2025-03-262024/25:CU7 · p.20CUCivil law & housing
Honour-related violence and oppression in families
Custody and residence when a parent commits honour-related violence or oppression
What's at stake: The decision affects children living in families where honour-based norms are present and who risk violence, oppression or abduction. An explicit bar on custody or residence for parents who commit such violence would provide stronger and clearer protection, while continuing to assess matters case by case under current rules means that protection continues to be decided through an overall best-interests assessment.
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 it should be made explicitly impossible for a parent who commits honour-related violence or oppression to share custody or be the child's primary residential parent, and whether suspected honour-related abduction of a child should count as a signal that siblings are also at risk, or whether the recently introduced changes to the Children and Parents Code already give children sufficient protection.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions, noting that several legislative changes have already been made in recent years to protect children from violence and abuse, including the offence of exposing a child to violence and a strengthened right for children to participate in custody proceedings. Since 1 January 2025, further changes give the risk of a child coming to harm a particularly prominent place in the Children and Parents Code's overarching provision on the best interests of the child, while the child's need for contact with both parents is no longer specifically mentioned, and limit contact with a parent when it conflicts with the best interests of the child.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 26 (S)
The reservation (S) calls for Parliament to instruct the government that a parent who subjects a child to honour-related violence or oppression should not share custody or be the child's residential parent, and that suspicion that a child risks honour-related abduction should be treated as a signal that siblings, too, are at risk of such violence and oppression. The reason given is that work against honour-related oppression must continue despite legislative changes already made, since reports of oppressed and abducted children and women continue to occur.
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 26 by S.
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: CCenterpartiet, LLiberalerna, MModeraterna, MPMiljöpartiet, VVänsterpartiet
Ja 145–94Nej 17–223
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 20/0/0/4 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/13 | match | confidence: high | derived |
| MP | No | Yes 16/0/0/2 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Yes 18/0/1/5 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: high | derived |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | No | Abstain 0/0/62/10 | differs | confidence: high | explicit |
Broke with the party line
| CHelena Lindahl (C, Västerbottens län) | Abstain — party line: Yes |
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 2024/25:1389 by Mikael Eskilandersson et al. (SD) motion 5, 2024/25:1413 by Sara Gille et al. (SD) motion 15 and 2024/25:3073 by Jennie Nilsson et al. (S) motion 16.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:1389 av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD) yrkande 5, 2024/25:1413 av Sara Gille m.fl. (SD) yrkande 15 och 2024/25:3073 av Jennie Nilsson m.fl. (S) yrkande 16.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 140 proposals on family law found in motions from the general motion period in 2024. The motions concern, among other things, waiting periods in case of divorce, property division and custody, residence and visitation rights in cases of domestic violence. The Riksdag refers primarily to enacted legislation and that work is already being conducted in the areas covered by the proposals.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the mediation instrument in custody disputes to be developed to increase knowledge about intimate partner violence and to give victims access to support persons. (S) — Reservation 26
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 explicitly states that it should not be possible for perpetrators of violence to retain joint custody and that the child's perspective must be strengthened in custody processes.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly states that it should not be possible for perpetrators of violence to retain joint custody and that the child's perspective must be strengthened in custody processes. The counter-proposal's requirement that a parent who exposes a child to honour-related violence should not share custody is the same thing in substance. The plan also demands strong action against honour-based oppression and targeted work against its various expressions, which includes siblings' exposure.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår uttryckligen fast att det inte ska vara möjligt för våldsutövare att behålla gemensam vårdnad och att barnperspektivet måste stärkas i vårdnadsprocesser. Motförslagets krav på att en förälder som utsätter ett barn för hedersrelaterat våld inte ska ha del i vårdnaden är samma sak i sak. Planen kräver dessutom krafttag mot hedersförtryck och ett riktat arbete mot dess olika uttryck, vilket omfattar syskonens utsatthet.
- no custody for perpetrators of violencedecisive»Barnperspektivet måste stärkas i vårdnadstvister och det ska inte vara möjligt för våldsutövare att behålla gemensam vårdnad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The child's perspective must be strengthened in custody disputes and it should not be possible for perpetrators of violence to retain joint custody.”
- strong action against honour-based oppression»I ett tryggt samhälle tar vi krafttag mot våld, hedersförtryck och sexuella kränkningar mot kvinnor, barn och hbtqi-personer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In a safe society, we take strong action against violence, honour-based oppression, and sexual violations against women, children, and LGBTQI persons.”
- targeted work against honour-based oppression»de olika uttryck det tar sig, som sexköp och hedersförtryck.« (party programme ↗)“the various expressions it takes, such as sexual exploitation and honour-based oppression.”
