Erikshjälpen in debate article on lowering the age of criminal responsibility
Despite widespread criticism, the government is moving forward with its bill to lower the age of criminal responsibility. In an opinion piece on altinget.se, Erikshjälpen points out that the bill violates the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Putting children in prison does not make Sweden safer.
Saying no to lowering the age of criminal responsibility does not mean accepting that a child shoots someone. Protecting society is not just about locking people up, but about preventing the next shooting.
In its opinion piece, Erikshjälpen points out that lowering the age of criminal responsibility is a measure that looks powerful on paper but in practice makes it easier to miss the core issue: the adults who exploit children and the structures that make this possible. When children are drawn into crime, it is a sign that society has failed.
The proposal is not compatible with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child urges Sweden not to lower the age of criminal responsibility. One of the experts criticizes the shift of responsibility and guilt from adults to children, saying:
– You're targeting the children, not the adults who are leading them.
Read the entire debate article on altinget.se here:
Debate: Children in prison do not make Sweden safer
Mattias Ingeson, Secretary-General Erikshjälpen
Mattias Ingeson, Secretary-General Erikshjälpen
Published: 13 February 2026
Listening 