2023-06-142022/23:SoU17 · p.17SoUHealth & social services
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Ratification of the UN Child Rights Convention's third protocol on the right to complain
What's at stake: Ratification would give children in Sweden an international avenue for complaint when they consider their rights to have been violated, but the matter is already being examined by an ongoing inquiry whose conclusions are not yet available.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether Sweden should now ratify the third additional protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which gives children the right to complain directly to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, or whether the ongoing government inquiry into the matter should be awaited.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee considers that the outcome of the ongoing inquiry into ratification of the third additional protocol should be awaited, and therefore rejects the motions calling for immediate ratification.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 38 (MP)
The reservation considers that Sweden should ratify the third additional protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, so that children gain the ability to complain to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child when they experience that their rights have been violated, and wants the government to work towards this.
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 38 by MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Abstain 1/0/93/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Abstain 0/0/63/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| SKalle Olsson (S, Jämtlands län) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2022/23:181 by Märta Stenevi et al. (MP) item 20, 2022/23:924 by Linda Lindberg et al. (SD) item 1, 2022/23:1477 by Petter Löberg (S) and 2022/23:2061 by Fredrik Lundh Sammeli et al. (S) item 71.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:181 av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP) yrkande 20, 2022/23:924 av Linda Lindberg m.fl. (SD) yrkande 1, 2022/23:1477 av Petter Löberg (S) och 2022/23:2061 av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S) yrkande 71.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 110 proposals in motions received during the general motion period of 2022. Among other reasons, citing ongoing work. The proposals concern interventions for children and young people, placement forms for children and young people, monitoring and support for placed children and young people, adoption, and children's rights.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to make home visit programs for first-time parents more common and support the development of such programs. (MP) — Reservation 38
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 establishes that children's rights are specifically established in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and that the party's policy shall be shaped so that the best interests of children come first, precisely because children often cannot advocate for themselves against violations.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that children's rights are specifically established in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and that the party's policy shall be shaped so that the best interests of children come first, precisely because children often cannot advocate for themselves against violations. Respect for human rights shall be fundamental to all policy. A right of petition to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child gives children the opportunity the plan seeks, and the plan wants to develop exactly international conventions.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att barns rättigheter fastställs särskilt i barnkonventionen och att partiets politik ska utformas så att barnens bästa kommer i första rummet, just eftersom barn sällan kan föra sin egen talan mot kränkningar. Respekten för de mänskliga rättigheterna ska vara grundläggande för all politik. En klagorätt till FN:s barnrättskommitté ger barn den möjlighet planen efterlyser, och planen vill utveckla just internationella konventioner.
- best interests of children firstdecisive»Vänsterpartiets politik ska utformas så att barnens bästa kommer i första rummet.« (party programme ↗)“The Left Party's policy shall be shaped so that the best interests of children come first.”
- children cannot advocate for themselves»Barn har specifika behov, men de kan inte alltid uttrycka dem.« (party programme ↗)“Children have specific needs, but they cannot always express them.”
- human rights first»Respekten för de mänskliga rättigheterna ska vara grundläggande« (party programme ↗)“Respect for human rights shall be fundamental”
- develop the conventions»De former för internationell samverkan som redan finns – bi- och multilaterala avtal, internationella konventioner« (party programme ↗)“The forms of international cooperation that already exist – bilateral and multilateral agreements, international conventions”
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 party programme gives all children the right to a safe upbringing in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the election manifesto commits Sweden to push for human rights and to protect the UN's role.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme gives all children the right to a safe upbringing in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the election manifesto commits Sweden to push for human rights and to protect the UN's role. An optional protocol that gives children a right of complaint to the Committee on the Rights of the Child is a means for exactly these commitments. The plan says nothing about the timing, but in substance it speaks in favor of ratification.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet ger alla barn rätt till en trygg uppväxt i enlighet med barnkonventionen, och valmanifestet förbinder Sverige att driva på för mänskliga rättigheter och att värna FN:s roll. Ett tilläggsprotokoll som ger barn en klagorätt till barnrättskommittén är ett medel för just dessa åtaganden. Planen säger inget om tidpunkten, men i sak talar den för ratificering.
- the Convention on the Rights of the Child as foundationdecisive»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 upbringing in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
- push for human rights»Vi kommer att fortsätta arbetet för att öka respekten för de mänskliga rättigheterna, demokratin och en regelbaserad världsordning och global säkerhet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We will continue the work to increase respect for human rights, democracy and a rules-based world order and global security.”
- protect the UN system»Vi kommer att fortsätta värna FN:s roll i arbetet för folkrätten och det internationella samarbetet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We will continue to protect the UN's role in the work for international law and international cooperation.”
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 establishes that the Convention on the Rights of the Child shall become Swedish law, that political decisions should be preceded by child impact analysis and that children are active co-creators of society, not passive recipients.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the Convention on the Rights of the Child shall become Swedish law, that political decisions should be preceded by child impact analysis and that children are active co-creators of society, not passive recipients. That children shall be able to complain to the UN Children's Rights Committee gives exactly the legal standing the plan seeks. The party programme also shows that the party wants to ratify human rights conventions as soon as possible rather than wait.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att barnkonventionen ska bli svensk lag, att politiska beslut bör föregås av barnkonsekvensanalys och att barn är aktiva medskapare av samhället, inte passiva mottagare. Att barn ska kunna klaga till FN:s barnrättskommitté ger just den rättsliga ställning planen eftersträvar. Partiprogrammet visar också att partiet vill ratificera MR-konventioner snarast snarare än att avvakta.
