For a more child rights-based approach

Children and youth at the center

A central part of Erikshjälpen's interventions and in the advocacy work we conduct in Sweden and the world, is based on a child rights-based approach with children and young people at the center.

Children's voices, experiences and stories are fundamental to our work. That is why meeting children and young people and hearing their stories is something that shapes everything from how our organization is governed to what issues we engage in.

We want to be a clear voice for vulnerable children and give them an opportunity to make their voice heard. It has always been part of our DNA, as Erikshjälpen's founder, Erik Nilsson, already as a child wrote letters, articles and newspapers for the benefit of children and young people, in Sweden and in countries around the world.

How we work towards a more child rights-based approach

• Through Erikshjälpen's Youth council , we allow young people to influence our organization both internally and externally. The council influences the organization at a central level and can pursue its own issues and make suggestions to our management and board.
• In Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad , young people have the opportunity to run activities based on their own needs, interests and dreams - and to influence those in power by participating in panel discussions on platforms such as Almedalen.
• We work with other organisations to raise the voice of children. In 2022, the report "Hear the voice of children" was submitted, which was based entirely on children's own stories of vulnerability and abuse, without adult analysis or interpretation. The report was submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to show the shortcomings in Sweden's work with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• We empower children around the world - in our interventions and projects, showing them their rights - to enable them to take their rightful place.
• When we speak out, we do so from both a child rights-based approach and a child's perspective, and back it up with research and statistics.
• We work in a rights-based way to increase the participation of the people affected by our interventions.