Thesis (LLM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / This mini-dissertation seeks to evaluate the best interests of the child as a separate factor that influences the sentencing of a primary caregiver. When a parent is in conflict with the law, the child stands to be affected sentence that the court may impose on the caregiver. A custodial sentence has the potential of affecting the child’s right to parental care. Therefore, in the event where a custodial sentence is appropriate, alternative care of the child by other persons become a possible option. The author recommends that after applying the principles articulated in S v M and making use of a child impact report; the right of the child to parental care should carry more weight. Thus, courts should duly consider the best interest of the child as an independent factor when negative effects to the child are associated with the sentence. Where appropriate, with either a non-custodial sentence or adequate alternative care (in the case of imprisonment).

Den första paragrafen i artikel 3 och i artikel 12 i lag (2018:1197) om Förenta nationernas konvention om barnets rättigheter, betonar vikten av barnets bästa och barnets delaktighet. Denna studie syftar till att förstå hur dessa aspekter beaktas i domstol av de involverade parterna i processen enligt lag (1990:52) med särskilda bestämmelser om vård av unga under åren 2022 och 2023. För att genomföra studien begärdes fem rättsfall ut från en av fyra kammarrätter i Sverige. Utifrån bakgrund, teori och tidigare forskning analyseras rättsfallen med hjälp av kritisk diskursanalys. Resultatet visar att barnets bästa resoneras olika beroende på part, samt att parter med störst auktoritet såsom yrkesverksammas uttalanden ges större beaktning vid domslut. Vårdnadshavare ifrågasätts ofta angående deras omsorgsförmåga. Vårdnadshavarnas uttalanden kring barnets bästa är ofta ett tecken på bristande insikt i omsorgsförmågan enligt de professionella i yrkesverksamma. Barnets delaktighet framhävs inte på samma vis som barnets bästa i rättsfallen. / The first paragraph in the third article and in article 12 of  Convention on the Rights of the Child (2018:1197), the significance of prioritizing the best interests of the child and their participation is emphasized. This study aimed to understand how these two aspects are considered in court by the various parties involved in the process of Swedish Care of Young Persons (Special Provisions) Act (SFS 1990:52) (LVU) during year 2022 and 2023. To conduct this study we requested 5 court judgements from one of the four administrative courts in Sweden. Based on the background and previous research we analyzed the cases using critical discourse analysis. It shows that the best interest of the child can be motivated differently depending on parties, in these court judgments the parties with most authority as professionals are given greater consideration in court. The caregivers often are questioned regarding their ability to provide care for the child. Their opinion on the best interest of the child, which in most cases is to live in the caregivers home, according to professionals, is a sign of lack of insight into their caregiving. Children participation on the other hand, which also is a part of reaching the best interest of the child  (Prop:2017/18:186), was not always given the same extent.

The purpose of this thesis is to understand how the Swedish Migration Board and the Social Services interpret the principle of "the best interests ofthe child" based on the specific conditions and tasks of the authorities. The essay strives to deepen the understanding of the street-level bureaucrats'room for action when they interpret and apply the principle of the child'sbest interests, as well as the impact these interpretations can have on thechildren. Scientific research shows that street-level bureaucrats may havelimited room for action when they have to investigate “the best interests of the child”, due to the existing legal framework, which leads to physical orpsychological consequences for the children. This paper will focus on howstreet-level bureaucrats interpret the principle of “the best interests of thechild” and how various legal frameworks of the authorities affect the scopeof action for the social workers. This study is based on nine interviews (fivefrom the Social Services and four from the Swedish Migration Board). It shows the experiences of how these street-level bureaucrats can accommodate the child's best interests in their daily work.