- the Convention on the Rights of the Child as lawdecisive»barnkonvention ska bli svensk lag« (party programme ↗)“Convention on the Rights of the Child shall become Swedish law”
- children as legal subjects»Barn är aktiva medskapare« (party programme ↗)“Children are active co-creators”
- child rights perspective in decisions»beslut bör föregås av en barnkonsekvensanalys.« (party programme ↗)“decisions should be preceded by a child impact analysis.”
- rapid ratification of conventions»bör snarast ratificera FN:s konvention om urfolks« (party programme ↗)“should as soon as possible ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Indigenous”
The plan wants to see legislation on rights with enforceable rights and everyone to be able to have their case heard, with children's rights and perspectives being particularly important.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to see legislation on rights with enforceable rights and everyone to be able to have their case heard, with children's rights and perspectives being particularly important. An optional protocol that gives children a right of complaint to the Committee on the Rights of the Child is precisely such an opportunity to enforce their rights. The plan does not mention the protocol, so the position is derived from the rights principle.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill se en rättighetslagstiftning med utkrävbara rättigheter och att alla ska kunna få sin sak prövad, med barnens rättigheter och perspektiv som särskilt betydelsefulla. Ett tilläggsprotokoll som ger barn en klagorätt till barnrättskommittén är precis en sådan möjlighet att utkräva sin rätt. Planen nämner inte protokollet, varför ställningstagandet härleds ur rättighetsprincipen.
- enforceable rightsdecisive»Vi vill se en rättighetslagstiftning, ett tydligt samhällskontrakt med utkrävbara rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“We want to see legislation on rights, a clear social contract with enforceable rights.”
- child rights perspective»Samhällets aktörer ska inta individens perspektiv. Av största betydelse är då barnens rättigheter och perspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Society's actors should adopt the individual's perspective. Of paramount importance is then the rights and perspective of children.”
- right to have one's case heard»Alla som bor i Sverige ska kunna få sin sak prövad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone living in Sweden should be able to have their case heard.”
- human rights as foundation»Respekten för de mänskliga rättigheterna är grunden för ett demokratiskt samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“Respect for human rights is the foundation for a democratic society.”
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 views positively that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has been incorporated into Swedish law and wants individuals' opportunities to assert their rights against authorities to increase – for children among other things through the right to their own representative and clearly codified rights for placed children.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan views positively that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has been incorporated into Swedish law and wants individuals' opportunities to assert their rights against authorities to increase – for children among other things through the right to their own representative and clearly codified rights for placed children. An individual right of complaint to the Committee on the Rights of the Child is precisely such an instrument. The additional protocol is not mentioned in the plan, which is why the position is derived from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ser positivt på att barnkonventionen införlivats i svensk lag och vill att den enskildes möjligheter att hävda sina rättigheter gentemot myndigheterna ökar – för barn bland annat genom rätt till eget ombud och tydligt lagfästa rättigheter för placerade barn. En individuell klagorätt till barnrättskommittén är just ett sådant instrument. Tilläggsprotokollet nämns inte i planen, varför ställningstagandet är härlett ur dessa åtaganden.
- strengthened individual right of complaintdecisive»Den enskildes möjligheter att hävda sina rättigheter gentemot myndigheterna måste öka.« (party programme ↗)“Individuals' opportunities to assert their rights against public authorities must increase.”
- 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 the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child being incorporated into Swedish law, children's and young people's rights are clarified.”
- child's own party status»en hel familj behöver socialtjänstens stöd ska barn ha rätt till ett eget ombud.« (party programme ↗)“when a whole family needs support from social services the child shall have the right to their own representative.”
- codified children's rights»Placerade barns fri- och rättigheter ska vara tydligt angivna i« (party programme ↗)“Placed children's liberty and rights shall be clearly stated in”
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 establishes that measures for children shall be based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and that the best interests of the child shall come first, and that compliance with international commitments must be guaranteed and the UN's position and legal system strengthened.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that measures for children shall be based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and that the best interests of the child shall come first, and that compliance with international commitments must be guaranteed and the UN's position and legal system strengthened. A complaint procedure for children to the children's rights committee is exactly such a compliance instrument, which supports ratification now.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att insatser för barn ska utgå från FN:s barnkonventionen och att barnets bästa ska komma i främsta rummet, samt att efterlevnaden av internationella förpliktelser måste garanteras och FN:s ställning och rättssystem stärkas. En klagorätt för barn till barnrättskommittén är just ett sådant efterlevnadsinstrument, vilket talar för ratificering nu.
- the children's convention as foundationdecisive»att stödja barn och ungdomar ska ske med utgångspunkt i FN:s barnkonvention« (party programme ↗)“support for children and young people shall be based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child”
- the best interests of the child»barnets bästa ska komma i främsta rummet.« (party programme ↗)“the best interests of the child shall come first.”
