Human Rights

Framsókn advocates for human rights, respect for the individual and the family. Framsókn will always defend freedom of opinion and expression, religious freedom, and privacy.
Framsókn prioritises human value over monetary value and wants everyone to have equal access to education, development, fundamental living conditions, and natural resources, regardless of origin, health, and economic status.
Framsókn wants no one in Iceland to live in poverty, ensuring everyone has secure shelter and no one lives in unacceptable conditions.
Framsókn seeks to promote a society where everyone can be active participants with equal rights regardless of financial and social status.
All rights associated with adulthood should be active at 18 years of age.

Immigration and Asylum Seekers

Framsókn emphasises the importance of a holistic view of immigrant issues and asylum seekers with humanity and respect, ensuring that immigration laws are clear and their implementation effective and in line with good governance.

Framsókn wants an inclusive approach to immigration matters that activates all people for participation, acknowledges and respects diversity, and makes provision for it. Inclusion is a collaborative project for the entire society.

Iceland is a multicultural society, which requires work on inclusion across most areas of society to promote the active participation of immigrants equally both in society and the labour market. The increase in immigrants has positively impacted the Icelandic economy and cultural diversity, but it has also brought challenges and tasks. As a community, we have had to support the inclusion of new residents, some of whom come from different cultural backgrounds.

Framsókn emphasises that key to inclusion is better access to Icelandic language and civic education for immigrants of all ages and at all educational levels, as well as recognition of immigrants' knowledge and experience. It is important that immigrants have access to diverse and accessible Icelandic language teaching.

Framsókn wants to implement incentives for learning Icelandic and ensure immigrants' right to Icelandic lessons during work hours at no cost to them. Furthermore, Framsókn wants to increase the number of teachers with professional expertise in teaching Icelandic as a second language to adults, improve the course offerings and teaching materials in this area.

Framsókn wants the government to focus on supporting technological advances that facilitate learning Icelandic.

Framsókn wants access to information for people who wish to settle in Iceland to be uniform and available in major languages.

Framsókn wants to enhance democratic education among immigrants with the aim of increasing their democratic and electoral participation. Framsókn wants increased civic education as part of inclusion into Icelandic society to enhance immigrants' understanding of their rights, opportunities, and duties in Icelandic society and its effects on their daily lives.

Special consideration should be given to the well-being of children who move here and those who are second-generation immigrants. Children's participation in sports and leisure activities is an essential part of their inclusion, and Framsókn wants to continue increasing participation of children of foreign origin. Framsókn wants to support mother tongue education for children.

Framsókn wants to increase support for children of foreign origin according to the needs and circumstances of each child in the initial years after their arrival in the country, regardless of age and school level. Framsókn aims to significantly strengthen the school system's ability to teach Icelandic as a second language and to increase support for preschools to accommodate children of foreign origin, as well as increasing the variety of Icelandic language courses in secondary schools.

Framsókn emphasises that the government and municipalities must have a coherent comprehensive policy regarding immigrants and asylum seekers.

Framsókn wants to make it easier for people from non-EEA countries to apply for work permits. Framsókn also wants changes to legislation regarding temporary work and residence permits so that work permits are not tied to a single employer. Framsókn seeks to facilitate immigrants' access to formal recognition of their skills and qualifications obtained abroad. Additionally, career and educational counselling should be made available to adult immigrants throughout the country.

Asylum Seekers

Framsókn aims to give a warm welcome to those who have received international protection here. Framsókn holds that in processing asylum applications, human rights should be a guiding principle, with laws implemented efficiently and organisation of applications and services conducted properly. The asylum application system should be based on prudence, realism, and humanity, according to the country's infrastructure. Humanitarian perspectives and international obligations must be foundational to the adjudication of asylum applications.

