Re: SWEDISH Law on Electrohypersensitivity

[Guest guest]

Swedish Law on ES

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 Ã…berg, 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, mål 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€â€œKammarrättens i Göteborg dom 2007-07-11 i mÃ¥l nr

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

2007-01-18
i mÃ¥l nr 1582-06).â€