Barn och straffbarhetsålder
(2026) SOPB63 20252School of Social Work
- Abstract (Swedish)
- The purpose of this study was to understand how the proposed legislation to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 years can be understood in relation to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We have used a qualitative method in the form of a document analysis. Our empirical material consisted of the draft of the legislation and relevant articles from the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We have also used statements from SOU 2025:11 as well as selected referral responses. Our analysis was grounded in Young- Bruehls childism (2012) and Foucault (2017), focusing on disciplinary power, pliable bodies and isolation. Our findings showed that the drafted legislation is motivated by social protection. The theoretical... (More)
- The purpose of this study was to understand how the proposed legislation to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 years can be understood in relation to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We have used a qualitative method in the form of a document analysis. Our empirical material consisted of the draft of the legislation and relevant articles from the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We have also used statements from SOU 2025:11 as well as selected referral responses. Our analysis was grounded in Young- Bruehls childism (2012) and Foucault (2017), focusing on disciplinary power, pliable bodies and isolation. Our findings showed that the drafted legislation is motivated by social protection. The theoretical perspective of childism highlighted the negative implications of children's interests being neglected, as well as categorisation of children who commit crime as subjects of control and disciplinary interventions. Foucault's theories highlighted the rhetoric behind the bill and how notions of children can be driven in an exercise of power. The analysis highlighted that the articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child are of minor importance in relation to other interests, such as the legitimacy of the penalty system and the redress of the victim. This shows that the importance of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is subordinate to other interests. Moreover, the findings reveal a discursive shift from a welfare- and rights-based understanding of children towards a more punitive and control-oriented discourse. Finally, a shift from care to punishment is discussed, which is concretized in relation to the new social services law that emphasizes preventive work. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9220498
- author
- Andreasson, Hilda LU and Osman, Ugbaad LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SOPB63 20252
- year
- 2026
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- children, childism, minimum age of criminal responsibility, Convention on the Rights of the Child, Foucault
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9220498
- date added to LUP
- 2026-01-23 13:48:37
- date last changed
- 2026-01-23 13:48:37
@misc{9220498,
abstract = {{The purpose of this study was to understand how the proposed legislation to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 years can be understood in relation to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We have used a qualitative method in the form of a document analysis. Our empirical material consisted of the draft of the legislation and relevant articles from the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We have also used statements from SOU 2025:11 as well as selected referral responses. Our analysis was grounded in Young- Bruehls childism (2012) and Foucault (2017), focusing on disciplinary power, pliable bodies and isolation. Our findings showed that the drafted legislation is motivated by social protection. The theoretical perspective of childism highlighted the negative implications of children's interests being neglected, as well as categorisation of children who commit crime as subjects of control and disciplinary interventions. Foucault's theories highlighted the rhetoric behind the bill and how notions of children can be driven in an exercise of power. The analysis highlighted that the articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child are of minor importance in relation to other interests, such as the legitimacy of the penalty system and the redress of the victim. This shows that the importance of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is subordinate to other interests. Moreover, the findings reveal a discursive shift from a welfare- and rights-based understanding of children towards a more punitive and control-oriented discourse. Finally, a shift from care to punishment is discussed, which is concretized in relation to the new social services law that emphasizes preventive work.}},
author = {{Andreasson, Hilda and Osman, Ugbaad}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Barn och straffbarhetsålder}},
year = {{2026}},
}