RE: Swedish law! What about our Human Rights in our Countries?

[Guest guest]

In Sweden, electrohypersensitivity
 (EHS)* is an

officially fully recognized functional impairment (i.e., it is not regarded as

a disease, thus no diagnosis* exists; N.B. This is not special for Sweden, the

terms " functional impairment " and " disease " are defined

according to various international documents (see below)). Thus, the first step

for a person in Sweden with a functional impairment is to contact the

municipality’s special civil servant for disability issues, as well as the

various handicap organizations and authorities, to achieve accessability

measures of various types with the sole aim to have an equal life in a society

based on equality (according to the The UN 22 Standard Rules on the

Equalization of Opportunities for People with Disabilities - since 2007

upgraded into The UN Convention on Human Rights for Persons with Functional

Impairments, http://www.un.org).

 

[*It’s symptoms are classified as an

occupationally-related symptom-based diagnosis (code ICD-10) by the Nordic

Council of Ministers since 2000. DIVS: 2000:839; ISBN:

92-893-0559-2http://www.nordclass.uu.se/verksam/yrke_s.htm]

 

Persons with the functional impairment

electrohypersensitivity have their own handicap organization, The Swedish

Association for the Electrohypersensitive (http://www.feb.se; the website has an

English

version). This organization is included in The Swedish Disability Federation

(Handikappförbundens SamarbetsOrgan; HSO; http://www.hso.se;

the site has an English short version). As a consequence of this, The Swedish

Association for the Electrohypersensitive receives an annual governmental

subsidy.

 

In Sweden, impairments are viewed from the point of

the environment. No human being is in itself impaired, there are instead

shortcomings in the environment that cause the impairment. Thus, it is the

environment that should be “treatedâ€! This environment-related impairment

view

means that even though one does not have a scientifically-based complete

explanation for the impairment electrohypersensitivity, and in contrast to

disagreements in the scientific society, the person with

electrohypersensitivity shall always be met in a respectful way and with all

necessary support with the single goal to eliminate the impairment.

 

An impairment is - by definition - not defined by

someone else or proven by certain tests, etc. The impairment is always personal

(private) and develops when in contact with an inferior environment.

 

[N.B. Remember that functional impairments are only

based upon each individual’s impaired accessability to - and contact with - an

inferior environment (cf. the UN), thus, there is actually no need for any

“recognition†in local laws (cf. the UN). In Sweden, the former Minister of

Health and Social Affairs, Lars Engqvist - as a member of the previous

government - anyhow gave his “approval†in a letter dated May, 2000

[Regeringskansliet 2000-04-06, Dnr S2000/2158/ST]. He also made it clear in his

response that for EHS persons there are no restrictions or exceptions in the

handicap laws and regulations. Thus, these laws and regulations are to be fully

applied also for EHS persons.]

 

Treating members of the community equally is not

something that should be done as a favour; nor is it something that any

parliament or government should politely request other inhabitants to provide

others with. Equality is not something to be done “out of the goodness of

one’s

heartâ€. It is something one does because it is expected of every citizen,

because inaccessibility and discrimination are prohibited by law. Thus, it is

not alright to deliberately make your symptoms worse. This implies that the

person with electrohypersensitivity should have the opportunity to live and

work in an electrosanitised environment. To force a person to quit one's

employment or to move from one's home is a serious legal violation.

 

The electrically hypersensitive must therefore, in

every situation and by all available means, demand respect¸ representation and

power. They shall very clearly reject all approaches which reflect 
a

mentality

of “feeling pity for them†or “caring for themâ€. Inaccessibility is not

a

personal problem. It is a problem for society. Inaccessibility is not about

attitudes. It is about discrimination. And discriminatory actions and conduct

shall not be dealt with 
by well-meaning talk about treatment. Discrimination

is already illegal!

 

This view can fully be motivated in relation to

national and
international handicap laws and regulations, including the UN

22
Standard Rules/UN Convention and the Swedish Action Plan for 
Persons

with

Impairments (prop. 1999/2000:79 “Den nationella 
handlingplanen för

handikappolitiken – FrÃ¥n patient till medborgareâ€; Proposition

1999/2000:79,

1999/2000:SoU14). Also, the Human Rights Act in the EU fully applies.

 

I say, there must be an end to nonchalance, lack of

consideration, indifference and lack of respect on the part of society. Never

accept discriminatory treatment or an insulting special treatment. Stand up for

other’s rights and in this way you’ll stand up for your own future!

 

I would like to quote the very wise words of Jan

Åberg, a freelance writer in Trollhättan, Sweden, “Everything that happens

to

us human beings only happens as long as we accept itâ€. For how long will your

authorities and their civil servants accept it? Would they demand the same type

of proofs if it was about themselves, their children, mother, father…?

 

Finally, remember we all must adhere to and follow all

the handicap laws and regulations. To do the opposite is a serious violation

and should immediately be reported/filed as an official legal complaint to your

local authorities, parliament, government, the EU and the UN. This is of

particular importance since Katri Linna, the former Swedish

Diskrimineringsombudsman (=the Equality Ombudsman), clearly states in the

newspaper Sydsvenskan (January 23-26,

2009; http://sydsvenskan.se/chattarkiv/article408013.ece)

that “electrohypersensitivity is – according to the law – a functional

impairment and I recommend EHS persons that are discriminated to file a

complaintâ€.

 

In addition, please, also note the following governmental

documents (in Swedish).

The Swedish Association for the

Electrohypersensitive gets a governmental subsidy as a handicap organization

according to SFS 2000:7 §2 (SFS = The Swedish Governmental Statute-Book)

[Regeringsbeslut 950621 nr. 8, Dnr: S1995/2965].

EHS persons’ right to get disablement

allowances has been settled in the The Swedish Supreme Administrative Court,

i.a. in the judgement 
â€dom 2003-01-29, mÃ¥l nr. 6684-2001″.

Here are, in addition, two cases when two

people with EHS - through the
conclusions in courts - getting the right to

support (from the state).

“Kammarrättens i Jönköping dom 2002-05-15 i mål

nr 2644-2001 ang bilstöd till G., född 1966, bl.a.

elöverkänslighet.â€

“Kammarrättens i Göteborg dom 2007-07-11 i mål

nr 1229-07 ang. bilstöd för SP, född år 1953. (Länsrätten i Göteborgs dom

2007-01-18
i mÃ¥l nr 1582-06).â€

 

Kindly Translated by Olle Johanson

(Olle Johansson, assoc. prof.

The Experimental Dermatology Unit

Department of Neuroscience

Karolinska Institute

171 77 Stockholm

Sweden

 

&

 

Professor

The Royal Institute of Technology

100 44 Stockholm

Sweden)