Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

(Un)protected children? - Social rights of children with disabilities granted temporary protection in Sweden

Karamyshev, Denis LU (2023) JURM02 20232
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
This thesis examines the legal landscape surrounding the social assistance provided to children with disabilities under temporary protection in Sweden. The aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 prompted a significant influx of displaced individuals into the EU. The EU Temporary Protection Directive was activated for the first time. The thesis explores the Swedish legal system’s response to these vulnerable children’s needs.
The central aim of the thesis is to evaluate the access to social assistance granted to children with temporary protection in Sweden. The following research questions have been investigated to fulfil the aim:
(i) What social assistance is granted to children with disabilities in general and children with... (More)
This thesis examines the legal landscape surrounding the social assistance provided to children with disabilities under temporary protection in Sweden. The aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 prompted a significant influx of displaced individuals into the EU. The EU Temporary Protection Directive was activated for the first time. The thesis explores the Swedish legal system’s response to these vulnerable children’s needs.
The central aim of the thesis is to evaluate the access to social assistance granted to children with temporary protection in Sweden. The following research questions have been investigated to fulfil the aim:
(i) What social assistance is granted to children with disabilities in general and children with temporary protection in Sweden according to national law?
(ii) Can the rights enshrined in the ECHR and the CRC be used as arguments for granting full access to social assistance to children with disabilities under temporary protection?
(iii) How is the minimum level of social assistance defined in the TPD? Does the Swedish legislation meet the TPD and the CFR minimum standards on access to social assistance for children with disabilities granted temporary protection?
The analysis reveals that the primary acts applicable to children with disabilities under temporary protection are the Act on Reception of Asylum Seekers and others (LMA) and the Social Service Act (SoL). The children under temporary protection are excluded from the scope of the Act Concerning Support and Service for Persons with Certain Functional Impairments (LSS) due to them not being considered residents in the meaning of the act. However, the scope and application of the SoL may be unclear and depend on whether the children are seen as temporarily visiting Sweden. Due to the interpretation challenge related to the status of children granted temporary protection, the scope to which the social assistance measures are given can vary across municipalities, leading to inconsistencies and potential limitations in access to social assistance.
The thesis explores the potential use of ECHR and CRC rights as arguments for obtaining more comprehensive social assistance. The child’s best interests, non-discrimination, and the right to private and family life emerge as key considerations, suggesting a nuanced interplay between these rights and the national legal framework. These rights may require providing access to social services to the children granted temporary protection beyond acute care under the SoL. The prohibition of discrimination may also demand that the children under the temporary protection receive access to the LSS measures, though whether such practice will be developed is to be observed.
The analysis concludes that Sweden’s social care system falls short of meeting the Temporary Protection Directive’s requirement for equal protection of children granted temporary protection.
The thesis underscores the legal complexities and shortcomings within the Swedish system regarding social assistance for children with disabilities granted temporary protection. It argues for legal reforms to ensure consistency, equality, and adherence to international and EU standards, fostering a more inclusive and protective environment for all vulnerable children. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Detta examensarbete undersöker det rättsliga landskapet kring möjligheter att
få stöd och service för barn med funktionsnedsättning som har fått tillfälligt
skydd i Sverige enligt Massflyktsdirektivet. Detta skedde som ett resultat av
Rysslands invasion av Ukraina 2022, vilket ledde till en betydande tillströmning av personer till EU och aktiveringen av EU:s Massflyktsdirektiv för första gången.

Syftet med arbetet är att utvärdera tillgången till stöd och service för barn med
tillfälligt skydd. Forskningsfrågorna som har undersökts för att uppfylla detta
syfte inkluderar:
(i) Vilket socialt stöd beviljas barn med funktionsnedsättning generellt och
barn med tillfälligt skydd i Sverige enligt nationell lagstiftning?
(ii) Kan... (More)
Detta examensarbete undersöker det rättsliga landskapet kring möjligheter att
få stöd och service för barn med funktionsnedsättning som har fått tillfälligt
skydd i Sverige enligt Massflyktsdirektivet. Detta skedde som ett resultat av
Rysslands invasion av Ukraina 2022, vilket ledde till en betydande tillströmning av personer till EU och aktiveringen av EU:s Massflyktsdirektiv för första gången.

Syftet med arbetet är att utvärdera tillgången till stöd och service för barn med
tillfälligt skydd. Forskningsfrågorna som har undersökts för att uppfylla detta
syfte inkluderar:
(i) Vilket socialt stöd beviljas barn med funktionsnedsättning generellt och
barn med tillfälligt skydd i Sverige enligt nationell lagstiftning?
(ii) Kan rättigheterna i Europakonventionen och Barnkonventionen användas
som argument för att ge full tillgång till socialt stöd till barn med funktionsnedsättning som har tillfälligt skydd?
(iii) Hur definieras miniminivån för socialt bistånd i Massflyktsdirektivet?
Uppfyller den svenska lagstiftningen Massflyktsdirektivet och EU-stadgans
miniminormer om tillgång till socialt stöd för barn med funktionsnedsättning
som har fått tillfälligt skydd?

