2024-12-042024/25:SoU5 · p.8SoUHealth & social services
Complaints function
Independent observers and a complaints function at special youth homes
What's at stake: A dedicated complaints function and independent observers would give children and young people at special youth homes a clearer channel for raising concerns about grievances and improper treatment, which matters for their legal protection and safety, but would also add a new structure alongside existing oversight.
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 the government should review the possibility of establishing independent observers and a dedicated complaints function at the special youth homes that children and young people can turn to in cases of grievances, or whether current oversight and complaint-handling arrangements are sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee points to the fact that the agency is engaged in ongoing work to strengthen care quality and safety at the special youth homes and that oversight already exists through the Health and Social Care Inspectorate, and against that background does not see reason to commission a separate review of independent observers and a new complaints function; the committee therefore rejects the motion.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 11 (MP)
The reservation holds that the government should review the introduction of independent observers and a complaints function at the agency's facilities, which children and young people could turn to in cases of grievances or when their rights are not taken seriously, corresponding to the function that currently exists at the Health and Social Care Inspectorate.
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 11 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 | Abstain 0/0/17/7 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/20/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 10/0/0/6 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2024/25:3261 by Martina Johansson et al. (C) demand 5 and 2024/25:3262 by Ulrika Westerlund et al. (MP) demand 8.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:3261 av Martina Johansson m.fl. (C) yrkande 5 och 2024/25:3262 av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP) yrkande 8.
Riksdag decision: According to a government proposal, the State Institutions Board (Statens institutionsstyrelse), SiS, should be given the opportunity in certain cases to keep children and young people in seclusion in connection with rest periods at special youth homes. Parliament voted in favour of the government's proposal. Seclusion in connection with rest periods can take place if it is necessary with regard to order or safety at the special youth home. Another reason may be to prevent the child or young person from absconding from the home. The purpose of the proposal is to increase safety and security. The proposal applies to children and young people who are cared for in a lockable unit at a special youth home with enhanced security or who are serving a closed youth sentence. The legislative changes come into force on 15 December 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to expand night staffing at Sis homes. (MP) — Reservation 11
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 party programme establishes that legal security needs to be maintained through citizen transparency and independent review, and that work on the children's convention and the best interests of the child should continue.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that legal security needs to be maintained through citizen transparency and independent review, and that work on the children's convention and the best interests of the child should continue. Children who are deprived of liberty in society's care are particularly dependent on someone to turn to. The counter-proposal's requirements for a review of independent observers and a complaints function therefore follow the plan's principles.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att rättssäkerheten behöver upprätthållas genom medborgerlig insyn och oberoende granskning, och att arbetet med barnkonventionen och barnets bästa ska drivas vidare. Barn som är frihetsberövade i samhällets vård är särskilt beroende av någon att vända sig till. Motförslagets krav på en översyn av oberoende observatörer och en klagomålsfunktion följer därför planens principer.
- legal security and transparencydecisive»Rättssäkerheten behöver upprätthållas genom rättshjälp, medborgerlig« (party programme ↗)“Legal security needs to be maintained through legal aid, citizen”
- independent review»insyn och oberoende granskning.« (party programme ↗)“transparency and independent review.”
- the best interests of the child»principen att i varje läge se till barnets« (party programme ↗)“the principle of always considering the child's”
- confidence in young people»Vi har ett starkt förtroende för unga människors förmåga att fatta« (party programme ↗)“We have strong confidence in young people's ability to make”
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 requires that all children and young people have the right to a safe upbringing free from violence and that the best interests of children are considered in all decisions, and that activities are characterized by openness and transparency.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that all children and young people have the right to a safe upbringing free from violence and that the best interests of children are considered in all decisions, and that activities are characterized by openness and transparency. A review by independent observers and a complaints function at the residences is a way to realize precisely this. The election manifesto's requirement for increased supervision points in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att alla barn och ungdomar har rätt till en trygg uppväxt fri från våld och att barnens bästa beaktas vid alla beslut, och att verksamheter präglas av öppenhet och insyn. En översyn av oberoende observatörer och en klagomålsfunktion på boendena är ett sätt att förverkliga just detta. Valmanifestets krav på uppväxlad tillsyn pekar i samma riktning.
- safe upbringing free from violencedecisive»och till en trygg uppväxt fri från droger och våld.« (party programme ↗)“and to a safe upbringing free from drugs and violence.”
- child's best interest in all decisions»bästa ska beaktas vid alla beslut.« (party programme ↗)“best interest shall be considered in all decisions.”
- openness and transparency»präglas av öppenhet och insyn.« (party programme ↗)“characterized by openness and transparency.”
- increased supervision»Tillsynen av sjukvården ska växlas upp för att garantera kvaliteten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The supervision of healthcare shall be increased to guarantee quality.”
