“Why children are forcibly taken into custody is not visible” • Al Jazeera’s response: A well-balanced documentary
The Qatari media company Al Jazeera has released a documentary in which it appears that children in Sweden are taken care of on loose grounds. The documentary has received a lot of attention in Sweden this week, and has been called “dangerous” by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M).
One of the people who takes part in the documentary is the Swedish human rights lawyer Ruth Nordström, who has worked with LVU cases, among other things.
– I was asked to participate in this documentary as a human rights lawyer, and I said that it was important for me to highlight the children’s rights perspective, says Ruth Nordström to TV4 Nyheterna.
Verdict: Is misinformation
Ruth Nordström is critical of how the LVU process is described in the documentary.
– To some extent, it is unfortunately misleading. Strong reasons are required for the forced custody of children in Sweden, and that unfortunately does not appear in the documentary. The reasons behind the care must be revealed so that you can understand why it is happening.
What is your main criticism?
– That you don’t give the full perspective on why children are forcibly taken into care. The children’s own perspective cannot, of course, be heard, but social workers are not interviewed either. One thing I strongly react to is that people talk about human trafficking of children in Norway, and that is absolutely not the case. I also think it is a shortcoming that you mix different countries because different countries have different legislation
Is this misinformation?
– In the way that it can fuel mistrust of the Social Services, it is misinformation. At the same time, it is important to be able to criticize the state and social services when it is justified.
Has important parts
At the same time, Ruth Nordström believes that there are important things that are raised in the documentary.
– The social service must take the necessary measures for voluntary measures first, and it is not always that the social service has done so. After all, the child must always get better when he is taken care of, and that is something that is sometimes lacking.
Several government representatives have criticized the documentary, including Social Services Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M). At the same time, the documentary has had little circulation so far.
Is there a risk that you actually help with the spread?
– The intention is to be able to counteract it through early and preventive measures if it were to have a higher degree of spread, says Waltersson Grönvall to TV4 Nyheterna.
The answer: A well-balanced documentary
Al Jazeera has responded to the criticism.
– We have carefully strived to make a very well-balanced and well-made documentary, says Al Jazeera 360’s director Awad al Jumaa to Ekot.