- the child's best interest»principen att i varje läge se till barnets« (party programme ↗)“the principle of in every case seeing to the child's”
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 election manifesto requires measures to stop honour-based violence and for the political direction to continue that has tightened responses to violence and abuse in close relationships.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires measures to stop honour-based violence and for the political direction to continue that has tightened responses to violence and abuse in close relationships. That a parent who subjects a child to honour-based violence shall not have custody or be the resident parent follows from the fact that the child's best interests must be considered in all decisions and the right to a childhood free from violence. The plan thus also addresses the legislative changes the committee refers to, but requires that the work continues.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver krafttag för att stoppa hedersrelaterat våld och att den politiska riktning fortsätter som skärpt reaktionerna mot våld och kränkningar i nära relationer. Att en förälder som utsätter ett barn för hedersvåld inte ska ha del i vårdnaden eller vara boendeförälder följer av att barnets bästa ska beaktas vid alla beslut och av rätten till en uppväxt fri från våld. Planen talar därmed också om de redan gjorda lagändringar utskottet hänvisar till, men kräver att arbetet fortsätter.
- stop honour-based oppressiondecisive»Krafttag för att stoppa hedersrelaterat våld, sexualbrott och mäns våld mot kvinnor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Measures to stop honour-based violence, sexual offences and men's violence against women.”
- child's best interests in all decisions»bästa ska beaktas vid alla beslut.« (party programme ↗)“best interests must be considered in all decisions.”
- continued tightened line against violence»Vi vill fort sätta den politiska riktning som skärpt straffen för våld och andra kränkningar i nära relationer, och som ökat resurserna till kvinno- och tjejjourernas viktiga arbete.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to continue the political direction that has tightened penalties for violence and other abuse in close relationships, and that has increased resources to women's and girls' important shelter work.”
- safe childhood without violence»och till en trygg uppväxt fri från droger och våld.« (party programme ↗)“and to a safe childhood free from drugs and violence.”
flags: citat_migrerat
The election manifesto establishes that children's right to safety weighs more heavily than violent parents' right to their children and that children shall be protected from being forced into contact with a violent parent, and that work against honour-related violence shall be strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that children's right to safety weighs more heavily than violent parents' right to their children and that children shall be protected from being forced into contact with a violent parent, and that work against honour-related violence shall be strengthened. That a parent who exposes children to honour violence shall not have custody or be the residential parent follows directly from this.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att barns rätt till trygghet väger tyngre än våldsamma föräldrars rätt till sina barn och att barn ska skyddas från att tvingas till umgänge med en våldsam förälder, samt att arbetet mot hedersrelaterat våld ska stärkas. Att en förälder som utsätter barn för hedersvåld inte ska ha vårdnaden eller vara boendeförälder följer direkt av detta.
- child's safety weighs mostdecisive»I vårt Sverige väger barns rätt till trygghet tyngre än våldsamma föräldrars rätt till sina barn.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In our Sweden, children's right to safety weighs more heavily than violent parents' right to their children.”
- limited contact rights in cases of violence»skydda barn från att tvingas till umgänge med en våldsam förälder.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“protect children from being forced into contact with a violent parent.”
- strengthened work against honour oppression»stärka arbetet mot hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck så att likvärdig hjälp ges i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen work against honour-related violence and oppression so that equivalent help is provided throughout the country.”
- tools against honour violence»Samhällets institutioner ska ha beredskap och verktyg för att motverka patriarkalt våld och våldshandlingar som utförs under påverkan av hedersföreställningar.« (party programme ↗)“Society's institutions shall have preparedness and tools to counter patriarchal violence and acts of violence carried out under the influence of honour-based ideas.”
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 election manifesto states that no one should be subjected to honour-based oppression in Sweden, that controlling behaviour should be criminalized and that perpetrators must not escape, and the party programme demands unconditional protection for children against violence and humiliation in the home.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto states that no one should be subjected to honour-based oppression in Sweden, that controlling behaviour should be criminalized and that perpetrators must not escape, and the party programme demands unconditional protection for children against violence and humiliation in the home. That a parent who subjects a child to honour-based violence should not have custody, and that suspicion of abduction is seen as a signal for siblings as well, follows directly from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att ingen ska utsättas för hedersförtryck i Sverige, att kontrollerande beteende ska kriminaliseras och att förövare inte ska komma undan, och partiprogrammet kräver villkorslöst skydd för barn mot våld och förnedring inom hemmet. Att en förälder som utsätter ett barn för hedersvåld inte ska ha del i vårdnaden, och att misstanke om bortförande ses som en signal även för syskonen, följer direkt av dessa åtaganden.
