Child policy
The objective of child policy is that children and young people are to be respected and to have opportunities for development and security and also for participation and influence.
Direction of policy
The Government's child policy is a policy for the rights of the child. Every child has the right to grow up in a secure environment and to develop at their own pace, based on their own needs. Child policy aims at creating the conditions for this in all areas that are important to children's living conditions. This includes allowing children to express their views as far as possible, and allowing them to be important sources of knowledge in issues that concern them.
The family is the fundamental unit in society. Parents have the primary responsibility for their child's care, upbringing and development. Society's responsibility is to support and, where necessary, supplement the parents so that the child's rights and interests are safeguarded throughout childhood.
Every child has the right to protection against all forms of physical or psychological violence and abuse. Society's measures to prevent and combat violence and abuse against children must be effective and coordinated both nationally and internationally.
The scope of the policy
The policy area includes initiatives to realise the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (the CRC) in Sweden and issues related to international adoptions. Children refers to girls and boys under 18 years of age.
Based on the CRC, child policy makes up a single, overall policy area. At the general, strategic level, its task is to initiate, coordinate and speed up processes aimed at ensuring that the CRC, its spirit and intentions permeate all aspects of Government policy and all activities in society relating to children and young people.
Child policy is thus not a traditional, specific policy area. However, the policy area contains certain specialised policy issues, such as international adoptions and other issues involving several policy areas, such as child safety, where an overall responsibility for coordination is needed.
Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
In accordance with the CRC, Sweden reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child every fifth year. In September 2007 Sweden presented its fourth periodic report on measures to put the Convention into effect. The report concentrates on the initiatives that the Government and government authorities have implemented over the last five years. Where relevant, the report also discusses the work of other child rights actors, such as municipalities and county councils, foundations and NGOs.
Agencies and other bodies
The Children's Ombudsman and the National Board for Intercountry Adoptions are agencies working within this policy area.
