The Committee on the Rights of the Child today concluded its consideration of the sixth and seventh combined periodic report of Sweden, with Committee Experts praising the planned national strategy on preventing violence against children, and raising questions about the use of isolation and restraints in psychiatric hospitals and the high youth crime rate.
Bragi Gudbrandsson, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Country Taskforce for Sweden, welcomed the planned national strategy on preventing violence against children. When would this be developed?
Hynd Ayoubi Idrissi, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Sweden, said that isolation and restraints were reportedly still used in psychiatric hospitals in Sweden. What measures were in place to ensure that these practices were used as a last possible resort and with close medical supervision? Was there systematic monitoring of children in such institutions?
Clarence Nelson, Committee Expert and Member of the Country Taskforce for Sweden, asked about the root causes of the high youth crime rate. How did the State intend to address these causes? What counselling was provided to children who came into conflict with the law?
Introducing the report, Camilla Waltersson Grönvall, Minister for Social Services, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of Sweden and head of the delegation, said that a Government inquiry would shortly submit a proposal for a new 10-year national strategy to prevent and combat violence against children. The delegation added that the inquiry would propose measures for protecting children's best interests and strengthening children's rights within judicial procedures.
On psychiatric care of children, the delegation said that work was underway to prevent violence within psychiatric institutions and establish routines for determining the best interests of the child. Stricter conditions for the use of seclusion measures were introduced in 2020. Preliminary results showed that these efforts had led to a reduction in seclusions within care facilities.
Regarding youth crime, Ms. Waltersson Grönvall said that young people were exposed to and exploited by criminal networks. The Government would intensify efforts to prevent children and young people from being recruited into organised crime, for example by providing parental support. The delegation added that the number of field workers working to prevent crime had been increased on evenings and weekends, and an action plan for crime prevention and parental support had been developed.
In closing remarks, Mr. Gudbrandsson said that impressive work had been carried out in Sweden to ensure the implementation of the Convention. However, there was room for further improvement, and the Committee would provide practical guidance in this regard in its concluding observations.
Ms. Waltersson Grönvall, in her concluding remarks, said that Sweden intended to raise its ambitions regarding child rights. The delegation would ensure that child rights received attention during the Swedish presidency of the Council of the European Union. It would also ensure that Sweden effectively addressed the Committee's concluding observations.
The delegation of Sweden consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Employment; Ministry of Education and Research; Ministry of Finance; Ministry for Foreign Affairs; and the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee will issue the concluding observations on the report of Sweden at the end of its ninety-second session on 3 February. Those, and other documents relating to the Committee's work, including reports submitted by States parties, will be available on the session's webpage. Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public on Tuesday, 17 January at 3 p.m. to consider the combined sixth and seventh periodic report of Mauritius (CRC/C/MUS/6-7).
Report
The Committee has before it the sixth and seventh combined periodic report of Sweden (CRC/C/SWE/6-7).
Presentation of Report
CAMILLA WALTERSSON GRÖNVALL, Minister for Social Services, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of Sweden and head of the delegation, said that Sweden had long been committed to advancing the agenda of the Convention. On 1 January 2020, Sweden incorporated the Convention into Swedish legislation. In addition, the Swedish National Institute for Human Rights was established on 1 January 2022, further strengthening the State's capacity to safeguard human rights. The complaint mechanisms for children were currently being reviewed and a governmental inquiry on children's opportunities to claim their rights was ongoing. This inquiry had been instructed to consider whether Sweden should ratify the third Optional Protocol to the Convention. It would present its final report in August 2023.
Some 160,000 migrants came to Sweden in 2015. Among them were thousands of children, some unaccompanied. Swedish municipalities welcomed them and provided them with education and social support.
Pre- and primary schools were kept open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, many children in Sweden had a difficult time. In particular, the pandemic impacted students in secondary education, with classes being held online for periods of time. The pandemic had further accentuated inequalities and increased the need to protect children online from sexual exploitation, disinformation and propaganda.
