We cannot understand that a Swedish minister once more has been assassinated. The information yesterday evening that Anna Lindh had been stabbed at NK in Stockholm and the message this morning that it was not possible to save her life because of the serious wounds she got, made us very sad and upset.
That there is a lot of violence and crime in the world – also in Sweden – is of course no surprise or news to us occupied daily in social work. But that a young Swedish woman who goes shopping at a department store is stabbed with a knife because she has a strong political engagement and responsibility, shock us as much as it has shocked people in Sweden.
It does not fit into the picture we have of the Swedish “People’s Home” (the Swedish Model). Maybe the “People’s Home” is an old illusion and utopia, but such visions are almost even more important in today’s world then when they were created.
We must all continue our work to fulfil the dream about a community based on social justice, democracy an participation. That is the best way to honour the memory of a visionary politician and a warm fellow-being.
We mourn the death of Anna together with you and our thoughts are with her family, colleagues and the whole nation.
Berne, Switzerland 11 September 2003
International Federation of Social Workers