- stop honour-based oppressiondecisive»Ingen ska utsättas för hedersförtryck i Sverige. Utöver tidiga insatser i skolan vill vi bland annat kriminalisera oskuldskontroller och kontrollerande beteende.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“No one should be subjected to honour-based oppression in Sweden. In addition to early initiatives in school, we want to criminalize chastity checks and controlling behaviour.”
- unconditional protection for children»villkorslöst skydd mot våld och förnedring inom och utom hemmet« (party programme ↗)“unconditional protection against violence and humiliation within and outside the home”
- perpetrators must not escape»Män som slår ska inte komma undan. Vi vill höja straffen för sexualbrott, grov fridskränkning och grov kvinnofridskränkning. Dessutom vill vi kriminalisera kontrollerande beteende.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Men who hit must not escape. We want to raise sentences for sexual offences, serious assault and serious offences against women's integrity. We also want to criminalize controlling behaviour.”
- identify at-risk 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 quickly identify children at risk, we want to see action plans against honour-based oppression in all schools and better training for staff.”
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 plan affirms that crimes should never be relativized with reference to honour concepts, that honour motives should be an aggravating circumstance and that a parent who subjected the other to serious violence should automatically lose visitation rights with the child.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan affirms that crimes should never be relativized with reference to honour concepts, that honour motives should be an aggravating circumstance and that a parent who subjected the other to serious violence should automatically lose visitation rights with the child. The same principle bears the counter-proposal's demand that those who subject a child to honour-based violence should not have parental custody. The plan also wants to broaden criminalization to include corrective travel, which affects the risk of abduction and thereby siblings.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att brott aldrig får relativiseras med hänsyn till hedersbegrepp, att hedersmotiv ska vara en försvårande omständighet och att en förälder som utsatt den andra för grovt våld automatiskt bör förlora umgängesrätten med barnet. Samma princip bär motförslagets krav på att den som utsätter ett barn för hedersvåld inte ska ha del i vårdnaden. Planen vill dessutom bredda kriminaliseringen till uppfostringsresor, vilket träffar risken för bortföranden och därmed syskonen.
- lost visitation rights for serious violencedecisive»förälder som döms för att ha utsatt den andra föräldern för grovt eller dödligt våld bör automatiskt« (party programme ↗)“parent convicted of subjecting the other parent to serious or fatal violence should automatically”
- no relativization of honour crimes»Brott ska aldrig relativiseras med hänsyn till patriarkala traditioner eller hedersbegrepp.« (party programme ↗)“Crimes shall never be relativized with reference to patriarchal traditions or honour concepts.”
- honour motives aggravating»vara en försvårande omständighet vid bedömningen av ett brotts straffvärde.« (party programme ↗)“be an aggravating circumstance when assessing a crime's penal value.”
- criminalize corrective travel»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-related crimes shall be sharpened and criminalization shall be broadened to include expressions of honour thinking such as virginity checks and corrective travel.”
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 plan establishes that abuse and oppression can never be tolerated within the family, that the best interests of the child shall come first and that children have the right to a safe upbringing environment.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that abuse and oppression can never be tolerated within the family, that the best interests of the child shall come first and that children have the right to a safe upbringing environment. Religious freedom must never be used as a reason to harm others. That a parent who subjects the child to honour-based oppression shall not share custody, and that risk of abduction be seen as a signal also for siblings, follows from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att övergrepp och förtryck aldrig kan tolereras inom familjen, att barnets bästa ska komma i främsta rummet och att barn har rätt till en trygg uppväxtmiljö. Religionsfriheten får aldrig användas som skäl att kränka andra. Att en förälder som utsätter barnet för hedersförtryck inte ska ha del i vårdnaden, och att risk för bortförande ses som en signal även för syskonen, följer av dessa åtaganden.
- no oppression within the familydecisive»kan aldrig tolereras inom familjen« (party programme ↗)“can never be tolerated within the family”
- best interests of the child first»barnets bästa ska komma i främsta rummet.« (party programme ↗)“the best interests of the child shall come first.”
- safe upbringing environment»Barn har rätt till en trygg uppväxtmiljö.« (party programme ↗)“Children have the right to a safe upbringing environment.”
- faith does not excuse harm»att utöva sin religiösa tro får dock aldrig medföra att man« (party programme ↗)“exercising one's religious faith must never result 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 states zero tolerance for honour crimes, that gender equality is threatened by honour-based oppression and that more children growing up in honour-based environments should be taken into care.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states zero tolerance for honour crimes, that gender equality is threatened by honour-based oppression and that more children growing up in honour-based environments should be taken into care. It also introduces a separate crime of unlawful deprivation of liberty to address abduction and isolation. The counter-proposal's demand that a parent who subjects a child to honour-based oppression should not have custody aligns with these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast en nolltolerans mot hedersbrott, att jämställdheten hotas av hedersförtrycket och att fler barn som växer upp i hedersmiljöer ska omhändertas. Den inför också ett särskilt brott om olaga frihetsbegränsning för att komma åt bortförande och isolering. Motförslagets krav att en förälder som utsätter barn för hedersförtryck inte ska ha del i vårdnaden ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden.
