SEK annually, paid to Plusgiro account 40 85 30-4 (Do not forget to enter contact information on the payment!) We meet in Uppsala and in Stockholm. We keep in touch with members in other parts of Sweden and of the world via email. As a member you get among other things a password to the internal pages for members of the Swedish Initiative and get access to our internet based discussion forum.