The cost of the protection system has significantly increased in recent years, partly due to groundless asylum applications. This trend needs to be reversed to reduce costs, by ensuring fast processing times for asylum applications, while guaranteeing fair processing for applicants. It is inhumane for people to remain here in long-term uncertainty about their future. It is also crucial that the legislation regarding this issue aligns with that of the Nordic countries at all times and that specific Icelandic rules in the system are eliminated. The deportation of those not granted protection here must be expedited as much as possible. Moreover, it is necessary to align deportation authorities concerning individuals who have received international protection and those who have obtained residence permits based on Act No. 80/2016 and have committed serious crimes that threaten public order, safety, or health. Framsókn wants refugees to have access to specialised mental health services with the goal of reducing the negative impacts of trauma.

Framsókn insists that the human rights of children fleeing must be guaranteed and that their interests be paramount in decisions regarding their stay here, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Framsókn opposes the idea of children seeking asylum being housed in closed accommodation solutions for asylum seekers. It is important to facilitate the inclusion of children into Icelandic society.

Framsókn wants all children who have been granted international protection to be assigned a case manager according to the second level of services under the Act on Service Integration for the Benefit of Children's Well-being. The role of the case manager includes developing a support plan and coordinating available services. Framsókn wants increased consultation with municipalities regarding the reception and service for asylum seekers and policy development in the matter. It is necessary to encourage more municipalities to take part in receiving asylum seekers in Iceland to distribute the pressure on the municipalities' infrastructure. Additionally, the infrastructure of the municipalities should be strengthened to accommodate asylum seekers.

Issues Affecting the Homeless with Complex Problems

Framsókn emphasises that homeless people with complex problems receive support for a better life. It is important for the government and municipalities to work together to develop solutions based on the Housing First and harm reduction philosophies. Framsókn wants municipalities where the homeless have domicile to efficiently manage services for their residents.

LGBTQ+ Issues

Framsókn supports the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights and emphasises that Iceland should always be at the forefront when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights.

Knowledge about LGBTQ+ issues is the foundation of the human rights struggle, and therefore it is important that education on LGBTQ+ issues is accessible. Framsókn wants to increase the emphasis on LGBTQ+ education at primary, secondary, and upper secondary level in accordance with the age and maturity of the students. Additionally, education on gender identity, sexual orientation, and diverse sexual characteristics should be part of parental education in health centres.

Efforts should be made to update legal language and regulations to be gender-neutral.

Efforts should be made to ensure access to gender-neutral changing facilities in swimming pools and sports venues.

Issues Regarding People with Disabilities

Everyone should have the opportunity to be full participants in their community. Therefore, it is important to eliminate social and environmental barriers that prevent people with disabilities from such participation. Framsókn supports the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It is crucial that the government and municipalities agree on the organisation of services for people with disabilities and fully fund them. Framsókn emphasises the need to significantly reduce the waiting time for the diagnosis of children. In this context, early intervention is a key factor. It is necessary to ensure that appropriate solutions are available for children with disabilities and their families. Support for families of people with disabilities is also needed. The service provision for people with disabilities should be organised in such a way that they can always make use of it.

Housing Development for People with Disabilities

It is crucial to ensure funding from the government to municipalities for the development of diverse housing for people with disabilities. Ways to expedite construction in a cost-effective manner must be explored.

Digital Services

Digital technology should serve as a tool for increased inclusion and participation of people with disabilities. When designing all digital services, the accessibility for people with disabilities must be considered. Access to digital services must be ensured for people with disabilities who do not have electronic ID.

Inclusion and Employment Participation

All systems in society must make provisions for people with disabilities to ensure they have equal opportunities as others.

Framsókn wants people with disabilities to have the opportunity to participate in the labour market and seeks to continue supporting and improving employment initiatives such as supported employment.

Equality

Framsókn rejects any kind of discrimination that differentiates between people, for example, based on race, gender identity, language, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, sex characteristics, gender identity, residence, or political views.

Framsókn supports the right to abortion and reiterates the importance of easy access to contraception. Access to menstrual products in senior grades of primary and secondary schools must also be ensured.

Framsókn recognises the importance of parental leave in terms of gender equality and emphasises that this right should always be protected.

Framsókn stresses that the work toward equality is an ongoing political challenge.