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Summary: Third edition in an annual series on
implementation of the UNCRC in
Sweden that summarises
government policy over the year and
provides commentary. Examines the
exclusion children suffer due to
inadequate financial resources.
Regarding child participation (political
and civil rights), there is
a ‘democratic deficit’ in the role and
influence of children in society.For the third year in a row, Save the Children Sweden presents a
Year-end Summary on the way in which the UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child (CRC) is being implemented in Sweden.
This year’s theme is “Excluded or Participant?”. The report
includes a summary of the government’s policy over the past year
to meet the demands of the Convention, with comments by Save
the Children Sweden on the actions taken.
From the perspective of children’s rights, Save the Children
Sweden throws light on the exclusion that children suffer
because of inadequate financial resources. The link between
social, economic and ethnic exclusion is highlighted. During the
1990s, Sweden endured its most severe economic crisis in
modern times. How did the crisis of the 1990s affect the children
and families who were already financially stretched before the
crisis? Do their problems persist, even now that Sweden’s
economy has recovered? In 2001, we now have some of the
answers. Children suffered most. However, not all were equally
affected. Those who were worst off before the crisis suffered
most, and the gaps between different groups of children
widened.
In addition, the lack of participation by children is still a general
phenomenon in our society. Children do not count, their opinions
are not respected and their experiences are not put to use to the
extent they should. On the basis of the political and civil rights of
children – as expressed in the CRC – there is a democratic deficit
as far as the role and influence of children in society, and the
development of this role and influence, are concerned. pdf: www.rb.se/assets/pdf-filer/Bokslut2001eng.pdf