Children's rights
Here you will find information about children's rights in Sweden.
Children's rights
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child became Swedish law on 1 January 2020. The Convention on the Rights of the Child aims to give children, regardless of their background, the right to be treated with respect and to be allowed to be heard.
Children have a special position in Swedish society and children's rights are especially protected by law. In Sweden, anyone under the age of 18 is regarded a child. Children who are refugees under the Temporary Protection Directive have the same rights as other children in Swedish society. For example, all children are entitled to full medical care while adult refugees under the Temporary Protection Directive are entitled only to urgent care and care that cannot wait.
Corporal punishment of children
In Sweden, as in 60 other countries in the world, the use of physical or psychological violence against children is prohibited by law. It is not even, as part of upbringing, allowed to subject children to violence in any form.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child
In the Convention on the Rights of the Child there are some basic principles that guide how the convention as a whole should be interpreted. These principles are about the equal value and rights of all children. No one must be discriminated against. The child must also not be discriminated against or punished for anything that parents are or do.
The child’s best interest
It is also about the fact that in all actions relating to children, decisions should always be made based on what is in the child’s best interest and how the decisions will affect the child. This does not mean that a decision will always be a child or parent’s first choice, but the child’s best interest should always be weighed into the decision.
Security for children
Parents have the responsibility to provide children with security, ensure they develop and receive education, care and protection against psychological and physical violence.
In Sweden however, society (the state) has the ultimate responsibility to protect children's rights and ensure that they have a safe home. If the parents subject the child to harm or something else that poses a lasting danger to the health and development of the child, the responsible municipality is obliged to begin an investigation to assess the best interests of the child and decide on the relevant interventions on the basis of that.
Notification of concern
Parents have the responsibility to provide children with security, ensure they develop and receive education, care and protection against psychological and physical violence.
In Sweden however, society (the state) has the ultimate responsibility to protect children's rights and ensure that they have a safe home. If the parents subject the child to harm or something else that poses a lasting danger to the health and development of the child, the responsible municipality is obliged to begin an investigation to assess the best interests of the child and decide on the relevant interventions on the basis of that.
Support for parents
Social services can act as a support for you as a parent if you need it. It is entirely normal to sometimes feel as a parent that you are not enough. Toddler time and adolescence can be challenging but it is you as a parent who has ultimate responsibility for the child and young person. You are allowed to say no but it is absolutely forbidden to physically or psychologically subject a child to violence. If you feel as a parent that you need support, there is help available.
In some municipalities there is, among other things, parental support available. You can also turn to social services, childcare centres or school counsellors, who can guide you further.
Film tip – Being a Parent in Sweden
See the film Being a Parent in Sweden
External link, opens in new window.
The “Start Talking About” films are jointly produced by MILSA education platform and InformationSverige.se.
