Inadequate measures for children’s rights

The Swedish NAO has examined the work of the state on strengthening compliance with the CRC during 2017–2023, with a particular focus on the educational area. The audit shows that the state’s efforts have, in many respects, promoted compliance with the CRC, but that the work has not been sufficiently effective.

The Swedish NAO notes that the Government has not prioritised which problems need to be resolved, what the work should aim to achieve or what various actors should do. For example, the Government developed a strategy at an early stage containing principles for working with the rights of the child. However, the strategy is general in nature and does not contain any goals, action plan or budget. Also, no follow-up has been performed of the strategy since it was approved by the Riksdag in 2010.

“It’s unclear to authorities what they are meant to change, which increases the risk of the work relating to children’s rights being deprioritised. The Government needs to be clearer and more coordinated in its governance,” comments Deputy Auditor General Claudia Gardberg Morner.

Furthermore, there are still numerous unresolved problems in the implementation of the CRC. For example, the children’s rights perspective is not always made visible in the preparation of legislative proposals in the educational area.

The Swedish NAO also notes that many of the reports that the Ombudsman for Children’s submit to the Government are insufficiently substantiated, despite a relatively high volume of resources having been allocated to them. This means that the reports risk not serving their purpose of promoting implementation of the CRC. There are also inadequacies in the Ombudsman for Children’s work with collecting and analysing case law.

“In addition, the Ombudsman for Children does not fulfil its legal obligation to compile statistics on the living conditions of children and youths. The Government needs to clarify this task, because it is not clear what type of statistics are being requested, or for what purposes,” explains Vanessa Liu, project leader for the audit.

Among the national educational agencies included in the audit, the National Agency for Special Needs Education and Schools has comparatively systematic processes in place to ensure a children’s rights perspective in their work. The National Agency for Education and the Swedish Schools Inspectorate need to take measures to strengthen the children’s rights perspective in their work.