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Under current law, a woman must have a relationship with a Swedish man for at least two years to obtain a permanent residence permit. The “two-year rule” has previously been criticized by the country’s women’s shelters for locking women up in relationships with violent men.
One who testified how difficult it can be the pregnant mother of two Betty who reported her partner to the police for assault and is now at risk of deportation.
– He used to say: You don’t have papers, if you go I’ll take your daughter and they’ll send you home, he told DN.
The proposal for future Swedish migration laws now runs the risk of complicating the situation for these women, according to the National Organization for Women’s Shelters and Girls’ Shelters in Sweden, Roks.
The Minister for Gender Equality, Åsa Lindhagen (MP), shares that image.
– I have great concern for women in this situation and have done it before. They come to Sweden and they are with Swedish men who expose them to a lot, it can be very serious violence, and then they are sitting in a situation that can be extremely difficult to get out of.
The proposal implies, among other things that temporary residence permits become the main rule and can be extended for two years at a time indefinitely. That worries Åsa Lindhagen.
– Of course there are men who take advantage of this. It offers an even greater opportunity to exert control over a woman and suits some men. These men shouldn’t have a free card to use violence, he says.
Under the proposal, a permanent residence permit can only be applied for after three years, in which case, among other things, requirements are set for language and social skills and for the person to be able to support themselves.
The bill was drafted by a parliamentary migration commission that has been working on the issue for a year. The results, in the form of a report, were delivered to the Ministry of Justice in mid-September.
Member of Parliament Rikard Larsson (S), who has served on the Migration Committee, defended the report in a previous interview with DN.
– Today it is included in the proposal that the woman must receive an independent residence permit if the man with whom she is associated uses violence and rapes her. We would never accept a situation where you can use force to try to keep a woman, he says.
The so-called violence clause it is also in current legislation but, according to Gender Equality Minister Åsa Lindhagen, it does not provide strong enough protection.
– It requires flagrant violence and that it is repeated violence. This means that it is not possible to walk in the first place. You can be very scared, of course. Will I be able to prove this? Do I dare to go to the police? They will be very aggravating circumstances for these women.
Thomas Rolén, president of the Migration Commission and Minister of Migration Morgan Johansson (SocDem) will offer a press conference in relation to the presentation of the Commission’s report with proposals for a new migration policy.
Photo: Marko Säävälä / TT
Migration Minister Morgan Johansson (SocDem) is already determined to continue with the report.
– The purpose of the two-year rule is to avoid sham marriages. It’s a difficult trade-off and the rule has been around for a long time. The government has just received the report and it will be forwarded. Then the consultation bodies will have the opportunity to present comments on the proposals, also in this part, he says.
The plan is for new legislation to be put in place when the temporary law expires in July next year.