Analysen visar att de primära lagarna som gäller för barn med funktionsnedsättning under tillfälligt skydd inkluderar lag (1994:137) om mottagande av asylsökande m.fl., LMA, och socialtjänstlag (2001:453), SoL. Barnen med tillfälligt skydd undantas från tillämpningsområdet för lag (1993:387) om
stöd och service till vissa funktionshindrade, LSS eftersom de inte anses vara
bosatta enligt lagen. Analysen betonar att tolkningsutrymmet kring tillämpningen av SoL kan vara oklart beroende på om barnen anses vistas tillfälligt
i Sverige. Detta kan leda till inkonsekvenser och potentiella begränsningar i
tillgången till socialt stöd.

Examensarbetet utforskar även möjligheten att använda rättigheterna i Europakonventionen och Barnkonventionen som argument för att få ett mer omfattande socialt stöd enligt SoL och LSS. Barnets bästa, icke-diskriminering
och rätten till privat- och familjeliv framstår som viktiga överväganden, vilket
tyder på ett nyanserat samspel mellan dessa rättigheter och den nationella
rättsliga ramen.

Slutsatsen är att Sveriges sociala omsorgssystem inte uppfyller Massflyktsdirektivets krav på lika skydd för barn med tillfälligt skydd. Examensarbetet understryker den rättsliga komplexiteten och bristerna i det svenska systemet när det gäller stöd för barn med funktionsnedsättning som har fått tillfälligt skydd. Det argumenterar för nödvändiga rättsliga reformer för att säkerställa konsekvens, jämlikhet och efterlevnad av internationella och EU-standarder, vilket skulle främja en mer inkluderande och skyddande miljö för alla utsatta barn. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Karamyshev, Denis LU
supervisor
organization
course
JURM02 20232
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
children, disability, social assistance, temporary protection, migration, human rights, public law, social law, EU law
language
English
id
9143071
date added to LUP
2024-01-18 11:25:58
date last changed
2024-01-18 11:25:58
@misc{9143071,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines the legal landscape surrounding the social assistance provided to children with disabilities under temporary protection in Sweden. The aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 prompted a significant influx of displaced individuals into the EU. The EU Temporary Protection Directive was activated for the first time. The thesis explores the Swedish legal system’s response to these vulnerable children’s needs.
The central aim of the thesis is to evaluate the access to social assistance granted to children with temporary protection in Sweden. The following research questions have been investigated to fulfil the aim:
(i)	What social assistance is granted to children with disabilities in general and children with temporary protection in Sweden according to national law?
(ii)	Can the rights enshrined in the ECHR and the CRC be used as arguments for granting full access to social assistance to children with disabilities under temporary protection?
(iii)	How is the minimum level of social assistance defined in the TPD? Does the Swedish legislation meet the TPD and the CFR minimum standards on access to social assistance for children with disabilities granted temporary protection?
The analysis reveals that the primary acts applicable to children with disabilities under temporary protection are the Act on Reception of Asylum Seekers and others (LMA) and the Social Service Act (SoL). The children under temporary protection are excluded from the scope of the Act Concerning Support and Service for Persons with Certain Functional Impairments (LSS) due to them not being considered residents in the meaning of the act. However, the scope and application of the SoL may be unclear and depend on whether the children are seen as temporarily visiting Sweden. Due to the interpretation challenge related to the status of children granted temporary protection, the scope to which the social assistance measures are given can vary across municipalities, leading to inconsistencies and potential limitations in access to social assistance. 
The thesis explores the potential use of ECHR and CRC rights as arguments for obtaining more comprehensive social assistance. The child’s best interests, non-discrimination, and the right to private and family life emerge as key considerations, suggesting a nuanced interplay between these rights and the national legal framework. These rights may require providing access to social services to the children granted temporary protection beyond acute care under the SoL. The prohibition of discrimination may also demand that the children under the temporary protection receive access to the LSS measures, though whether such practice will be developed is to be observed.
The analysis concludes that Sweden’s social care system falls short of meeting the Temporary Protection Directive’s requirement for equal protection of children granted temporary protection. 
The thesis underscores the legal complexities and shortcomings within the Swedish system regarding social assistance for children with disabilities granted temporary protection. It argues for legal reforms to ensure consistency, equality, and adherence to international and EU standards, fostering a more inclusive and protective environment for all vulnerable children.}},
  author       = {{Karamyshev, Denis}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{(Un)protected children? - Social rights of children with disabilities granted temporary protection in Sweden}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}