Concerns Rise Over Regression in Children's Rights in Sweden
A new report highlights regression in children's rights in Sweden, prompting urgent calls for government action.
Key Points
- • A report by 25 organizations indicates regression in children's rights in Sweden despite legal protections.
- • Recent government proposals contradict UN Committee recommendations, particularly affecting migrant children.
- • The UN Committee issued 131 recommendations in 2023, with minimal compliance noted in the government response.
- • Civil society urges structured government action and better public awareness of children's rights.
A report by 25 civil society organizations has raised alarms over a notable regression in children's rights in Sweden, despite the children's convention being law for five years. This report, published on June 8, 2025, highlights that recent legislative actions by the government contradict several recommendations from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, particularly those affecting migrant children and families in vulnerable socioeconomic positions.
The UN Committee issued 131 recommendations in 2023 aimed at enhancing the implementation of children's rights in Sweden. However, the civil society report emphasizes that minimal progress has been made towards these recommendations, with ongoing government initiatives like the expansion of evictions of families with children and complex family reunification processes viewed as major setbacks.
The significance of the findings is further underscored by consultations with around 100 children, who underscored the need for their voices to be considered. Report authors, including representatives from UNICEF Sweden and Rädda Barnen, stress the necessity for the government to develop a structured approach to ensure the respect and compliance of children's rights, enhance public awareness, and create accessible complaint mechanisms for rights violations.
"Children's rights are not a political issue; they should be upheld for all children at all times," the authors concluded, urging collective responsibility from society and the government alike for the well-being of children.