Children’s rights

The Government has adopted a national action plan to implement the European Council Recommendation establishing a European Child Guarantee. The European Child Guarantee aims to prevent and combat social exclusion by guaranteeing the access of children in need to a set of key services.

Swedish legislation provides the conditions for all children to have actual access to the basic community services referred to in the Child Guarantee. In addition, most of the services are free of charge.

At a dialogue meeting of the Child Rights Delegation on 3 March, Minister for Health and Social Affairs Lena Hallengren heard an assessment of the situation of children due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Today, the Govern­ment presen­ted a bill to the Riksdag contain­ing proposals for enhanced protection of children involved in inter­national custody disputes and other inter­national family law cases. The pro­posals com­plement a previously adopted EU Regulation.

The Govern­ment has presented a bill to the Riksdag contain­ing pro­posals for equitable and inclusive rules con­cerning parent­hood in inter­national situations.

On 27 October, the Government appointed an inquiry to survey and analyse how regulatory frameworks, organisational arrangements and processes in Sweden’s intercountry adoption activities have operated in the past and up to the present. Professor of Civil Law Anna Singer, a specialist in family law of the Faculty of Law of Uppsala University, has been appointed Inquiry Chair. The lessons learned should provide guidance in the development of Sweden’s intercountry adoption activities going forward.

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde are travelling to New York for the opening of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 21 September 2021.

Men’s violence against women must stop. This is a priority issue for the Government. In the Budget Bill for 2022, the Government proposes a range of measures to prevent and combat men’s violence against women and honour-based violence and oppression. This involves permanent funds and government grants, and a sheltered housing reform for adults and children who are subjected to violence.

The Government has appointed an Inquiry Chair who will propose a national strategy to prevent and combat violence against children, including honour-based violence and oppression. The strategy should take an integrated and coherent approach to preventing and combating violence against children over the next ten years. The decision is based on an agreement between the Government, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

The Government has adopted an action plan for equal rights and opportunities for LGBTIQ people. The action plan contains concrete measures to strengthen the rights and opportunities of LGBTIQ people in the coming years. The action plan applies until 2023 but also contains strategic initiatives to ensure that the efforts continue in the long-term.

Preventing and combating men’s violence against women and honour-related violence and oppression is a highly prioritised issue for the Government. By adopting decision on the appropriation directions for 2021, the Government has allocated SEK 240 million to efforts combating violence and given several government agencies assignments in this area. Several assignments will focus on stopping honour-related violence and oppression. An additional SEK 130 million has also been allocated to the county administrative boards and municipalities to support efforts to combat violence. Several anti-violence initiatives are expected in 2021, with additional funds earmarked for this purpose.

Enhancing safety and security in society is one of the Government’s most important priorities. In the Budget Bill for 2021, the Government continues to strengthen the judicial chain through important investments in the Swedish Police Authority and the Swedish Prison and Probation Service.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus and the spread of the COVID-19 disease have resulted in a global crisis affecting human life and health. At the same time, the socio-economic consequences and financial impacts on many families are contributing to increased stress and anxiety. Crisis and disaster research shows that the crisis is affecting the population unequally. Those with the least resources and in the most disadvantaged circumstances are generally those who suffer the greatest strain.

In a proposal referred to the Council on Legislation for consideration, the Government proposes that a new child marriage offence be introduced that can result in imprisonment for up to four years. The Government also proposes new grounds for tougher penalties for ‘honour’ crimes and a new instrument, a travel ban, to further strengthen protection against honour-related crime.

On 1st of January 2020 The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Act (2018:1197) entered into force.

Listen to Åsa Lindhagen, Minister for Gender Equality with responsibility for anti-discrimination and anti-segregation, talk about what changes she wants to see and which issue she will be addressing first.

In June 2018, the Government adopted a national action plan to combat female genital mutilation.The aim of the action plan is to prevent and combat female genital mutilation and improve victim support, to achieve the Government’s goals for gender equality policy, child rights policy and youth policy, as well as the goals of the 2030 Agenda.

Explantation of Vote delivered by Ambassador Carl Skau on behalf of Sweden at the United Nations Security Council Adoption of Resolution 2421 (2018), renewing the mandate of UNAMI, 14 June 2018, New York.

On 13 June, the Riksdag (the Swedish parliament) adopted a bill on making the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Swedish law. In order for the convention to have a greater impact, the Government is also proposing a guidance document, an education initiative and continued systematic transformation work.

National statement delivered by Ambassador Olof Skoog on behalf of Sweden at the United Nations Security Council Briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, 15 May 2018, New York.