Important LawsEvery Man's RightThe Every Man's Right (Allemansrätt) is unique for Sweden. It is a right based on practice and it has medieval traditions. It dates back to the time when Sweden was a very sparsely populated country and travelling could be a big and dangerous experience. Between the villages there were vast areas of forests that didn't really belong to anyone and there was almost no forestry. Only outlaws and malefactors stayed in the woods.But sometimes people had to travel through the forest and then they had the right to collect what they needed for survival during the journey, for example, nuts, acorns, wood, grass for the horse and timber for repairing a broken carriage. This was regulated in the provincial laws. The laws reflect the value of the things to be found in the woods. For example, there are no restrictions on berries. They are simply not as nutritious as hazelnuts. The provincial laws didn't only guarantee rights but also limited rights and stated the punishment for those who exceeded these rights. The Every Man's Right, that we today mostly think of as a right for everyone to use the nature for recreation and tourism, was thus a way to survive from the beginning. At the end of the 19th century, tourism and outdoor living became popular in Sweden. This caused claims for a more modern regulation of Every Man's Right, but the proposition was not accepted. The rights were formed for a medieval society where farming was the main occupation, not for a modern industrialised society. But the Every Man's Right has an important cultural/historical value as a right based on practice and should hopefully be kept that way. It is a matter of information and understanding. It is important to understand that Every Man's Right isn't just a matter of freedom but also a matter of responsibility. The Principle of public access to official recordsThe principle of public access to official records is inscribed in the Swedish constitution. The principle means that all official records should be accessible for the citizens, when nothing else is decided. Openness should be the rule and secrecy the exception. But every rule for publicity has a corresponding rule for secrecy.The principle confirms that anyone has the right of access to the authorities' public documents, unless they are classified. Civil servants and others working for the authorities are obliged to tell others what they know, to give information to media, unless this information is strictly confidential. Court proceedings as well as sittings in Parliament and in local and regional authorities are open to the public and media. There can however be exceptions made from each of these rights. Documents concerning foreign policy, defence and private matters such as medical and social care are generally classified. Restrictions are also made with respect to national security. Compulsory military serviceIn Sweden, since 1901, every man between the age 18-47 is by law compelled to compulsory military service. At age 18 you are called to a conscription were its decided if you are fit for military service. Then its decided what type of service branch you are going to join, the army, the airforce or the navy. At the age of 20 you are drafted and the basic training lasts between 7,5 and 15 months depending on type of position. After the basic training you are regularly called to military refresher courses.
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