Denna studies syfte var att undersöka hur barnrättsperspektivet diskuteras i domslut gällande vårdnadstvister samt hur stor vikt barnets bästa har i slutligt domslut. Även att undersöka om det finns några likheter och skillnader i motiveringen och domslutet sedan FN:s konvention om barns rättigheter blev en del i svensk lagstiftning. I studien har följande frågeställningar besvarats: Hur diskuteras barnrättsperspektivet i vårdnadstvister och hur stor vikt läggs vid barnets bästa i slutligt domslut? Hur har användandet av barnrättsperspektivet förändrats sedan barnkonventionen blev en del i svensk lagstiftning samt vilka likheter och skillnader finns i motiveringar och domslut i vårdnadstvister? I studien har åtta domslut från tidsperioden 2016–2019 samt åtta domslut från 2020–2023 analyserats genom en jämförande kvalitativ innehållsanalys samt ur ett barndomssociologiskt perspektiv och ett rättssociologiskt perspektiv. Studiens resultat har visat på likheter i tidsperioderna gällande hur stor betydelse ska tillskrivas till faktorer som vårdnadshavarnas samarbete och föräldrarnas förmåga att skydda barnet från en hotfull och skadlig miljö. Likheter gällande saknade diskussioner kring barnets anknytning och barnets delaktighet förekommer även i båda tidsperioderna. Resultatet har visat på utmärkande skillnader i tidsperioderna då det skett en ökning av barnperspektiv i domslut, både genom barnets inkludering och hur barnets åsikter beaktas och tillmäts betydelse. Resultatet påvisar även en reducering gällande diskussionen om barnets anknytning till föräldrarna efter att barnkonventionen blev del av svensk lag. Sammanfattningsvis pekar studiens resultat på en smärre förändring gällande barnperspektivet i de domslut som studerats, sedan barnkonventionen blev en del i svensk lagstiftning. / The purpose of this study was to examine how the best interests of the child are discussed in the judgment of the court regarding child custody cases and how much impact the child's best interest has in the final judgment. Also, to examine similarities and differences in the inquiry and final judgment since the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child became a part of Swedish law. The following questions were answered in the study: How is the child rights perspective discussed in custody cases and how much importance is given to the best interests of the child in the final judgment? How has the use of the child rights perspective changed since the Convention on the Rights of the Child became part of Swedish law and what similarities and differences are there in justifications and judgments in custody cases? In the study, eight verdicts from 2016-2019 and eight verdicts from 2020-2023 have been analyzed through comparative qualitative content analysis and discussed within the theoretical framework of childhood sociology and sociology of law. The results of the study have shown similarities in the periods regarding how much importance should be attributed to factors such as the cooperation of the guardians and the parent's ability to protect the child from a threatening and harmful environment. Similarities regarding missing discussions about the child's attachment and the child's participation also occur in both periods. The results have shown significant differences in the time periods when there has been an increase in the child's perspective in judgments, both through the child's inclusion and how the child's opinions are considered and given importance. The results also show a reduction in the discussion of the child's attachment to the parents after the Convention on the Rights of the Child became part of Swedish law. In summary, the study's results point to a minor change regarding the child perspective in the verdicts studied, since the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child became part of Swedish law.

Esmeralda, som även kom att kallas ”lilla hjärtat”, påträffades avliden hos sina biologiskaföräldrar kort efter att vården av henne enligt LVU upphörde. Som ett resultat av Esmeraldastragiska öde presenterades reformen lex lilla hjärtat, vilken resulterade i flertal lagändringarsom trädde i kraft den 1 juli 2022. Denna studie syftar till att undersöka om och i sådant fall ivilken utsträckning lex lilla hjärtat har fått betydelse för rättstillämpningen. Studien hargenomförts med hjälp av en kvalitativ forskningsmetod och med dokument i form av domarsom behandlar upphörandet av vård av unga enligt LVU 2 § som datainsamlingsmetod.Domarna valdes ut genom ett målstyrt urval och bearbetades genom en tematisk analys. Deteoretiska utgångspunkter som använts i studien är rättssociologi, socialkonstruktivism ochbarndomssociologi. Resultatet från studien visar att lex lilla hjärtat har fått betydelse förrättstillämpningen, dock inte i tillräcklig utsträckning med hänsyn till förväntade effekter.Inledningsvis har det konstaterats att lex lilla hjärtat har medfört aktualiserade krav vidupphörande av vård enligt LVU 2 §. Fortsättningsvis har barnrätten fått en förstärkningmedan beaktandet av föräldrarnas intresse snarare har försvagats. Däremot visar studien attdet fortsatt föreligger brister i hänsynstagandet som görs till principen om barnets bästa samtbarnets perspektiv. / Esmeralda, also called “lilla hjärtat” was found dead at her biological parents house shortlyafter the care of her under the Care of Young Persons Act, ended. As a result of Esmeralda'stragic fate the reform “lex lilla hjärtat” was presented. This led to several changes in the lawthat came into effect on July 1 2022. The purpose of this study is to examine whether and towhat extent “lex lilla hjärtat” has had an impact on the application of law. This study hasbeen based on a qualitative method with documents consisting of verdicts that process thetermination of the care of young persons act, as the data collection method. The verdicts wereselected through a purposive selection and processed with a thematic analysis. The theoreticalperspective that has been used in this study is sociology of laws, social constructivism andchildhood sociology. The result of the study show that “lex lilla hjärtat” has had an impact onthe application of law, although not the expected level of impact. First of all, “lex lillahjärtat” has resulted in higher requirements regarding the termination of the care of youngpersons act. Furthermore the children's rights have been strengthened while the parents'interests have gotten a weakened position. However, this study shows that there is still a lackof consideration to the principle of the best interest of the child and the child's perspective.

