2024-05-022023/24:SoU24 · p.4SoUHealth & social services
Support for children taken abroad and preconditions for social services
Resources for social services to support children taken abroad
What's at stake: An expanded travel ban is meant to protect children from being taken abroad against their will, but it depends on social services and the courts actually being able to apply the rules, and on children already taken abroad getting support. The question is whether current resources are enough for this.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The motion called for the government to review and provide the resources that social services and the administrative courts need for the new travel-ban legislation to work, while the committee shared the government's assessment that the costs are marginal and fit within existing budgets.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motion, sharing the government's assessment that the authorities have limited scope to act abroad, emphasizing the importance of relevant actors being well versed in the framework, welcoming ongoing work on producing guidance material, and reaching the same assessment as the government on the economic consequences.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 3 (S, MP)
The reserving parties (S, MP) consider that increased efforts are needed for children who have been taken abroad against their own or a parent's will, do not share the government's assessment that the costs are marginal, and want the government to urgently review what resources social services and the administrative courts need for the new legislation to work well.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 3 by S, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: LLiberalerna, SDSverigedemokraterna
Ja 184–107Nej 111–180
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 18/0/0/6 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/13 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/13/0/5 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 13/0/0/6 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motion 2023/24:2825 by Ulrika Westerlund et al. (MP) demands 2 and 3.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2023/24:2825 av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 2 och 3.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved a more comprehensive travel ban for children and young people. Under current legislation, a travel ban is to be issued if there is a significant risk that a person under 18 years is taken abroad to enter into marriage or to undergo female genital mutilation. The government's legislative proposal means that a decision on a travel ban can also be made if there is a significant risk that a child is taken abroad and the child's health or development is harmed during the stay abroad due to circumstances that may lead to care according to the law with special provisions for care of young people (LVU). This can, for example, involve so-called educational trips, conversion attempts, or children who want to leave Sweden to join terrorist organizations and other criminal organizations. The proposal also means that information about children with a travel ban is to be covered by confidentiality at the Police Authority, because it can involve sensitive information about children's personal circumstances. According to the proposal, criminal liability for unauthorized treatment of children is also to be extended to apply when a child under 15 years is taken away or withheld to prevent care according to LVU from being initiated. The legislative changes come into force on 1 June 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to maintain explicit mention of female genital mutilation in the exit ban regulation. (S, MP) — Reservation 3
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan demands that social services be strengthened with sufficient resources and knowledge for child protection and that children's best interests come first.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands that social services be strengthened with sufficient resources and knowledge for child protection and that children's best interests come first. The counter-proposal's requirements for increased efforts for children taken abroad and for a review of social services' and courts' resources follow from this commitment. The plan does not address children taken abroad specifically, so the position is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att socialtjänsten förstärks med tillräckliga resurser och kunskap för barnskydd och att barnens bästa kommer i första rummet. Motförslagets krav på ökade insatser för bortförda barn och på en översyn av socialtjänstens och domstolarnas resurser följer av det åtagandet. Planen behandlar inte barn som förts utomlands särskilt, varför ställningstagandet är härlett.
- resources for social servicesdecisive»förstärk socialtjänsten med tillräckliga resurser och kunskap för att arbeta både förebyggande och med barnskydd« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen social services with sufficient resources and knowledge to work both preventively and with child protection”
- children's best interests first»Vänsterpartiets politik ska utformas så att barnens bästa kommer i första rummet.« (party programme ↗)“The Left Party's policy shall be designed so that children's best interests come first.”
- stable support for social services»Socialtjänsten måste garanteras ett varaktigt och stabilt stöd för arbetet mot våld i nära relationer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The social service must be guaranteed sustained and stable support for work against violence in close relationships.”