In 2018, outside Swedish Parliament, Greta Thunberg started a youth movement on climate change that spread around the world and inspired millions of other children and young people to demand climate action and climate justice. Greta's story was an iconic example of children and young people claiming their rights to demonstrate and participate in decision-making processes that affected them and their future. Involving children in all matters that affected them was key to a successful response.
In recent years, legislative changes had been made to prevent children in detention from being placed in isolation, to strengthen the protection of children in alternative care, and to improve access to personal assistance for children with disabilities.
Sweden launched an initiative in 2017 to boost knowledge about children's rights. This had improved the competence of professionals who worked with children or took decisions affecting children. Thus far, 27 governmental agencies, County Administrative Boards, municipalities and regions had participated in this initiative. The Swedish Ombudsman for Children had also played a crucial role in providing knowledge and support. A Child Rights Delegation composed of civil society organizations had also been established. This delegation played a central role in ensuring the realisation of all children's rights.
Sweden continued to be a major donor of international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. Children's right to health and to inclusive and quality education for all were important priorities in the State's development cooperation. The United Nations Children's Fund's Office of Innovation, established in Stockholm in September 2021, was partly financed by Sweden.
There had been a rise in organised crime in Sweden, which had a severe impact on some children's lives and well-being, especially those growing up in socio-economically disadvantaged areas. Several children had lost their lives while being caught in confrontations between criminal groups. Combatting all forms of violence against children was a major focus of the Government. A Government inquiry would shortly submit a proposal for a new 10-year national strategy to prevent and combat violence against children. The Government would also intensify efforts to prevent children and young people from being recruited into organised crime, for example by providing parental support.
Further, the Government would introduce a new health care guarantee that would grant children access to mental health support within 30 days. School-based mental health services would be strengthened and made available in every school. A new national strategy for mental health and suicide would be presented and a national coordinator for suicide prevention appointed. An inquiry had also been tasked with reviewing and proposing measures to improve the quality of care for children and young people in foster homes, supported housing, residential care homes and special youth detention centres. Another priority was to ensure a child-rights perspective in emergency response and preparedness at national, regional and local levels. The Government would finance a national 24-hour support hotline for children.
Questions by Committee Experts
BRAGI GUDBRANDSSON, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Country Taskforce for Sweden, said that Sweden had been the first country to ban corporal punishment in 1979. It set a high standard for child rights, and the Committee had high expectations for the State. Children had reportedly not been given the right to participate in inquiries considering legislation affecting them. Would this be changed in the future? The Committee welcomed that Sweden was considering ratifying the third Optional Protocol. Was there a timeline for this consideration?
There were disparities in the level of services provided by local authorities. Did the Government intend to reduce these disparities? Not all children had access to Barnahus. Were there plans to increase access to Barnahus and other services for children? How were these services regulated?
The Committee was concerned about new legal developments introducing stricter punishments for children in conflict with the law. Had an impact assessment of this legislation been conducted?
Did the Government intend to develop a new strategy and action plan on the rights of the child? The Committee welcomed the planned national strategy on preventing violence against children. When would this be developed?
Had child rights and the best interests of children been considered in budgetary planning? Did the budget address the disparities in financing for services for children between municipalities? What budget had been allocated for children in vulnerable situations, such as children with disabilities? Were there plans to address the lack of data on children in vulnerable situations?
The Ombudsman for Children lacked funds to carry out its mandate. The Human Rights Institution and the Ombudsman did not have the capacity to deal with individual complaints. Were there plans to address these issues? Did judges receive training on the Convention?
Was Sweden committed to providing one per cent of gross domestic product for international assistance? Were child rights considered in international assistance programmes?
Which Government entities were responsible for conducting awareness-raising campaigns regarding discrimination? How did the Government intend to improve competency within the public sector regarding determining the best interests of the child? What measures were in place to strengthen the participation of children in court proceedings regarding guardianship, and to increase children's participation in Government decision-making procedures?