The study aims to, based on a critical discourse analysis, study the judgments in administrative courts in LVU cases in order to identify the occurrence of the concept of the best interests of the child and the significance it is given. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child stipulates that childrens’s rights are safeguarded, that children must have the opportunity to participate in decisions that affect them and that in all measures concerning children, the child´s best interests must come first. On January 1, 2020, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child became Swedish law with the aim of further clarifying the rights of the child and ensuring that they are safeguarded and taken into account by law enforcement. Incorporation of the Convention on Rights of the Child is described as having contributed to a more children’s right-based approach in all public activities, which it intends to study and review. Previous research in the field shows that children's participation and decision-making processes that concern them are often deficient, despite the fact that many children wish for increased participation. Previous research has also been able to demonstrate that, however, there are no general guidelines for how the legal objective of the best interests of the child should be achieved in legal processes. The critical discourse analysis used to analyze 10 of the administrative court's judgments in LVU cases has been able to demonstrate that the administrative court does not use the concept of the child's best interest in its assessments and decisions at all.

I denna kandidatuppsats utforskas hur lagstiftningen för unga lagöverträdare mellan 15-17 år som misstänks eller döms för grova brott har förändrats under tidsperioden 1993-2023 ur ett kritiskt barnrättsteoretiskt perspektiv. Under denna tidsperiod ska barnets rättigheter framträda under lagstiftningsprocessen och studiens syfte är att undersöka huruvida barnets rättigheter framkommer vid utvecklingen av nya ungdomspåföljder. Studien belyser den ökade tendensen av lagstiftaren att tillämpa strängare straff som respons på ungdomsbrottslighet och i bekämpandet av kriminella nätverk. Detta  reflekterar ett skifte från fokus på rehabilitering, till allt mer straffande åtgärder med inslag av kontroll och frihetsberövande. Denna studie granskar hur dessa förändringar påverkas av barnets rättigheter enligt FN:s barnkonvention och diskuterar den komplexitet som uppstår när barn misstänks eller döms för grova brott, samt vid utformandet av ungdomspåföljder. Genom riktad kvalitativ innehållsanalys av fyra statliga offentliga utredningar identifierades flera centrala teman, såsom skiftet i ansvarande myndigheter, utveckling av straffsystemets principer, balansen mellan samhällsskydd och rehabilitering, barnkonventionen och barnperspektiv, barnets bästa och barnets behov. Denna studies resultat visar att det har skett en markant ökning av straffande åtgärder, vilket har lett till att unga lagöverträdare i högre grad hamnar inom Kriminalvårdens system snarare än att få stödjande åtgärder från socialtjänsten under senare tid. Detta har resulterat i en förskjutning där samhällsskydd prioriteras framför rehabilitering och barns rättigheter enligt barnkonventionen, där särskilt principen om barnets bästa riskerar att åsidosättas.

In October 2022, the Swedish government announced a political agreement named the Tidö Agreement which presented multiple collaborative projects aimed at facing current societalissues in Sweden. In the agreement, a suggestion regarding increased information sharingbetween professionals in work with children and youth was presented as a part of the crimeprevention work. The aim of this qualitative study is to describe and analyze the role ofinformation sharing when working with children and youth, based on the experience of school counselors', social workers' and police officers'. Data collected from two semi-structured focus group interviews with seven professionals have been thematically analyzed, using Danermark’s (2007) theory of cooperation. The results indicate that political decisionsthat are perceived as difficult to interpret for professionals are used restrictively. In additionto the design of the laws, the respondents request guidance in how existing laws should beapplied, rather than new laws being established. Cooperation between school counselors',social workers' and police officers' seem to be limited by external factors, and multiplebarriers hinders a well-functioning cooperation. An overall conclusion is that politicaldecisions have a clear impact on practical work, and information sharing cannot be solelyreduced to positive or negative aspects.

