Sweden

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Address: John Paul II’s Pastoral Centre, Brunnsgränd 4, 111 30 Stockholm, Sweden
Postal Address: Caritas Sverige, Box 2150, 103 14, Stockholm, Sweden
Telephone: +46 8 50557674 Fax: +46 8 225620
Email: caritas@caritas.se
www.caritas.se

Caritas Sweden’s long commitment to safeguarding human rights began in 1946, as Bishop Müller provided care for thousands of European refugees who migrated to Sweden after World War II. Four years later, his persistent and unwavering labor of love for the vulnerable resulted in the opening of a clinic for the refugees in Stockholm in 1950. For the next 37 years this work continued until the organization underwent a restructuring in 1987 that shifted the attention to the development of the Global South and social pastoral work in Sweden. During the following years Caritas Sweden expanded the scope of these programs, until it was forced to scale down its work radically in 2007.

All the while, Caritas Sweden’s advocacy work to protect the human rights of migrants and refugees, and its human trafficking prevention campaigns continued to be central elements of its efforts to protect the marginalized and the victims. On the national as well as on the international level, Caritas Sweden’s advocacy work defends the fundamental human rights of asylum seekers and refugees. Its range of programs also includes poverty alleviation, counseling and support to migrants, refugees and victims of human trafficking in Sweden.

At the end of 2013 Caritas Sweden began a period of restructuring and rebuilding. It will for the foreseeable future focus on building up the capacity of the local parishes to carry out charitable work in their own surroundings. The aim is to build up a net-work of local Caritas groups in the 40 plus parishes of the diocese (the Catholic diocese of Stockholm includes the entire country). The efforts to assist migrants, refuges and victims of trafficking will go on and be strengthened.

At the same time the international efforts will continue, and they will focus on fundraising campaigns in order to help finance projects and relief efforts organized by other Caritas organizations. At a later stage the international involvement will become more active again.
Caritas Sweden headquarters is located in Stockholm.

Updates from Sweden

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