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Lagändring utan förändring - En kritisk granskning av de nya häktningsreglerna ur ett barnrättsperspektiv

Daher, Diana LU (2024) JURM02 20241
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the new detention regulations for chil-dren that came into force on July 1, 2021, and to investigate whether these have resulted in any actual changes regarding the isolation of detained chil-dren. Furthermore, the thesis aims to examine whether Sweden complies with the requirements of the Convention on the Rights of the Child regarding the detention and isolation of children.
For several decades, Sweden has received international and national criticism for its detention practices. Criticism has generally been directed at the exten-sive use of restrictions and isolation. More recently, criticism has also been aimed at the high proportion of children subjected to restrictions and the re-sulting... (More)
The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the new detention regulations for chil-dren that came into force on July 1, 2021, and to investigate whether these have resulted in any actual changes regarding the isolation of detained chil-dren. Furthermore, the thesis aims to examine whether Sweden complies with the requirements of the Convention on the Rights of the Child regarding the detention and isolation of children.
For several decades, Sweden has received international and national criticism for its detention practices. Criticism has generally been directed at the exten-sive use of restrictions and isolation. More recently, criticism has also been aimed at the high proportion of children subjected to restrictions and the re-sulting isolation. This criticism indicates that Sweden may not be meeting the Convention on the Rights of the Child’s requirements regarding the detention of children.
In response to the criticism, there was a legitimate need for Sweden to imple-ment legislative changes to address the deficiencies in its detention facilities. Consequently, on July 1, 2021, Sweden introduced two legislative changes aimed at reducing detention times, the use of restrictions, and the isolation of children. The new detention regulations established a statutory right to at least four hours of human contact per day to put an end to the isolation of detained children. Additionally, a three-month time limit was introduced for how long a child can be detained, with the aim of reducing detention times. However, this time limit is not absolute and can be extended under exceptional circumstanc-es.
The new detention laws theoretically appear sound and seem to align with the international recommendations Sweden has received from convention commit-tees. However, it is essential that these legislative changes in practice actually lead to fewer children being detained and the cessation of isolation. Statistics from the Swedish Prison and Probation Service indicate that the majority of detained children are still isolated and that children are held in detention for longer periods than before the law was enacted.
The current legal situation for detained children is concerning. The Swedish regulations and practices regarding the detention of children do not meet the requirements of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This means that Sweden is not ensuring the fundamental rights that children are entitled to under the convention.
The conclusion drawn is that the legislative changes introduced have not led to any significant change. It is crucial that a legislative change not only includes a child rights perspective in its theoretical aspects but also in its practical appli-cation. Significant challenges remain for Sweden to fully meet its convention obligations and ensure that children’s fundamental rights are protected. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Syftet med uppsatsen är att analysera de nya häktningsreglerna för barn som trädde i kraft den 1 juli 2021 och undersöka om dessa har resulterat i någon faktisk förändring gällande isoleringen av häktade barn. Vidare syftar uppsat-sen till att undersöka om Sverige lever upp till Barnkonventionens krav gäl-lande häktning och isolering av barn.
Sverige har under flera decennier mottagit internationell och nationell kritik för häktningsinstitutet. Kritik har generellt sett riktats mot den omfattande restrikt-ionsanvändningen och isoleringen. På senare tid har kritik även riktats mot den höga andelen barn som beläggs med restriktioner och isoleringen som följer utav den. Kritiken som riktats kan användas som en indikation på Sve-rige inte... (More)
Syftet med uppsatsen är att analysera de nya häktningsreglerna för barn som trädde i kraft den 1 juli 2021 och undersöka om dessa har resulterat i någon faktisk förändring gällande isoleringen av häktade barn. Vidare syftar uppsat-sen till att undersöka om Sverige lever upp till Barnkonventionens krav gäl-lande häktning och isolering av barn.
Sverige har under flera decennier mottagit internationell och nationell kritik för häktningsinstitutet. Kritik har generellt sett riktats mot den omfattande restrikt-ionsanvändningen och isoleringen. På senare tid har kritik även riktats mot den höga andelen barn som beläggs med restriktioner och isoleringen som följer utav den. Kritiken som riktats kan användas som en indikation på Sve-rige inte uppfyller barnkonventionens krav gällande häktning av barn.
