Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2006
to all visitors to the NCHR's web site

In today's world.....What if?

We, in the NCHR, deeply regret the suffering caused to all the children who have been taken into care unnecessarily and placed in foster homes. We also extend our sympathy to their parents and relatives. Christmas time is Family time. However, in many cases, the social services in the Nordic countries refuse contact during Christmas between the children in public care and their families.

On Sunday 27 November 2005 Swedish state television (SvT2) showed the documentary "Stolen Childhood"in whichit was reported that about 100 000 Swedes have at some point in their lives lived in children's homes. Many of those people's lives today are still affected by their childhood experiences. The TV-documentary has now resulted in the Swedish government promising an official inquiry into the serious allegations made against the child-care institutions.
"The State must make an unconditional apology to those former children's home children" said Social Services Minister Morgan Johansson.

The NCHR is pleased that the Swedish government is to launch an investigation into the conditions for the former children's home children, but if the investigation is to have any relevance at all, it must include the conditions for the children in foster care today. It is high time that children's Human Right to their parents and parents' and relatives' Human Rights to their children (European Convention on Human Rights and fundamental freedoms, Article 8) should be respected by the authorities in the Nordic countries.

 
Warmest Christmas and New Year greetings

Ruby Harrold-Claesson

President

Infant discovered in barn, Child Protective Services launch probe

Nazareth Carpenter being held on charges involving underage mother

Author unknown

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Merry Christmas 2007

and

Happy New Year 2008
to all visitors to the NCHR's web site

In today's world.....What if?

We, in the NCHR, deeply regret the suffering caused to all the children who have been taken into care and placed in foster homes on arbitrary grounds. We also extend our sympathy to their parents and relatives. Christmas time is Family time. However, during the Christmas season, the social services in the Nordic countries almost systematically refuse contact between the children in public care and their families.

In August 2007, the team appointed by the Swedish government to investigate the experiences of the former children's home children, after interviewing over 100 of them, presented Part One of their report. They admitted that they were shocked and dismayed at the way the adults in charge of the foster homes and institutions treated the children in their care.

The Swedish government has however not addressed the conditions for the children who are at present living in foster homes and institutions.

This year, like the past ten years, the NCHR has sent out our Christmas Appeal to the Heads of State of our four Nordic countries, the prime ministers and the government ministers whose departments are directly involved in the taking of children into care and placing them in foster homes or institutions. It is high time that children's Human Rights to their parents and parents' and relatives' Human Rights to their children that are guaranteed in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and fundamental freedoms, should be respected by the authorities in the Nordic countries.

 
Warmest Christmas and New Year greetings

Ruby Harrold-Claesson

President

Infant discovered in barn, Child Protective Services launch probe

Nazareth Carpenter being held on charges involving underage mother

Author unknown

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Merry Christmas 2009

and

Happy New Year 2010
to all visitors to the NCHR's web site

In today's world.....What if?

We, in the NCHR, deeply regret the suffering caused to all the children who have been taken into care and placed in foster homes on arbitrary grounds. We also extend our sympathy to their parents and relatives. Christmas time is Family time. However, during the Christmas season, the social services in the Nordic countries almost systematically refuse contact between the children in public care and their families.

In August 2007, the team appointed by the Swedish government to investigate the experiences of the former children's home children, after interviewing over 100 of them, presented Part One of their report. They admitted that they were shocked and dismayed at the way the adults in charge of the foster homes and institutions treated the children in their care. The final report is yet to come.

The Swedish government has however not addressed the conditions for the children who are at present living in foster homes and institutions.

This year, like the past 12 years, the NCHR has sent out our Christmas Appeal to the Heads of State, the prime ministers and the government ministers whose departments are directly involved in the taking of children into care and placing them in foster homes or institutions. It is high time that children's Human Rights to their parents and parents' and relatives' Human Rights to their children, that are guaranteed in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and fundamental freedoms, should be respected by the social and other authorities in the Nordic countries.

 
Warmest Christmas and New Year greetings

Ruby Harrold-Claesson

President

Infant discovered in barn, Child Protective Services launch probe

Nazareth Carpenter being held on charges involving underage mother

Author unknown

 NKMR:s Julappell. Släpp LVU-barnen loss, det är Jul!

 NKMR:s Julappell. Slipp barnevernsbarna ut, det er Jul!