- compliance with human rights commitments»efterlevandet av internationella förpliktelser garanteras.« (party programme ↗)“compliance with international commitments is guaranteed.”
- strengthened UN system»Därför måste FN:s ställning skyddas och stärkas,« (party programme ↗)“Therefore the UN's position must be protected and strengthened,”
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 documents say nothing about the third additional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The documents say nothing about the third additional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The nearest principle is that protection of individuals' freedoms and rights should be secured through Swedish law and independent Swedish courts, while the plan wants to see a reformed UN rather than uncritically expanding the UN organs' role. Based on that principle, the plan argues against Sweden ratifying the complaints protocol now.
Original (Swedish)
Dokumenten säger ingenting om barnkonventionens tredje tilläggsprotokoll. Den närmast liggande principen är att skyddet för enskildas fri- och rättigheter ska säkras genom svensk grundlag och oberoende svenska domstolar, samtidigt som planen vill se ett reformerat FN snarare än att okritiskt utvidga FN-organens roll. Utifrån den principen talar planen mot att Sverige ratificerar klagomålsprotokollet nu.
- national rights protectiondecisive»Vår demokrati bygger på vår förmåga att slå vakt om grundlagarna, medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter, verklig maktdelning och våra domstolars oberoende.« (party programme ↗)“Our democracy is built on our ability to guard the constitution, citizens' freedoms and rights, real separation of powers and the independence of our courts.”
- reformed UN»Verka för ett reformerat FN« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for a reformed UN”
- courts as rights guarantor»Stärka domstolarnas oberoende och skyddet för medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the independence of the courts and the protection of citizens' freedoms and rights”
- children's rights in the justice system»att säkerställa rättigheterna för barn och andra som inte kan« (party programme ↗)“to ensure the rights of children and others who cannot”
The plan does not address ratification of the child convention's additional protocol.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address ratification of the child convention's additional protocol. The nearest lying principle is that Swedish democracy's independence and national self-determination shall be strengthened and that decisions shall be brought closer to citizens, which speaks against opening a complaint channel to a UN body. The party programme's skepticism towards supranational forms points in the same direction, even though the plan at the same time states that the child's best interest shall always be considered.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte ratificering av barnkonventionens tilläggsprotokoll. Den närmast liggande principen är att det svenska folkstyrets oberoende och det nationella självbestämmandet ska stärkas och att beslut ska föras närmare medborgarna, vilket talar mot att öppna en klagoväg till ett FN-organ. Principprogrammets skepsis mot överstatliga former pekar i samma riktning, även om planen samtidigt slår fast att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas.
- Swedish democracy's independencedecisive»Bejaka och stärka det svenska folkstyrets oberoende« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Affirm and strengthen Swedish democracy's independence”
- decisions close to citizens»För att öka den demokratiska legitimiteten bör beslut så långt det går föras närmre medborgarna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To increase democratic legitimacy, decisions should as far as possible be brought closer to citizens.”
- skepticism towards supranationality»Vi ser med stark skepsis på samarbeten som tar sig« (party programme ↗)“We view with strong skepticism collaborations that take the form of”
- the child's best interest»Att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That the child's best interest shall always be considered”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:SoU17)
- Committee report full text (HA01SoU17)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1039 — Kvalitetssäkring av den kommunala kompetensen gällande medgivandeutredningar vid internationella adoptioner av Johan Büser (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1113 — Skadeståndsansvar för kommunerna när barn vanvårdas av Roland Utbult (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1152 — En trygg familjepolitik med barnet i centrum av Mona Olin m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1217 — Åtgärder med syfte att stoppa våldskulturen av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:1421 — Stärkt familjerådgivning av Mats Wiking (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1477 — Stärkning av barnkonventionens ställning av Petter Löberg (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1484 — Familje- och jourhem av Aida Birinxhiku m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1595 — Trygghet för barn och unga när de vistas på statens institutionsstyrelse (Sis) av Åsa Karlsson och Björn Wiechel (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1673 — Jämställdhet för hållbar utveckling av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:181 — Stärk demokratin och de mänskliga rättigheterna av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:1964 — Ett utökat familjestöd med myndighetssamverkande kontaktpersoner av Amalia Rud Pedersen och Gunilla Carlsson (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1975 — Sökbarhet för anmälningar som gäller barn av Eva Lindh m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1977 — Stärkt vård och behandling för unga av Eva Lindh m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2061 — Utgiftsområde 9 Hälsovård, sjukvård och social omsorg av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2139 — Utgiftsområde 4 Rättsväsendet av Ardalan Shekarabi m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2218 — Familjerätt av Jennie Nilsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2250 — Identifiera föräldraalienation och umgängessabotage av Runar Filper (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:2260 — Sexuell exploatering av barn av Janine Alm Ericson m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:2277 — Jämställdhetspolitik av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:595 — Tillgång till mobil, Ipad och dator för gängkriminella som har blivit dömda till sluten ungdomsvård av Marléne Lund Kopparklint (M)
Source: The Swedish Parliament