In the city of Reykjavik, Iceland a number of people formed a preparation group for founding a human rights organization last autumn. The organization was formally founded on the 15th of June and got the name: Humanright Organization for Immigrants in Iceland and their families. As the name implies the main task of the newly formed group is to work for improvements for the small number of immigrant families in the very white Iceland.

Among the main issues on the agenda are:

• To have the existence of immigrants in Iceland recognized within the laws.
• A clear line shall be drawn between overseas workers (contract workers, foreign workforce) and immigrants within the laws.
• The family and family connections shall be officially defined for the purpose of being taken into consideration in all public procedures and decisions made on immigrants applications.
• To gain and ever strengthen the position of immigrants and their families towards fundamental, general and specific human rights.
• To gain rights for immigrants towards residency - and working permits. Foreign spouses of Icelandic citizens should get these permits right away.
• To make immigrant families equal to other families in the country, with special consideration of: civil-, social-, cultural-, political- and economical rights.
• To have the authorities cease it's hindering actions against immigrants and their families.
• That health insurance, parallel to our public health/insurance system, are readily available at fair price for immigrant family members that do not qualify for our public health/insurance system. Insurance must cover emergency treatments after accidents or sickness at minimums.
• A specialized office shall be founded, a sort of family- or social advising office to work and decide on requests and needs of immigrant families regarding such things as i.e. residency permits, work permits, cultural education, orientation of an alien and education instead of these matters being on the hands of the police as now is. Specialized staff is necessary in such an office, educated i.e. within the fields of sociology, education or psychology.
• To get education of immigrants from the homeland or other countries recognized and valid to the uttermost.
• To follow, review and criticize all discussion in the society on immigrant issues and other related issues.
• Icelandic authorities should recognize and do all fundamental human rights by following in all ways and by all means the "Declaration of Human Rights" of the "United Nations" and all international covenants drawn from it.

The Icelandic authorities have been known for sending short and strange reports to the international parties that request information on foreigners/immigrant status in Iceland and on discrimination and racism. The message from Iceland to the world has then been: Nothing is wrong in Iceland, no discrimination and no racism. There is no wonder that the authorities find no discrimination against immigrants as there are no laws over immigrants in the country. As a matter of fact the word immigrant/immigration or any substitute for it can not be found in any laws of the state. It's not wrong is it, to say that no discrimination is against a group of people when that very group doesn't exist in the country? I leave that moral dilemma to the reader to solve.

Two separate laws are in use on foreigners issues in Iceland. One used for residence permits and the rights to travel and stay in Iceland is implied by the Icelandic immigration service which is actually under the state-police and therefore also under the Ministry of Justice. The other laws are about the rights of foreigners to work in Iceland and are implied by the office of labor which works under the Ministry of Social Affairs.

According to the Icelandic law there are three group of foreigners in the country; refugees, European citizens and other foreigners. The status of these "other foreigners" is very bad. Generally they are Overseas Contract Workers (OCW) which are hired by Icelandic companies on special OCW contracts. As such the company granted working permits can use the labor of the foreigners for up to three years without the foreigners gaining any rights. After three years the individual gains certain rights and may be granted a working and residence permit. The process of hiring a foreign workforce like this is complicated and all procedures are difficult.

All immigrants in Iceland fall under these laws. For example an Icelandic citizen who marries a foreigner runs into trouble when trying to gain working and residence permits for the spouse. The only way is to find a company that is willing to apply for an OCW permit and allow the spouse to work there as such. The OCW permits are not only bound to one employer but also to a particular position within that company. Icelandic authorities make an active search for an Icelander to fill the vacant position for the company applying for the spouse. If an Icelander is found on the less than 2% unemployment lists in Iceland they may not grant the working permit for the spouse. And, if an Icelander wants the job that has been given to a foreigner, the foreigner has to yield. It's important to understand that the OCW work permits are granted to the employer, but not to the employee. Therefore a foreign spouse of an Icelandic citizen is not allowed to make a living in Iceland for the first 3 years of residency at least. The very person may have an Icelandic citizen as a husband or wife, children that are also citizens but, is not allowed to work.

A new bill from the government was introduced last winter and will be processed thru the parliament in a few weeks or so. The new human rights organization is trying to gain political support to fight against it and has already criticized the new bill in 13 pages of review. The new laws are about foreigners (not working rights of foreigners though the old law still applies there) and has many faults, i.e. over 40 places where different authorities and their staff are allowed to set rules and regulation, which is totally unacceptable. Immigrant issues are so sensitive that such an incomplete law is ideal for misuse by the officials who have all sorts of views and ideas on immigrants. The fact is that under the old law there was much difference in how similar cases were handled by the same authorities. To mention other terrors of the new bill, there is no search warrant needed to enter homes and searching personal belongings of foreigners as is needed for other people. There is going to be punishment for up to 2 years imprisonment for helping a foreigner with shelter or work.

And not in any way (does the law) distinguish between immigrants who live in Iceland with their families and foreigners with no relation to the country at all.

The new organization is trying to establish connection to other such organizations and parties worldwide and welcomes any help. Sadly, the news in Iceland today report that neo-nazism is growing and the Internet is making it easy for young and morally lost people to get addicted to such perverted ideas. Iceland is acting outwards as the most mature country concerning human rights, "a leading nation in human rights" said the foreign minister few weeks ago. Well, Mr. Minister, how about to start at home?

With best regards from Iceland.

Gudjon Atlason,

Humanrights Organization of Immigrants in Iceland and their families.
P.O. Box 9384, IS-129
Reykjavik, Iceland

e-mail: humanice@hotmail.com

Originally written July 4, 1999.

Published in In Motion Magazine September 20, 1999.