 NKMR:s Julappell. Frigive barnevernsbørnene, det er Jul!

 NKMR:s Julappell. Släpp LVU-barnen loss, det är Jul!

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Merry Christmas 2008

and

Happy New Year 2009
to all visitors to the NCHR's web site

In today's world.....What if?

We, in the NCHR, deeply regret the suffering caused to all the children who have been taken into care and placed in foster homes on arbitrary grounds. We also extend our sympathy to their parents and relatives. Christmas time is Family time. However, during the Christmas season, the social services in the Nordic countries almost systematically refuse contact between the children in public care and their families.

In August 2007, the team appointed by the Swedish government to investigate the experiences of the former children's home children, after interviewing over 100 of them, presented Part One of their report. They admitted that they were shocked and dismayed at the way the adults in charge of the foster homes and institutions treated the children in their care.

The Swedish government has however not addressed the conditions for the children who are at present living in foster homes and institutions.

This year, like the past 11 years, the NCHR has sent out our Christmas Appeal to the King Carl XVI Gustaf, the prime minister and the government ministers whose departments are directly involved in the taking of children into care and placing them in foster homes or institutions. It is high time that children's Human Rights to their parents and parents' and relatives' Human Rights to their children that are guaranteed in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and fundamental freedoms, should be respected by the Swedish authorities and those of the other Nordic countries.

 
Warmest Christmas and New Year greetings

Ruby Harrold-Claesson

President

Infant discovered in barn, Child Protective Services launch probe

Nazareth Carpenter being held on charges involving underage mother

Author unknown

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Merry Christmas 2011

and

Happy New Year 2012
to all visitors to the NCHR's web site

 In today's world.....What if?

We, in the NCHR, deeply regret the suffering caused to all the children who have been taken into care on arbitrary grounds and placed in foster homes or institutions. We also extend our sympathy to their parents and relatives. Christmas time is Family time. However, during the Christmas season, the social services in the Nordic countries almost systematically refuse contact between the children in public care and their families.

On January 14, 2010, the Inquiry appointed by the Swedish government to investigate the experiences of the former children's home children, after interviewing 404 of them, presented its interim report. The Inquiry Chairman, Göran Johansson, expressed shock and dismay at the way the adults in charge of the foster homes and institutions treated the children in their care.

A new report, to give redress to the victims of state abuse during their childhood, was presented on February 10, 2011. The commission recommended the government to pay the sum of 250 000 SEK to victims. On November 21, 2011, the official reconciliation ceremony in which the government apologized to the victims of state abuse during their childhood, took place in Stockholm.

Despite numerous present day cases being publicized in the media, the Swedish government has still not addressed the conditions for the children who are living in foster homes and institutions.

This year, like the past 15 years, the NCHR has sent out our Christmas Appeal to the Heads of State of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, the prime ministers and the government ministers whose departments are directly involved in the taking of children into care and placing them in foster homes or institutions.
It is high time that children's Human Rights to their parents and parents' and relatives' Human Rights to their children, that are guaranteed in Article 16 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and fundamental freedoms, should be respected by the social and other authorities in the Nordic countries.

 
Warmest Christmas and New Year greetings

Ruby Harrold-Claesson

President

Infant discovered in barn, Child Protective Services launch probe

Nazareth Carpenter being held on charges involving underage mother

Author unknown

Stolen by Swedish social services: Russian mother slams authorities for taking twins
Russia Today News Editorial, rt.com - 01 February, 2011

The Domenic Johansson Case: Home schooled boy snatched from plane in Sweden
A series of articles in different media, September 7, 2009 --

“Neglect and abuse at the hands of society”
Inquiry on Child Abuse and Neglect in Institutions and Foster Homes, S 2006:05

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Merry Christmas 2010

and

Happy New Year 2011
to all visitors to the NCHR's web site

In today's world.....What if?

We, in the NCHR, deeply regret the suffering caused to all the children who have been taken into care and placed in foster homes on arbitrary grounds. We also extend our sympathy to their parents and relatives. Christmas time is Family time. However, during the Christmas season, the social services in the Nordic countries almost systematically refuse contact between the children in public care and their families.

On January 14, 2010, the Inquiry appointed by the Swedish government to investigate the experiences of the former children's home children, after interviewing 404 of them, presented its interim report. The Inquiry Chair Göran Johanssonexpressed shock and dismay at the way the adults in charge of the foster homes and institutions treated the children in their care. The final report is due in 2011.