Title: “The will of the child isn't always what's best for the child” A qualitative study on how family law caseworkers involve children in custody-, residence-, and visitation investigations in cases involving risk factors.  Our study aims to examine how family law caseworkers involve children in custody-, residence-, and visitation investigations in cases involving risk factors. The study also aims to investigate how family law caseworkers perceive the child's own wishes and to what extent the risk factors influence assessments regarding what is in the child's best interest.In this study, a qualitative methodological approach employing qualitative interviews has been utilized, employing a vignette method in combination with semi-structured interviews. The sample consists of eight active family law caseworkers located in southwestern Sweden. A thematic analysis has been conducted to interpret the empirical data.The results have been categorized into four main themes: Child Participation, family lawcaseworkers handling of risk factors, family law caseworkers assessment of the child's best interests, and family law caseworkers' room for action.The study's findings indicate that children are involved to the extent possible, considering their age and maturity. However, family law caseworkers argue that it is their responsibility to protect children from harm, and therefore, the adult perspective sometimes needs to take precedence over the children's own will in decision-making.In summary, the study's results reveal that the child's wishes are not always aligned with what is considered to be in the child's best interest. Additionally, while the child's involvement is highly valued, the presence of risk factors plays a crucial role in family law investigations regarding custody, residence, and visitation.

Denna studie syftar till att undersöka socialsekreterares erfarenheter av hur barns behov och vårdnadshavares samtycke påverkar barnavårdsutredningars arbete och beslut. Studiens tidigare forskning behandlar bedömningar och beslut, samtycke och samarbete med föräldrar, barnets bästa och behov, barnets och föräldrars rättigheter samt socialsekreterares förutsättningar. Studien genomfördes med semistrukturerade intervjuer med sex socialsekreterare från två svenska kommuner, baserat på ett bekvämlighetsurval utifrån ett målstyrt urval. Resultaten visar att socialsekreterarna anser att deras bedömningar av barns behov inte påverkas av vårdnadshavares samtycke. Dock anses beslut om insatser påverkas av vårdnadshavares samtycke, så länge det inte finns skäl för tvångsåtgärder. Socialsekreterarna identifierar bemötande, motivationsarbete, kunskap om arbetets möjligheter och arbetslivserfarenhet som viktiga framgångsfaktorer. Socialsekreterarna upplever organisatoriska begränsningar, resursbrist, en negativ syn av socialtjänsten hos vårdnadshavare samt att rådande lagar är bristfälliga och motstridiga som viktiga motgångsfaktorer. Med grund i studiens resultat dras slutsatsen att vårdnadshavares samtycke kan väga tyngre än barns behov i barnavårdutredningars beslut och att barnets bästa därmed inte alltid har högsta prioritet. Det dras även slutsatsen att det finns mycket som kan begränsa socialsekreterare i deras arbete, men att det också finns många möjligheter inom dessa begränsningar som socialsekreterare kan arbeta utifrån. / This study aims to investigate social workers' experiences of how children's needs and parental consent influence assessments and decisions in child welfare investigations. The study's previous research addresses assessments and decisions, consent and cooperation with parents, the best interests and needs of the child, the rights of children and parents, and the conditions for social workers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six social workers from two Swedish municipalities, using a convenience sample based on purposive sampling. The results show that social workers believe their assessments of children's needs are not influenced by parental consent. However, decisions regarding interventions are considered influenced by parental consent, provided there are no grounds for compulsory measures. Social workers identify treatment of clients, motivational work, knowledge of work opportunities, and work experience as key success factors. They see organizational limitations, resource shortages, negative perceptions of social services by guardians, and inadequate and conflicting laws as key obstacles. Based on the study's results, it is concluded that parental consent can outweigh children's needs in child welfare investigation decisions, and thus the best interest of the child is not always top priority. It is also concluded that while there are many limitations in their work, there are also numerous opportunities within these constraints that social workers can utilize.