Systematic efforts to implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Sweden
The Swedish Government has given the Ombudsman for Children in Sweden the task of listening to and collecting opinions directly from two groups of vulnerable children and young people. Moreover, the National Board of Health and Welfare will carry out a survey of which organisations have knowledge in the area of violence against children.
The Strategy to strengthen the rights of the child in Sweden forms the basis of the Government's efforts in this area. Another fundamental principle of the child's rights policy is the prohibition of corporal punishment of children.
Listening to children
In September 2011, the Ombudsman for Children in Sweden (Barnombudsmannen, BO) was tasked by the Government with collecting the opinions and experiences of children and young people with protected personal data, and children and young people who have been subjected to violence and abuse.
The purpose of the task is to methodically examine and compile information about how these groups of children and young people experience their situation and the support they receive.
The Ombudsman for Children will provide the children and young people with opportunities and support to present their ideas and proposals to the relevant decision-makers.
Swedish prohibition against corporal punishment of children since 1980
Sweden has prohibited corporal punishment of children since 1980. Children and young people have the right to protection against all types of violence and abuse.
Preventing violence and abuse of children and young people is a government priority. Knowledge about attitudes to and the occurrence of violence against children and young people in the family is required as a basis for efforts by the Government, relevant authorities and other specialists in this area.
Studies of children's and parents' attitudes regarding corporal punishment
The Government has previously commissioned national studies of children's and parents' attitudes and experiences regarding corporal punishment and other methods of punishment. The Government approved funds to Children´s welfare foundation Sweden (Allmänna Barnhuset) for a further study in 2010.
The results were presented in November 2011 in a report entitled Kroppslig bestraffning och annan kränkning av barn i Sverige - en nationell kartläggning 2011 (Corporal punishment and other humiliating behaviour towards children in Sweden - a national survey 2011) The report is in Swedish with an English summary.
Map the reported child abuse between 2000 and 2009
The Government also instructed the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brottsförebyggande rådet, BRÅ) to map the extent and rate of reported child abuse between 2000 and 2009. The results were submitted in a report to the Government in October 2011.
The task assigned to the Ombudsman for Children complements these studies. The situation of children and young people who, in different ways, have been subjected to violence and other forms of abuse has not been sufficiently explored from their perspective.
Survey of organisations with knowledge in the area of violence against children
In January 2012, the Government tasked the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) with conducting a survey of organisations that have knowledge in the area of violence against children, including sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and children who witness violence.
The National Board of Health and Welfare is also required to identify organisations that need to have knowledge in this area, and what their knowledge needs therefore are.
Based on its findings, the National Board of Health and Welfare is to analyse the need for
- identifying an actor to have overall national responsibility for disseminating knowledge in the area,
- further coordination of the activities of agencies and other actors,
- clarifying the division of responsibilities as they apply to state-controlled organisations responsible for knowledge about violence against children, including sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and children who witness violence.
Long-term work to strengthen support to children in families
The Government has instructed the National Board of Health and Welfare to lead and coordinate a long-term national initiative to develop and strengthen support to children who grow up in families with substance abuse problems, mental illness, mental disability or violence. The initiative covers the entire electoral period.
Improve quality in work with women subjected to violence, children and perpetrators of violence
In December 2011, the Government decided to invest SEK 109 million to improve quality in the work with women subjected to violence, children who have witnessed violence and perpetrators of violence.
In 2012, money will be distributed to the municipalities for performance-based measures and to organisations conducting activities at local level in this area.
To ensure that the distribution of funds is appropriate and contributes to long-term methods development, national and regional knowledge and methods support is also being created. The National Board of Health and Welfare will contribute support at national level and the country administrative boards at local level.
