Action plan to prevent young people from being forced into marriage

The measures in the action plan shall help to strengthen protective work, provide victim support and protection, improve inter-agency cooperation and increase knowledge to prevent young people from being forced into marriage. The work is based on the needs of the individual focusing especially on the premise that children and young people must never come to any harm. The starting-point is that women and men, girls and boys shall have the same right to bodily integrity and that all people shall be able to live free from the fear of being subjected to violence and abuse.

The measures in the government's action plan

1. The Government has compiled information aimed at those who are worried about being forced into marriage. Information on the legislation governing marriage is also on the Government's website.
2. The Government has given the County Administrative Board in Östgötland the responsibility for disseminating the project "Its about love /Love is free - a project on the rights of children and young people" on a national basis.
3. The Government has tasked the National Board for Youth Affairs to compile and disseminate information stating that forced marriage is not compatible with Swedish law and telling children and young people who to contact if they need support and help.
4. The Government has given the National Board for Youth Affairs the task of implementing training programmes for the relevant staff in agencies on national and local level.
5. The Government has tasked the National Center for Knowledge on Men's Violence Against Women at Uppsala University to compile and distribute a manual containing advice and support for healthcare service staff.
6. Civic orientation is being introduced under the new Act (2010:197) on introduction measures for certain newly arrived immigrants as a compulsory component of the introduction plans of new arrivals. As from 1 December 2010, each municipality shall ensure that new arrivals are offered at least 60 hours of civic orientation.
7. The Government has tasked the County Administrative Board in Östergötland to develop guidance on supporting and rehabilitating young people placed in sheltered accommodation, foster homes or other institutions because they are either trapped in or under threat of forced marriage.
8. The Government has tasked the National Board of Health and Welfare to analyse the current state of knowledge and the need for improving the quality of the work done by the social services and the healthcare service regarding honour-based violence and oppression, including children and young people who are forced into marriage.
9. The Government has given the National Board for Youth Affairs the task of convening a network of central agencies. The network shall coordinate actions and information.
10. The Government has tasked a special investigator to gather more knowledge about forced marriages and child marriage and propose measures to combat them based on the knowledge gained. The investigator shall also perform a comprehensive review of the relevant legislation.
11. The Government has tasked a special investigator to analyse the work done by preschools, schools and school-age child care services with vulnerable children.
12. The Government has tasked the National Board for Youth Affairs to carry out an analysis of various municipal and independent actors, faith organisations and NGOs who work with young people and who work or could work to prevent young people from being forced into marriage.
13. The Government has tasked the Swedish Migration Board to compile statistics on e.g. proxy marriages and child marriages that have formed the basis of residence permit approvals or rejections between 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2011.
14. The Government has tasked the Swedish Tax Agency to compile statistics on e.g. the number of child marriages taking place between 1 September 2010 to 31 August 2011.
15. The Government has tasked the National Board for Youth Affairs to make an investigation about the occurrence of traditional and marriage-like ceremonies that do not constitute legal marriage, including betrothal, and the existence of dowries or other conditions.