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 takes a position for user influence and transparency regardless of operational form and for strengthening the legal security of the child.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly takes a position for user influence and transparency regardless of operational form and for strengthening the legal security of the child. A review of independent observers and a complaints function at the residences is a way to give children and young people someone to turn to, in line with the plan's requirements for supervision and transparency. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's demands.
Original (Swedish)
Planen tar uttryckligen ställning för brukarinflytande och insyn oavsett driftsform och för att barnets rättstrygghet ska stärkas. En översyn av oberoende observatörer och en klagomålsfunktion på boendena är ett sätt att ge barn och unga någon att vända sig till, i linje med planens krav på tillsyn och insyn. Planen stöder därför motförslagets krav.
- user influence and transparencydecisive»brukarinflytande och insyn oavsett driftsform.« (party programme ↗)“user influence and transparency regardless of operational form.”
- strengthened legal security for children»Barnets rättstrygghet måste stärkas om det finns misstankar om våld eller sexuella övergrepp.« (party programme ↗)“The legal security of the child must be strengthened if there are suspicions of violence or sexual abuse.”
- independent public supervision»All verksamhet ska vara underställd tillsyn av en offentlig myndighet som ytterst ska kunna stoppa verksamhet som inte håller måttet.« (party programme ↗)“All activities shall be subject to supervision by a public authority that ultimately shall be able to stop activities that do not meet the standard.”
- the Convention on the Rights of the Child as Swedish law»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.”
The election manifesto establishes that everyone living in Sweden should be able to have their case heard, and the party programme that children's rights and perspective are of paramount importance and that everyone must be able to defend their rights.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that everyone living in Sweden should be able to have their case heard, and the party programme that children's rights and perspective are of paramount importance and that everyone must be able to defend their rights. Independent observers and a complaints function at youth institutions give precisely young people a way to have grievances examined. The plan therefore supports reviewing the question.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att alla som bor i Sverige ska kunna få sin sak prövad, och partiprogrammet att barnens rättigheter och perspektiv är av största betydelse och att alla måste kunna försvara sina rättigheter. Oberoende observatörer och en klagomålsfunktion på ungdomshemmen ger just barn och unga en väg att få missförhållanden prövade. Planen stöder därför att frågan ses över.
- right to have one's case hearddecisive»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.”
- child perspective in welfare»Samhällets aktörer ska inta individens perspektiv. Av största betydelse är då barnens rättigheter och perspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Actors in society shall adopt the individual's perspective. Of paramount importance are children's rights and perspective.”
- unconditional protection against violence»villkorslöst skydd mot våld och förnedring inom och utom hemmet« (party programme ↗)“unconditional protection against violence and degradation inside and outside the home”
- enforceable rights»Vi vill se en rättighetslagstiftning, ett tydligt samhällskontrakt med utkrävbara rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“We want to see a rights-based legislation, a clear social contract with enforceable rights.”
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 crucial commitment is that the individual's opportunities to assert their rights against authorities shall increase and that oversight of authorities' exercise of power against individuals shall be developed.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The crucial commitment is that the individual's opportunities to assert their rights against authorities shall increase and that oversight of authorities' exercise of power against individuals shall be developed. The plan also wants to establish a special inspection that monitors the individual's right against the state in another area. A review of independent observers and a complaints function for placed children aligns with this.
Original (Swedish)
Det avgörande åtagandet är att den enskildes möjligheter att hävda sina rättigheter mot myndigheterna ska öka och att tillsynen över myndigheters maktutövning mot enskilda ska utvecklas. Planen vill dessutom inrätta en särskild inspektion som bevakar den enskildes rätt gentemot staten inom ett annat område. En översyn av oberoende observatörer och en klagomålsfunktion för placerade barn ligger i linje med detta.
- strengthened rights against authoritiesdecisive»Den enskildes möjligheter att hävda sina rättigheter gentemot myndigheterna måste öka.« (party programme ↗)“The individual's opportunities to assert their rights against authorities must increase.”
- developed oversight of exercise of power»Tillsynen över myndigheternas maktutövning mot enskilda behöver utvecklas« (party programme ↗)“Oversight of authorities' exercise of power against individuals needs to be developed”
- special rights-monitoring inspection»Vi vill även under nästa mandatperiod inrätta en LSS-inspektion som bevakar den enskildes rättigheter gentemot staten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We also want to establish an LSS inspection during the next mandate period that monitors the individual's rights against the state”
- placed children's rights»placerade barn ska ha rätt att få information« (party programme ↗)“placed children shall have the right to receive information”
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 requires dignity guarantees within care and support that concretely relate to the activities, and that social policy measures give the individual, including children, influence and participation.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires dignity guarantees within care and support that concretely relate to the activities, and that social policy measures give the individual, including children, influence and participation. A complaints function and independent observers at the residential facilities are precisely such a concrete opportunity for the child to assert their rights. With the child's best interest in the foremost place, the plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's demand for a review.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver värdighetsgarantier inom vård och omsorg som konkret anknyter till verksamheten, och att socialpolitiska insatser ger den enskilde, även barn, inflytande och delaktighet. En klagomålsfunktion och oberoende observatörer på boendena är just en sådan konkret möjlighet för barnet att göra sin rätt gällande. Med barnets bästa i främsta rummet stöder planen därför motförslagets krav på en översyn.
