Scars from the past threaten democracy today

Last week's debate spreads uneasily between several areas related to global developments - from environmental issues in international trade to antibiotic resistance. But what dominates the debate are issues that connect scars from the past and contemporary threats to democracy and human rights.

With the memory of the Crystal Night 80 years ago, several debaters draw connections to today's development. Olle Katz, chairman of the Jews for Israeli-Palestinian Peace, and Lisa Granér, a witness to the persecution of Jews in Vienna, use rich environmental descriptions that paint the anti-Semitic horrors of World War II. They are now appealing to the people to be the pillars of a democratic, equal and open society. "See clearly and act, otherwise Kristallnatten is here again," they write.

Aftonbladet's editorial writer Anders Lindberg describes the war in Bosnia during the 1990s to highlight the danger of the increased nationalist forces around the world. History's quota of mass murder, persecution and sexual abuse creates the basis for contemporary threats. "But the nationalists for their success depend on us forgetting their history and the consequences of the ideas," he writes.

Anna Lindenfors at Amnesty International and Ingrid Lomfors at the Forum for Living History are also concerned about human rights. They call on Sweden's next government to continue to support women's rights and abortion rights around the world. This after Teodora del Carmen Vásquez from El Salvador visited Sweden. She has been in prison for ten years for an abortion, after giving birth to a stillborn child.

Representatives from We Affect Latin America are hooked on the same theme and want to increase Swedish support for human rights in Latin America - when other actors stifle their support.

Jesper Bengtsson, editor-in-chief of Tiden Magasin, is also considering how Swedish development assistance can support human rights around the world. But instead of advocating for more support, he questions aid to Tanzania. This is after the authorities in the country have created a special force that will look up and convict homosexuals.

"It is unreasonable to restrict all aid. But when political leaders in a country start talking about God's wrath against homosexuals, it is still time to review its direction ", writes Jesper Bengtsson.

Among the independent writers, there is a common thread: there are threats to humans from several quarters, something that must be addressed through global engagement.