Cities of Refuge 1
Safety and confidentiality It is rare that a pers
on arriving via ICORN will be physically threatened in Sweden. Threats and harassment over the internet may occur. As for everyone in Sweden, it is the police who are responsible for handling these crimes. It is important to strike the right balance when discussing security. An artist’s own fears, political changes in their country of origin and the current situation in Sweden or in the City of Refuge should be taken seriously without exaggerating the risks. Coming to a City of Refuge is an entirely new situation for the artist in residence. Arriving at an unfamiliar place can generate feelings of insecurity, so, at an early stage, it can be important to have an in-depth conversation with the person in order to understand how they feel about their situation, security and risks. ICORN is happy to help and provide advice about practical solutions, and on how a person can be in the public sphere or appear publicly without giving their real name or revealing any other sensitive information. ICORN encourages Cities of Refuge to use the competence and assistance of the local police and the security department to assess the situation locally and to make security plans. ICORN recommends organising an introductory meeting concerning security and confidentiality before the arrival of the artist, with the local police and the municipal security officer. Investigate who in the City’s administration is responsible for security. Invite that person to a meeting and tell them what you know about the future artist in residence. A City of Refuge can create the conditions needed for a secure environment. If the artist tells others where they live and uses the internet and telephone in a careless manner, any security measures that the City of Refuge has taken will be useless. The city needs to be clear about the conditions under which security is offered. There are many practical solutions available for increasing safety for the artist in residence, though these solutions depend on the wishes of the artist. It is usually the artist in residence who knows the risks they are exposed to and which they are willing to take, and it is the artist who makes decisions regarding their own safety. The principle of public access to information Sweden applies the principle of public access to information. This means that everyone has the right to access public domain documents that have not been classified as secret. Public domain documents 38/49