- action against honour oppression»I ett tryggt samhälle tar vi krafttag mot våld, hedersförtryck och sexuella kränkningar mot kvinnor, barn och hbtqi-personer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In a secure society, we take strong action against violence, honour oppression and sexual abuses against women, children and LGBTQ+ people.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto requires crackdowns on honour-related violence and establishes that social services must be strengthened to reach young people in time; the party programme makes the best interests of the child decisive in all decisions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires crackdowns on honour-related violence and establishes that social services must be strengthened to reach young people in time; the party programme makes the best interests of the child decisive in all decisions. Reviewing what resources social services and administrative courts need for legislation to work is a direct application of these commitments. The plan does not, however, specifically mention children taken abroad.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver krafttag mot hedersrelaterat våld och slår fast att socialtjänsten måste stärkas för att fånga upp unga i tid; partiprogrammet gör barnets bästa styrande vid alla beslut. Att se över vilka resurser socialtjänst och förvaltningsdomstolar behöver för att lagstiftningen ska fungera är en direkt tillämpning av dessa åtaganden. Planen nämner dock inte bortförda barn utomlands särskilt.
- against honour-related violencedecisive»Krafttag för att stoppa hedersrelaterat våld, sexualbrott och mäns våld mot kvinnor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Crackdown to stop honour-related violence, sexual crimes and men's violence against women.”
- strengthened social services»Att socialtjänsten stärks är centralt för att fånga upp unga i tid.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthening social services is central to reaching young people in time.”
- Convention on the Rights of the Child governs»Alla barn ska ha rätt till en trygg uppväxt i enlighet med FN:s barnkonvention.« (party programme ↗)“All children should have the right to a safe childhood in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
The plan states that legal protection for children must be strengthened if there is suspicion of violence and wishes to strengthen work against honour-based violence so that equivalent help is provided throughout the country.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that legal protection for children must be strengthened if there is suspicion of violence and wishes to strengthen work against honour-based violence so that equivalent help is provided throughout the country. Children taken abroad against their will are precisely such a group, and the demand for a review of social services' and courts' resources is about legislation actually working. The plan also sets the Convention on the Rights of the Child and child impact assessments as the norm for decisions.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att barnets rättstrygghet måste stärkas vid misstanke om våld och vill förstärka arbetet mot hedersrelaterat våld så att likvärdig hjälp ges i hela landet. Barn som förts utomlands mot sin vilja är just en sådan grupp, och kravet på en översyn av socialtjänstens och domstolarnas resurser handlar om att lagstiftningen faktiskt ska fungera. Planen sätter dessutom barnkonventionen och barnkonsekvensanalyser som norm för beslut.
- strengthened legal protection for childrendecisive»Barnets rättstrygghet måste stärkas om det finns misstankar om våld eller sexuella övergrepp.« (party programme ↗)“Legal protection for children must be strengthened if there is suspicion of violence or sexual abuse.”
- equivalent help against honour-based violence»stärka arbetet mot hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck så att likvärdig hjälp ges i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen work against honour-based violence and oppression so that equivalent help is provided across the country.”
- the child convention guides decisions»FN:s barnkonvention ska bli svensk lag och politiska beslut bör föregås av en barnkonsekvensanalys.« (party programme ↗)“The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child shall become Swedish law and political decisions should be preceded by a child impact assessment.”
- protection against violent parent»skydda barn från att tvingas till umgänge med en våldsam förälder.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“protect children from being forced to have contact with a violent parent.”
The plan's central commitment is that no one shall be subjected to honour-based abuse in Sweden and that children at risk shall be identified more quickly, among other things through better staff training.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's central commitment is that no one shall be subjected to honour-based abuse in Sweden and that children at risk shall be identified more quickly, among other things through better staff training. The party programme moreover states that honour-related violence must never be accepted whether it occurs in Sweden or other countries, which applies precisely to children taken abroad. Reviewing what resources social services and courts need follows from the fact that protection shall be unconditional.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande åtagande är att ingen ska utsättas för hedersförtryck i Sverige och att barn i riskzonen ska fångas upp snabbare, bland annat genom bättre utbildning av personal. Partiprogrammet slår dessutom fast att hedersrelaterat våld aldrig får accepteras oavsett om det sker i Sverige eller i andra länder, vilket träffar just barn som förts utomlands. Att se över vilka resurser socialtjänsten och domstolarna behöver följer av att skyddet ska vara villkorslöst.
- stop honour-based abusedecisive»Ingen ska utsättas för hedersförtryck i Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“No one shall be subjected to honour-based abuse in Sweden.”
