Border control cannot resolve the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe and elsewhere, state the young leftist in the Nordic Countries. As the thousands of dead in the Mediterranean have shown, those in need for safety and shelter will find their way, no matter the risk. By making the refugees’ search for asylum harder, we here in the Nordic countries and elsewhere force people to take illegal and highly dangerous routes across the land and the sea.
Sweden and Denmark have both given the freedom of movement a kiss goodbye by starting border controls. ”The governments in the nordic countries are turning their backs to the right to asylum, one of the basic human rights. The border controls offer no solution, are expensive and create more unsafety for refugees as well as for the people who already live in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. In stead of populist policies based on lies we need a way forward that is sustainable and humane. History shows that our societies have grown stronger through solidarity”, claims Hanna Cederin from Ung Vänster, Sweden.
The cross-border freedom of movement has been an important principle of the Nordic Region since the 1950’s. The Nordic welfare states are based on the values of equality, freedom and safety. Lately we have been witnessing how Nordic politicians have sold these values one by one.
It is shameful that the Nordic countries are both making the asylum seeking process more complicated and attacking the ones in the most vulnerable positions, the paperless migrants. Instead of competing with each other by comparing which government is implementing the most racist kind of political agenda, the Nordic Countries should make sure that all refugees are helped.
Norway and Finland have also increased their border control especially on the Northern parts of their border. “In Norway we have witnessed the consequences of the inhumane refugee policy. Two Chechens were tortured to death after being wrongly refused asylum in Norway”, says Nicholas Wilkinson from Sosialistisk Ungdom, Norway.
The Nordic countries can do better. Discrimination and inequality create unsafety. We need Nordic cooperation to solve the refugee crisis and to help people effectively. “’Now is not the time to give up for racist populism, but to show political backbone. The freedom of movement in the Nordic countries and in the whole Europe has to be guaranteed now and in the future”, claims Anni Ahlakorpi from the Left Youth of Finland.
More information:
Anni Ahlakorpi
Chairperson, the Left Youth of Finland
+358 40 5454 753
anni@vasemmistonuoret.fi
Nicholas Wilkinson
Leader, Socialist Youth Party of Norway
+47 915 42 044
nicholas@su.no
Hanna Cederin
President, The Young Left of Sweden
(+46) 725 878 685
hanna@ungvanster.se