Concepts and methods in family matters

The election manifesto demands that the child's perspective be strengthened in custody disputes and that knowledge in the judicial system about violence against women and children increases, which is precisely what the requirement for evidence-based methods in custody cases aims for. The party programme wants work against violent crime to be based on research. That judicial processes are built on science is therefore a commitment the plan has already made.

• knowledge in the judiciarydecisive»ökad kunskap inom rättsväsendet om samtycke och om våld mot kvinnor och barn« (2022 manifesto ↗)“increased knowledge within the judicial system about consent and about violence against women and children”
• research-based work against violence»Vi vill se ett genomgripande arbete mot våldsbrottslighet, som utgår« (party programme ↗)“We want to see comprehensive work against violent crime, which is based”
• child's perspective in custody disputes»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.”

The plan requires that policy in criminal law be built on evidence, efficiency and rule of law, and that violence against children and men's violence against women are combated forcefully with support to the affected. That evidence-based methods shall underpin assessments in custody disputes where violence occurs follows directly from these commitments. The plan does not address family law procedures, however.

• evidence and rule of lawdecisive»Kriminalpolitik byggd på evidens, effektivitet och rättssäkerhet.« (party programme ↗)“Criminal policy built on evidence, efficiency and rule of law.”
• protection of children against violence»Kraftfullt bekämpande av våld mot barn och stöd till barn som bevittnar våld.« (party programme ↗)“Forceful combating of violence against children and support to children who witness violence.”
• violence as exercise of power»Mäns våld mot kvinnor är en maktutövning som står i direkt motsats mot dessa principer.« (party programme ↗)“Men's violence against women is an exercise of power that stands in direct contradiction to these principles.”
• measures against men's violence»• Krafttag för att stoppa hedersrelaterat våld, sexualbrott och mäns våld mot kvinnor. 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 ↗)“• Measures to stop honour-based violence, sexual offences and men's violence against women. 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.”

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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 wants to protect children from being forced to have contact with a violent parent and establishes that the best interests of the child must always be decisive. It is also built on a scientific approach and requires that legal certainty is guaranteed throughout the legal system. That evidence-based methods should underpin court rulings in custody cases with allegations of violence follows from these commitments.

• protection from violent parentdecisive»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.”
• best interests of the child decisive»Barnkonventionen är svensk lag och barnets bästa ska alltid vara avgörande när beslut fattas kring barn.« (party programme ↗)“The Convention on the Rights of the Child is Swedish law and the best interests of the child must always be decisive when decisions are made concerning children.”
• legal certainty throughout the system»Alla ska vara lika inför lagen och rättssäkerheten måste garanteras i hela rättssystemet.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone shall be equal before the law and legal certainty must be guaranteed in the entire legal system.”
• scientific basis for decisions»Vetenskap och bildning bidrar till förståelse för vår omvärld och kunskap att utveckla ett hållbart samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“Science and education contribute to understanding our world and knowledge to develop a sustainable society.”

The plan commits the party to leading Sweden towards an end to men's violence against women and strengthening the victim perspective, and that children's rights shall carry greatest weight when society acts. That custody disputes where violence occurs are resolved with evidence-based methods is a prerequisite for violence-affected women and children to get fair trial. The plan says nothing about burden of proof in family cases.

• stop men's violence against womendecisive»Vi ska leda Sverige mot ett slut på mäns våld mot kvinnor. Män som slår ska inte komma undan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall lead Sweden towards an end to men's violence against women. Men who hit must not escape.”
• strengthened victim perspective»Brottsofferperspektivet måste stärkas. Den som utsatts för brott ska få upprättelse och bättre stöd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The victim perspective must be strengthened. Those affected by crime shall get redress and better support.”
• children's rights»Av största betydelse är då barnens rättigheter och perspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Of greatest importance is then the rights and perspective of children.”
• fair trial»Alla som bor i Sverige ska kunna få sin sak prövad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone who lives in Sweden shall be able to have their case heard.”

The plan requires that support measures be scientifically based and that legal security and protection of civil and political rights be strengthened. It also affirms that all violence in close relationships shall be combated and that children shall not be forced into visitation with a violent parent. The demand for evidence-based methods in custody disputes, especially when there are allegations of violence, follows from these commitments. The plan, however, says nothing about what evidence may be invoked.