- protection even abroad»Det gäller oavsett om det sker i Sverige eller i andra länder« (party programme ↗)“This applies regardless of whether it occurs in Sweden or other countries”
- unconditional child protection»villkorslöst skydd mot våld och förnedring inom och utom hemmet,« (party programme ↗)“unconditional protection against violence and humiliation inside and outside the home,”
- early identification of vulnerable children»För att snabbare fånga upp barn i riskzonen vill vi se handlingsplaner mot hedersförtryck i alla skolor och bättre utbildning av personal.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To more quickly identify children at risk, we want to see action plans against honour-based abuse in all schools and better staff training.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto explicitly promises that support for victims of honour-based abuse shall be expanded, that knowledge among professionals shall increase and that criminalization shall be extended to educational journeys, that is, children taken abroad.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly promises that support for victims of honour-based abuse shall be expanded, that knowledge among professionals shall increase and that criminalization shall be extended to educational journeys, that is, children taken abroad. That speaks for increased efforts for abducted children and for scrutiny of social services' conditions for implementing the legislation. The plan also establishes that crime shall never be relativized by reference to concepts of honour.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar uttryckligen att stöden till offren för hedersförtryck ska byggas ut, att kunskapen hos yrkesverksamma ska öka och att kriminaliseringen ska breddas till uppfostringsresor, alltså just barn som förs utomlands. Det talar för ökade insatser för bortförda barn och för att socialtjänstens förutsättningar att tillämpa lagstiftningen granskas. Planen slår också fast att brott aldrig får relativiseras med hänvisning till hedersbegrepp.
- expanded support against honour-based abusedecisive»Samtidigt ska stöden till offren byggas ut, kunskapen hos yrkesverksamma öka, straffen för hedersrelaterade brott skärpas och kriminaliseringen breddas till uttryck för hederstänkande såsom oskuldskontroller och uppfostringsresor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At the same time, support for victims shall be expanded, knowledge among professionals shall increase, penalties for honour-based crimes shall be strengthened and criminalization shall be extended to expressions of honour thinking such as virginity checks and educational journeys.”
- no relativization of honour crimes»Brott ska aldrig relativiseras med hänsyn till patriarkala traditioner eller hedersbegrepp.« (party programme ↗)“Crime shall never be relativized in consideration of patriarchal traditions or concepts of honour.”
- the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as law»Genom att FN:s barnkonvention införlivats i svensk lag tydliggörs barns och ungas rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“By incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Swedish law, the rights of children and young people are clarified.”
- special responsibility for vulnerable children»Det offentligas ansvar är särskilt stort för de barn som placerats från sina föräldrar.« (party programme ↗)“The public sector's responsibility is especially great for children removed from their parents.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The financing principle shall according to the plan be respected when the state assigns new tasks to municipalities, which is precisely what the counter-proposal's requirement for a resource review for social services is about.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The financing principle shall according to the plan be respected when the state assigns new tasks to municipalities, which is precisely what the counter-proposal's requirement for a resource review for social services is about. The plan additionally makes the best interest of the child governing in all decisions concerning children and binds measures for children to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. To prevent family members from being separated is also an explicit commitment.
Original (Swedish)
Finansieringsprincipen ska enligt planen respekteras när staten ålägger kommunerna nya uppgifter, vilket är precis vad motförslagets krav på en resursöversyn för socialtjänsten handlar om. Planen gör dessutom barnets bästa styrande vid alla beslut som rör barn och binder insatser för barn till barnkonventionen. Att motverka att familjemedlemmar skiljs åt är också ett uttalat åtagande.
- the financing principle for new tasksdecisive»Finansieringsprincipen måste respekteras när staten ålägger kommunerna nya uppgifter.« (party programme ↗)“The financing principle must be respected when the state assigns new tasks to municipalities.”
- best interest of the child governing»Barnets bästa ska vara styrande i all familjepolitik och vid alla beslut som rör barn.« (party programme ↗)“The best interest of the child shall be governing in all family policy and in all decisions concerning children.”
