A day with children's rights in focus

It was an intense afternoon for the approximately 300 people in the audience in the auditorium at Jönköping University. The theme of the day was children's right to safe and equal growing conditions and included several interesting discussions on what Sweden needs to do better to implement the UN recommendations regarding children.

Sweden's Children's Ombudsman Elisabeth Dahlin talked about how unequal conditions for growing up are a breeding ground for exclusion. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has made recommendations to Sweden on education, a safe childhood, and children's right to life and health. The recommendations show that there is still much to be done in Sweden.

- Society's ability to recognize and act to protect children who are victims of violence or abuse must be strengthened. When parents fail to care, society has a duty to help and protect the child," says Elisabeth Dahlin.

Research and working for change

During the Children's Rights Conference, participants also learned about research on how children can reach their full potential in times of austerity. Frida Lygnegård, a child researcher at Jönköping University, got the audience to think about how we view children and how this affects our actions.

In her presentation, children's rights consultant and author Åsa Ekman concretized some of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child's recommendations and gave examples of how we can work to better implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child here in Sweden.

- We all need to work for a change and I want to highlight what we need to get better at to strengthen children's rights," says Åsa Ekman.

"What no one can know about dad"

During the conference, the question of what it is like to grow up with a family member deprived of liberty was also raised. Here, too, there were interesting discussions with representatives from Vårsol Samtalscenter, the Rescue Mission and actors Aja Rodas and Mats Jäderlund, who showed us glimpses of the theater performance "What no one can know about dad". The play depicted what it is like to grow up with a family member deprived of liberty and has been shown in schools around Sweden.

The moderator during the children's rights conference was Erikshjälpen's Secretary-General Daniel Grahn.

- I think it was a fantastic day with many topical and important presentations, but it is clear that we have a long way to go before we can take children's rights for granted. My hope is that Erikshjälpen can continue to be a rallying point for all good forces that want to do good for children.