Paul Lappalainen 2014-02-15 Reva - Litigating Ethnic Profiling

REVA: Litigating Ethnic Profiling!

20140215 ABF-huset, Sveavägen 41, Stockholm

Paul Lappalainen,

Senior advisor, Swedish Equality Ombudsman

paul.lappalainen@do.se

paul.lappalainen@do.se

The Blue and Yellow Glass House: Structural Discrimination in Sweden(Det blågula glashuset: strukturell diskriminering i Sverige SOU 2005:56)

With ethnic profiling, we see just ”them”!

paul.lappalainen@do.se

Some issues

Are police stop/search actions concerning aliens covered by the Discrim Act?

DL 2:17. Contacts with the public. But judgments, official actions not covered according to legislative history (förarbeten).

Can the DO bring a discrimination case (ECHR) if the Discrimination Act does not apply???

Not so far…

What about stop documentation like the UK? Voluntary self-identification recommended in the Glass House

paul.lappalainen@do.se

Problems going forward

The STATE is good. Especially the police.

NGOs want laws but seldom effectively participate in legislation or litigation

Laws protecting less powerful interests often lack (effective) remedies

Loser pays system

Lack of a progressive network of lawyers

Interplay of politics/law misunderstood

Finding an individual complainant

paul.lappalainen@do.se

Moving forward

Testing the limits of the DL

Testing penal code 16:9 - unlawful discrimination by public officials

Testing penal code 20:1 – misuse of office (tjänstefel) / plus damages

Violation of European conv on HR

Political leadership re police management

NGO legal actions? Funding?

That was easy !?!?! Thank you!

Page 6

Step 1 – Civil society advocacy

STEP 2 – Civil society role in implementation of laws/policies

paul.lappalainen@do.se

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."

Margaret Mead

How to lobby? http://www.united.non-profit.nl/pages/info21.htm