• strengthened legal securitydecisive»Rättssäkerheten och skyddet för de medborgerliga fri- och rättigheterna behöver förstärkas.« (party programme ↗)“Legal security and protection of civil and political rights needs to be strengthened.”
• scientifically-based measures»Stödinsatser sättas in tidigt och vara vetenskapligt grundade.« (party programme ↗)“Support measures shall be initiated early and be scientifically based.”
• combat violence in close relationships»Alla former av våld i relationer och könsrelaterat våld ska förebyggas.« (party programme ↗)“All forms of violence in relationships and gender-related violence shall be prevented.”
• child protection in family matters»Barn ska inte tvingas till umgänge med en förälder som utsatt barnet för övergrepp, psykisk eller fysisk misshandel.« (party programme ↗)“Children shall not be forced into visitation with a parent who subjected the child to abuse, psychological or physical maltreatment.”

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 handling of cases concerning violence in close relationships be based on well-trained staff and functioning cooperation, and makes the best interests of the child governing in all decisions concerning children. Requirements that evidence-based methods be used in custody disputes is a quality issue of that kind and is therefore supported in substance. The plan simultaneously values free and independent courts, which makes the support cautious.

• expertise in violence in close relationshipsdecisive»Effektiv handläggning av ärenden som rör våld i nära relationer förutsätter välutbildade medarbetare hos polis, åklagare, socialtjänst och hälso- och sjukvård samt ett väl fungerande samarbete mellan myndigheterna.« (party programme ↗)“Effective handling of cases concerning violence in close relationships requires well-trained staff at the police, prosecution, social services and health and medical care and good cooperation between the authorities.”
• best interests of the child governing»Barnets bästa ska vara styrande i all familjepolitik och vid alla beslut som rör barn.« (party programme ↗)“The best interests of the child shall be governing in all family policy and in all decisions concerning children.”
• protection for victims of violence»Kvinnor, män och barn som utsatts för våld i en nära relation ska ges adekvat stöd och skydd.« (party programme ↗)“Women, men and children who have suffered violence in a close relationship shall be given adequate support and protection.”
• independent and legally secure courts»Domstolarna ska stå fria och oberoende från statsmakterna och handlägga mål och ärenden på ett rättssäkert och effektivt sätt.« (party programme ↗)“Courts shall be free and independent from the state authorities and handle cases and matters in a legally secure and effective manner.”

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 wants to strengthen the independence of the courts and a legal system that judges justly, which speaks against politically prescribing which methods should underpin judicial decisions in custody cases. The party programme's requirement for research and proven experience supports the ambition in substance. The plan's response to violence in close relationships is specialized investigation teams rather than directing courts' assessment of evidence.

• domstolarnas oberoendedecisive»Stärka domstolarnas oberoende och skyddet för medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the independence of the courts and protection of citizens' freedoms and rights”
• rättssäkert dömande»domstolsväsende som har förmågan att döma rättssäkert.« (party programme ↗)“court system that has the capacity to deliver just judgments.”
• specialiserad kompetens om våld»Införa särskilda grupper i varje polisregion som är specialiserade på sexualbrott och våld i nära relation för att fler anmälda brott ska leda till lagföring och straff« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Establish specialized teams in each police region that focus on sexual crimes and violence in close relationships to ensure more reported crimes lead to prosecution and punishment”

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The plan requires that investigations concerning children be quality-assured and legally secure and that knowledge is raised among all those working with family law matters. The counter-proposal's requirement for general measures that ensure that evidence-based methods are the basis for judgements in custody disputes follows from this, in line with the plan's stated confidence in science over untested theories. However, the plan does not address evidence presentation in family cases.

• rättssäkra barnutredningardecisive»Utredningar rörande barn ska vara kvalitetssäkrade och rättssäkra.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Investigations concerning children must be quality-assured and legally secure.”
• höjd kompetens i familjerätten»Det behövs också kunskapshöjande åtgärder för alla som arbetar med barn och unga och familjerättsliga frågor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Knowledge-raising measures are also needed for all those working with children, young people and family law matters.”
• kvalitet i barnärenden»Öka kvalité och rättssäkerhet i utredningar om barn« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase quality and legal security in investigations on children”
• vetenskap framför teorier»Vi tror på vetenskap och inser att förvirrande genusteorier får förödande konsekvenser när de omsätts i praktiken.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We believe in science and recognize that confusing gender theories have devastating consequences when implemented in practice.”

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.