What we think

The Red Cross Youth takes part of political advocacy work to ensure that human rights are respected. We do this to ease the effects of humanitarian challenges in Sweden and the world. We will give a brief description of our views in this section. If you want more information you can read our full Strategy for 2018-2019.

The temporary asylum legislation should be revoked.

The standard for residence permits for children and young people should be that they are permanent, not temporary!

Children and young people should have the right to reunite with their families in Sweden.

We want all children and young people to have someone to talk to when they need support.

We want to increase the knowledge of mental illness and improve the conditions for those affected.

People in power and decision-makers must take the rights of children and young people seriously. To bring about change, our organization need to increase in size. Become a member to stand up for the rights of children and young people (Page in Swedish).

Migration and the temporary asylum legislation

Children and young people on the run must be reunited with their families in Sweden, and residence permits for children and young people must be permanent. This is not the case today. Europe’s borders are closing and the European Union is turning away more and more people in distress. The way people talk about refugees and immigrants in Sweden is getting harsher. The Swedish refugee policy has, through the temporary asylum legislation, settled at the minimum level of the EU. This has devastating consequences, especially for children and young people.

The mental health of children and young people

We want all children and young people to have someone to talk to when they need support. This is not the case today. We also want the knowledge of mental illness and the conditions for those affected to increase and improve. The mental illness among children and young people is on the rise. It is increasing among children and young people who seek asylum in Sweden and it has generally increased among young people in the last 30 years, especially among girls. We cannot accept that in Sweden in 2019.

Our vision – a humane society

The Red Cross Youth Association’s vision is a society where children and young people are perceived as a resource. Where children and young people’s human dignity is put in the forefront. A society that is humane respects the human rights of all children and young people and gives them opportunities for a dignified life. Humanity must come first in all situations.

Do you want to part of the movement?

Contact your nearest local association (Page in Swedish) to find out what is going on. If you have other questions, you can always contact rkuf@redcross.se.

We don’t want to be the ones who tied their hands in our pocket, we want to be the ones who did something. Now we’re doing it!