- the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child guides measures»Barn har rätt till en trygg uppväxtmiljö. Insatser för att stödja barn och ungdomar ska ske med utgångspunkt i FN:s barnkonvention« (party programme ↗)“Children have the right to a safe growing-up environment. Measures to support children and young people shall be based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child”
- prevent family separation»Migrationspolitiken får inte leda till att familjemedlemmar skiljs från varandra.« (party programme ↗)“Migration policy shall not lead to family members being separated from each other.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan explicitly points out that girls are taken away and forced into forced marriage and abuse, and promises zero tolerance for honour crimes and a new offence of unlawful deprivation of liberty.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly points out that girls are taken away and forced into forced marriage and abuse, and promises zero tolerance for honour crimes and a new offence of unlawful deprivation of liberty. Increased efforts for children taken abroad against their will lie directly in that direction. However, the plan says nothing about social services' and courts' resource needs, so the support is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen pekar uttryckligen ut att flickor förs bort och tvingas in i tvångsgiftermål och övergrepp, och utlovar nolltolerans mot hedersbrott samt ett nytt brott om olaga frihetsbegränsning. Ökade insatser för barn som förts utomlands mot sin vilja ligger direkt i den linjen. Planen säger däremot inget om socialtjänstens och domstolarnas resursbehov, varför stödet är härlett.
- olaga frihetsbegränsning kriminaliserasdecisive»Införa ett särskilt brott – olaga frihetsbegränsning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a special offence – unlawful deprivation of liberty”
- bortförda flickor»Flickor förs bort under sommarlovet och tvingas in i ett liv kantat av tvångsgiftermål, misshandel och våldtäkter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Girls are taken away during summer holidays and forced into a life framed by forced marriage, assault and rape.”
- nolltolerans mot hedersbrott»Moderaterna vill införa en nolltolerans mot hedersbrott.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Moderate Party wishes to introduce zero tolerance for honour crimes.”
- kartlägga hedersförtryck»Genomföra en nationell kartläggning av hedersförtryckets utbredning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Conduct a national mapping of the prevalence of honour oppression”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan gives schools, social services and the justice system a clearer mandate to identify children and young people suspected of living in honour culture and to be able to implement strong measures, and wants to tighten rules on forced marriage and child marriage.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan gives schools, social services and the justice system a clearer mandate to identify children and young people suspected of living in honour culture and to be able to implement strong measures, and wants to tighten rules on forced marriage and child marriage. Children taken abroad against their will belong to that problem picture. That social services and courts receive the resources the mandate requires follows from the fact that the measures shall be able to be carried out and that the child's best interests shall always be considered.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ger skola, socialtjänst och rättsväsende ett tydligare uppdrag att identifiera barn och unga som misstänks leva i hederskultur och att kunna sätta in kraftiga åtgärder, samt vill skärpa reglerna om tvångsgifte och barngifte. Barn som förts utomlands mot sin vilja hör till den problembilden. Att socialtjänsten och domstolarna får de resurser uppdraget kräver följer av att insatserna ska kunna genomföras och av att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas.
- clearer mandate against honour-based oppressiondecisive»Skola, socialtjänst och rättsväsende måste få ett tydligare uppdrag att identifiera barn och unga som misstänks leva i hederskultur och möjlighet att sätta in kraftiga åtgärder mot vuxna som utövar sådant förtryck.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Schools, social services and the justice system must be given a clearer mandate to identify children and young people suspected of living in honour culture and the possibility to implement strong measures against adults who exercise such oppression.”
- tightened rules against forced marriage»Skärpa reglerna om tvångsgifte, månggifte och barngifte« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tighten rules on forced marriage, polygamy and child marriage”
- coordinated measures»Samordna insatserna mot hedersförtryck« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Coordinate measures against honour-based oppression”
- the child's best interests»Att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That the child's best interests shall always be considered”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:SoU24)
- Committee report full text (HB01SoU24)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:2823 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:72 Ett utvidgat utreseförbud för barn av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2825 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:72 Ett utvidgat utreseförbud för barn av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2023/24:72 — Ett utvidgat utreseförbud för barn
Source: The Swedish Parliament