Mot bakgrund av kritiken som riktats fanns det ett legitimt behov för Sverige att vidta lagändringar för att åtgärda de bristande förhållandena på svenska häkten. Den 1 juli 2021 införde därmed Sverige två lagändringar som syftade till att minska häktningstiden, restriktionsanvändningen och isoleringen av barn. De nya häktningsreglerna innebar ett lagstadgad rätt på minst fyra tim-mars mellanmänsklig kontakt per dag i syfte att upphöra med isoleringen av häktade barn. Vidare infördes en tidsgräns på 3 månader för hur länge barn kan vara häktade, i syfte att minska häktningstiden för barn. Tidsgränsen är däremot inte absolut, utan den kan förlängas vid synnerliga skäl.
De nya häkteslagarna är teoretiskt sett bra och ser på ytan ut att vara i linje med de internationella rekommendationer Sverige mottagit från konventions-kommittéerna. Det krävs däremot att lagändringarna i praktiken faktiskt leder till att färre barn häktas och att isoleringen upphör. Statistik från Kriminalvår-den visar på att majoriteten av häktade barn fortfarande isoleras och att fler barn förvaras i häkte längre än innan lagens ikraftträdande.
Det rådande rättsläget för häktade barn är oroväckande. Den svenska regle-ringen kring häktning av barn harmoniserar inte med barnkonventionens krav gällande häktning av barn. Det innebär att Sverige inte tillgodoser de grund-läggande rättigheterna som barn har rätt till enligt konventionen.
Slutsatsen som dras är att lagändringarna som infördes har inte lett till någon förändring. Det är viktigt att en lagändring inte bara innehåller ett barnrättsper-spektiv i sina teoretiska aspekter, utan även i dess praktiska tillämpning. Det kvarstår betydande utmaningar för att Sverige ska uppfylla sina konventionså-taganden fullt ut och tillförsäkra barn sina grundläggande rättigheter. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Daher, Diana LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Law change without change - A critical review of the new detention rules from a child rights perspective
course
JURM02 20241
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
straffrätt, criminal law), häktning av barn, isolering av barn i häkte, svenska häktningsinstitutet, barnrättsperspektiv
language
Swedish
id
9153447
date added to LUP
2024-06-11 11:39:44
date last changed
2024-06-11 11:39:44
@misc{9153447,
  abstract     = {{The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the new detention regulations for chil-dren that came into force on July 1, 2021, and to investigate whether these have resulted in any actual changes regarding the isolation of detained chil-dren. Furthermore, the thesis aims to examine whether Sweden complies with the requirements of the Convention on the Rights of the Child regarding the detention and isolation of children.
For several decades, Sweden has received international and national criticism for its detention practices. Criticism has generally been directed at the exten-sive use of restrictions and isolation. More recently, criticism has also been aimed at the high proportion of children subjected to restrictions and the re-sulting isolation. This criticism indicates that Sweden may not be meeting the Convention on the Rights of the Child’s requirements regarding the detention of children.
In response to the criticism, there was a legitimate need for Sweden to imple-ment legislative changes to address the deficiencies in its detention facilities. Consequently, on July 1, 2021, Sweden introduced two legislative changes aimed at reducing detention times, the use of restrictions, and the isolation of children. The new detention regulations established a statutory right to at least four hours of human contact per day to put an end to the isolation of detained children. Additionally, a three-month time limit was introduced for how long a child can be detained, with the aim of reducing detention times. However, this time limit is not absolute and can be extended under exceptional circumstanc-es.
The new detention laws theoretically appear sound and seem to align with the international recommendations Sweden has received from convention commit-tees. However, it is essential that these legislative changes in practice actually lead to fewer children being detained and the cessation of isolation. Statistics from the Swedish Prison and Probation Service indicate that the majority of detained children are still isolated and that children are held in detention for longer periods than before the law was enacted.
The current legal situation for detained children is concerning. The Swedish regulations and practices regarding the detention of children do not meet the requirements of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This means that Sweden is not ensuring the fundamental rights that children are entitled to under the convention.
The conclusion drawn is that the legislative changes introduced have not led to any significant change. It is crucial that a legislative change not only includes a child rights perspective in its theoretical aspects but also in its practical appli-cation. Significant challenges remain for Sweden to fully meet its convention obligations and ensure that children’s fundamental rights are protected.}},
  author       = {{Daher, Diana}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Lagändring utan förändring - En kritisk granskning av de nya häktningsreglerna ur ett barnrättsperspektiv}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}