Better protection of children's rights

Minister of Children and Equality Anniken Huitfeldt proposes changes to the Child Welfare Act that include a strengthening of follow-up care and clarifications designed to make sure children's interests come first in all evaluations that are undertaken. Cooperation between the child welfare service and other public bodies is to be improved. The goal is to provide vulnerable children and youths the same opportunities enjoyed by other young people in the community.

One measure being introduced, according to Minister of Children and Equality Anniken Huitfeldt, is a requirement that child welfare officials report back to citizens who have called in with a concern. "This is done in order to strengthen confidence in the child welfare service and improve cooperation between the child welfare service and other agencies," she said.

"We're also going to strengthen follow-up supervision," the minister added. "Many young people who have contact with the child welfare service are vulnerable and often lack the sort of network that other young adults have. That's why we are proposing a requirement for the child welfare service to provide an explanation in the case of young people over 18 years of age (18 to 23) who are not offered follow-up supervisory services."

"I want to guarantee the legal protections of individual children upon reintroduction to their biological parents," says Huitfeldt. "That's why I want to change the Child Welfare Act so that loss of parental custody can only be rescinded when the probability is overwhelming that the parents will be able to provide the child adequate care."

Adoption as a child welfare measure is sometimes necessary out of regard for the child's interests. We therefore want to make it possible for more children who are in need of adoption to have the opportunity to be adopted by their foster parents. No change in the law is proposed, but child-welfare practices should be amended to reflect this need.