Seeking safety: Migration and the right to asylum

War, climate change, persecution, and lack of access to food, water, and healthcare force millions of people to flee their homes every year. At the same time, the EU and Sweden are increasingly resorting to violent measures to prevent people from seeking safety in Europe.

By using the law as a tool, we work to ensure stronger legal safeguards and to protect and promote the rights and freedoms of migrants and asylum seekers.

Learn more

Latest

Lack of protection against hate crimes, discrimination, and for indigenous rights – our shadow report to the UN

  • News, Sweden
  • 8 November 2024

In the spring of 2025, the UN will review how Sweden respects human rights. Ahead of the review by t…

Civil Rights Defenders concerned as Italy sends asylum seekers to Albania 

  • News
  • 19 September 2024

Two reception centres have been built in Albania. This is part of an agreement made between Italy an…
Children at a refugee camp.

How Sweden should carry out the EU Migration Pact

  • Europe, News, Sweden
  • 20 June 2024

On May 14, the EU Council gave the green light to the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, which the Swedis…
EU-flagga med taggtråd

The EU’s new migration and asylum pact hollows out the right to asylum

  • Europe, News
  • 11 April 2024

Yesterday, the EU Parliament voted through the European Union’s migration pact after seve…
Learn more

For stronger legal safeguards

Civil Rights Defenders works together with Human Rights Watch to ensure that the fundamental rights and freedoms of people on the move are respected. We hold those responsible to account when human rights are violated, whether in detention at the Italian border or in camps in Libya.

Learn more

The EU Migration Pact undermines the right to asylum

After years of negotiations between EU member states, the European Parliament voted through a new migration and asylum pact. It undermines the right to seek and be granted asylum and will lead to significantly increased suffering. Among other things, more children and adults will be placed in detention, and inadequate, accelerated asylum procedures will be more common.

Learn more

Rights Beyond Borders

The Swedish Postcode Lottery is supporting Civil Rights Defenders and Human Rights Watch with SEK 19.5 million for the project Rights Beyond Borders. This support enables us to strengthen legal safeguards for the millions of people forced to flee their homes.

Svenska Postkodlotteriet logotyp

Legal advice

Civil Rights Defenders offers several types of support and advice. For example, free information and guidance on how to protect your rights in cases of discrimination, migration, or when you need help with security.

Learn more

Press and media

Are you a journalist looking to book an interview with one of our experts on migration and the right of asylum?

For more information and inquiries, please contact us here:
+46 (0)76 576 27 62 / press@crd.org

Find our pressroom here

Support brave human rights defenders

Support us