- dignity guarantees in caredecisive»Därför ska det finnas värdighetsgarantier inom vård och omsorg som konkret anknyter till de villkor under vilken verksamhet bedrivs.« (party programme ↗)“Therefore, there shall be dignity guarantees within care and support that concretely relate to the conditions under which activities are conducted.”
- child's influence and participation»Socialpolitiska insatser måste präglas av respekt för den personliga integriteten och ge förutsättningar för inflytande och delaktighet från den enskilde, för såväl vuxna som barn.« (party programme ↗)“Social policy measures must be characterised by respect for personal integrity and provide opportunities for influence and participation from the individual, for both adults and children.”
- child's best interest foremost»FN:s barnkonvention stadgar att barnets bästa ska komma i främsta rummet.« (party programme ↗)“The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provides that the child's best interest shall come in the foremost place.”
- safe growing environment for children»Barn har rätt till en trygg uppväxtmiljö.« (party programme ↗)“Children have the right to a safe growing environment.”
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 imposes on the justice system and the public a responsibility to ensure the rights of children who cannot protect their own interests, and describes children's development as society's most important investment.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme imposes on the justice system and the public a responsibility to ensure the rights of children who cannot protect their own interests, and describes children's development as society's most important investment. A review of independent observers and a complaints function that children at the residences can turn to follows that principle. The plan mentions no complaints function, which is why the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet lägger på rättsväsendet och det offentliga ett ansvar att säkerställa rättigheterna för barn som inte kan tillvarata sina egna intressen, och beskriver barns utveckling som samhällets viktigaste investering. En översyn av oberoende observatörer och en klagomålsfunktion som barn på boendena kan vända sig till följer den principen. Planen nämner ingen klagomålsfunktion, varför slutsatsen är härledd.
- protection of children's rightsdecisive»att säkerställa rättigheterna för barn och andra som inte kan« (party programme ↗)“to ensure the rights of children and others who cannot”
- children's development is prioritized»Samhällets viktigaste investering för framtiden är barns utveckling.« (party programme ↗)“Society's most important investment for the future is children's development.”
- better conditions for placed young people»Se till att placerade ungdomar ges bättre utbildning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Ensure that placed young people are given better education”
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 states that the process surrounding placed children needs to be upgraded and quality-assured and that children in care shall be able to trust society's care.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that the process surrounding placed children needs to be upgraded and quality-assured and that children in care shall be able to trust society's care. A review of independent observers and a complaints function at the homes is a means for precisely that, and the principle that the child's best interests shall always be considered points in the same direction. The plan gives no support for existing oversight being sufficient.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att processen kring placerade barn behöver uppgraderas och kvalitetssäkras och att omhändertagna barn ska kunna lita på samhällets vård. En översyn av oberoende observatörer och en klagomålsfunktion på boendena är ett medel för just det, och principen att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas pekar i samma riktning. Planen ger inget stöd för att befintlig tillsyn är tillräcklig.
- quality-assured care of placed childrendecisive»Det finns ett stort behov av att processen kring placerade barn uppgraderas och kvalitetssäkras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“There is a great need for the process surrounding placed children to be upgraded and quality-assured.”
- trust in society's care»Barn och unga som blir omhändertagna ska kunna lita på samhällets vård och nå en bättre tillvaro.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Children and young people who become taken into care shall be able to trust society's care and achieve a better life.”
- child's best interests determines»Att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That the child's best interests shall always be considered”
- society's safety net for children»rycka ut till barnens stöd i de fall då föräldrarna sviker sitt ansvar« (party programme ↗)“step in to support children when parents fail in their responsibility”
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 (2024/25:SoU5)
- Committee report full text (HC01SoU5)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:3260 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:41 Avskildhet i anslutning till dygnsvilan - för ökad trygghet och säkerhet på särskilda ungdomshem av Maj Karlsson m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:3261 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:41 Avskildhet i anslutning till dygnsvilan - för ökad trygghet och säkerhet på särskilda ungdomshem av Martina Johansson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:3262 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:41 Avskildhet i anslutning till dygnsvilan - för ökad trygghet och säkerhet på särskilda ungdomshem av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2024/25:41 — Avskildhet i anslutning till dygnsvilan - för ökad trygghet och säkerhet på särskilda ungdomshem
Source: The Swedish Parliament