- nolltolerans mot hedersbrottdecisive»Moderaterna vill införa en nolltolerans mot hedersbrott.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Moderate Party wants to introduce zero tolerance for honour crimes.”
- omhänderta utsatta barn»Verka för att fler barn som växer upp i kriminella klaner ska omhändertas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work to ensure that more children growing up in criminal gangs are taken into care”
- kriminalisera frihetsbegränsning»Införa ett särskilt brott – olaga frihetsbegränsning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a separate crime – unlawful deprivation of liberty”
- hedersförtryck hotar jämställdheten»Jämställdheten hotas av hedersförtrycket.« (party programme ↗)“Gender equality is threatened by honour-based oppression.”
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 election manifesto demands vigorous measures against adults exercising honour-based oppression, a special honour-based crime and significantly stricter sentences and expulsion for crimes with honour motive.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto demands vigorous measures against adults exercising honour-based oppression, a special honour-based crime and significantly stricter sentences and expulsion for crimes with honour motive. That a parent who subjects a child to honour-based violence should not have custody or be the residential parent, and that suspicion of abduction should also raise the question of siblings, directly aligns with this and with the demand that the child's best interest shall always be considered.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver kraftiga åtgärder mot vuxna som utövar hedersförtryck, ett särskilt hedersbrott och påtagligt strängare straff samt utvisning för brott med hedersmotiv. Att en förälder som utsätter ett barn för hedersvåld inte ska ha del i vårdnaden eller vara boendeförälder, och att misstanke om bortförande också ska väcka frågan om syskonen, ligger direkt i linje med detta och med kravet att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas.
- vigorous action against oppressorsdecisive»möjlighet att sätta in kraftiga åtgärder mot vuxna som utövar sådant förtryck« (2022 manifesto ↗)“opportunity to take vigorous measures against adults exercising such oppression”
- stricter sentences for honour crimes»Den som begår brott med hedersmotiv bör dömas enligt en särskild brottsrubricering till påtagligt strängare straff och utvisning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A person committing a crime with honour motive should be sentenced according to a special offence classification to significantly stricter punishment and expulsion.”
- special honour-based crime»Införa ett särskilt hedersbrott« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a special honour-based crime”
- child's best interest»Att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That the child's best interest 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.
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:CU7)
- Committee report full text (HC01CU7)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:1017 — Likvärdig myndighetsutövning vid borgerlig vigsel av Kerstin Lundgren (C)
- Motion 2024/25:1078 — Uppföljning av riskbedömningar i vårdnadsmål och utvärdering av barnkonventionens införande av Marléne Lund Kopparklint (M)
- Motion 2024/25:1128 — Rätten att själv bestämma över sin kvarlåtenskap av Alexandra Anstrell och Mats Green (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:1198 — Separerande av vigsel och välsignelse av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2024/25:1222 — Införande av registrering av testamenten och framtidsfullmakter av Ingemar Kihlström (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1226 — Testamentsregister av Larry Söder (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1299 — Vårdnadstvister och konsekvenser av Runar Filper (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1334 — Alla barns rätt till ett tryggt familjeliv av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:1389 — Familjerätt av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1413 — Krafttag mot hedersrelaterat våld och förtryck av Sara Gille m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1414 — Mäns våld mot kvinnor och våld i nära relationer av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1516 — Situationen kring gode män och förvaltare av Peder Björk och Malin Larsson (båda S)
- Motion 2024/25:1522 — Registrering av testamenten av Peter Hedberg och Malin Larsson (båda S)
- Motion 2024/25:1618 — Ansvar för barn till föräldrar som förolyckas av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist (C)
- Motion 2024/25:1657 — Kriminalisering av det ekonomiska våldet av Karin Sundin (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1865 — Ersättning till borgerliga vigselförrättare av Marianne Fundahn (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1903 — Åtgärder för att stoppa mäns våld mot kvinnor och barn av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:2047 — Borgerlig vigselförrättare av Ann-Charlotte Hammar Johnsson och Mats Sander (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:2048 — Bodelning som drar ut på tiden av Ann-Charlotte Hammar Johnsson (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2284 — Sänkning av åldersgränsen för omyndigas rätt att disponera egna tjänade pengar till 15 år av Mattias Eriksson Falk och Roger Hedlund (båda SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament