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The full -screen investigation that has now been submitted to the government proposes that the age of criminality be reduced to 14 years for serious crimes. File image. Photo: Helena Landstedt/TT
Children’s rights organizations saw the investigation proposal that children as young as 14 years can be punished for serious crimes. You would rather see investments in measures that have a documented effect.
The situation with children who commit serious crimes is serious, but lowering the age of punishment to 14 years is not the right way to go to deal with the problems. This is stated by Anna Dorrian, who is responsible for influence at the organization Children’s right in society (BRIS).
– What is needed rather is to ensure that you invest resources in what has an effect.
Proper support
She does not believe that a reduced criminal age will be what makes fewer children under 15 commit crimes.
Instead, BRIS wants to see “past efforts and right support” to ensure that young people really get help to get out of criminal environments.
– We are very concerned that the government is presenting this as that all other tools are exhausted and that we now have to take this route, says Dorrian.
Younger children
Swedish Unicef is also critical of the proposal and that the issue has been investigated at all.
– The proposal that is presented now is not compatible with the Children’s Law Convention and the assessments made, among other things, the UN Children’s Rights Committee. They have made sharp recommendations on even investigating this issue, says Amanda Bertilsdotter Nilsson, child rights lawyer at Swedish Unicef.
UNICEF sees a risk that politics will move further and approach even younger children, she says.
– Even at an early age, once there has been a crime, society needs to be able to meet and provide children with care, support and treatment rather than reprisals and punishment.