The Swedish government has however not addressed the conditions for the children who are at present living in foster homes and institutions.

This year, like the past 13 years, the NCHR has sent out our Christmas Appeal to the Heads of State, the prime ministers and the government ministers whose departments are directly involved in the taking of children into care and placing them in foster homes or institutions. It is high time that children's Human Rights to their parents and parents' and relatives' Human Rights to their children, that are guaranteed in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and fundamental freedoms, should be respected by the social and other authorities in the Nordic countries.

 
Warmest Christmas and New Year greetings

Ruby Harrold-Claesson

President

Infant discovered in barn, Child Protective Services launch probe

Nazareth Carpenter being held on charges involving underage mother

Author unknown

“Neglect and abuse at the hands of society”
Inquiry on Child Abuse and Neglect in Institutions and Foster Homes, S 2006:05

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The NCHR celebrates Human Rights Day - 2007

Human Rights Day 2007 marks the start of the United Nations’ year-long commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UDHR.

Human Rights Day, 10 December 2007.

On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which has become the universal standard for defending and promoting human rights.

Every year on December 10, Human Rights Day is celebrated all over the world in commemoration of the adoption of the Universal Declaration. On Human Rights Day we celebrate around the globe that "All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms". Article 16, section 3 reads: "The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State." Everyone is guaranteed protection by the law for the right not to be subjected to arbitrary interference with one's privacy, family, home or correspondence, or to attacks upon one's honour and reputation, Article 12 UDHR. These rights are confirmed in the European Convention on Human Rights and fundamental freedoms, (Article 8) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, (Article 16).

"Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

"Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty," Article 2 UDHR.

2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In Sweden, December 10 is not celebrated as Human Rights Day, but as The Nobel Prize Day.
 
Our countries, the governments of Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway are always quick to condemn Human Rights violations in other countries. While we deem it important and necessary to criticise others, we are appalled that they ignore the serious Human Rights violations that are taking place on a daily basis in our own countries. Our parliaments and governments have passed laws that undermine The Family, the corner-stone of society in favour of the institutions put in place by the welfare states - in the best interest of the children. By using the term "the best interest of the children" they seem to comply with the pre-requisites of Article 3 of UNCROC. The history of our welfare states show that several tens of thousands of children have been taken into care and placed in foster homes and institutions, on arbitrary grounds.

Christmas is fast approaching and Christmas time is Family time. Families whose children have been taken into compulsary care and placed in foster homes, are very often subjected to rigid restrictions on their visiting rights. Often the parents and relatives of the children in "care" are not allowed to see the children at Christmas or to even deliver their presents in person on Christmas Eve. The social services' staff require the parents and relatives of the children in compulsary care to deliver the Christmas presents to them for them to be handed over to the children - when it suits the foster homes.

Every year the NCHR/NKMR sends Christmas Appeals to the rulers of our respective Nordic countries requesting them to release the children so that they can spend Christmas with their near ones and their dear ones. So far, our appeals have fallen on deaf ears, but once again we encourage parents and grandparents and relatives to demand visiting rights with their children in compulsary care.

Ruby Harrold-Claesson
Lawyer
Pres. of the NCHR/NKMR

Human Rights Day, 2007

Human Rights Day 2007

Reports

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The NCHR celebrates Human Rights Day - 2008

1948 - 2008. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights commemorates its 60th anniversary on Human Rights Day, 10 December 2008.

On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UDHR, which has become the universal standard for defending and promoting Human Rights.

Every year on December 10, Human Rights Day is celebrated all over the world in commemoration of the adoption of the Universal Declaration. On Human Rights Day we celebrate around the globe that "All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms". Article 16, section 3 of the UDHR reads: "The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State." Everyone is guaranteed protection by the law for the right not to be subjected to arbitrary interference with one's privacy, family, home or correspondence, or to attacks upon one's honour and reputation, Article 12 UDHR. These rights are confirmed in the European Convention on Human Rights, ECHR, and fundamental freedoms, (Article 8) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNCROC, (Article 16).

"Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

"Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty," Article 2 UDHR.

December 10, 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In Sweden, December 10 is not celebrated as Human Rights Day, but as The Nobel Prize Day.
 
Our countries, the governments of Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway are always quick to condemn Human Rights violations in other countries. While we deem it important and necessary to criticise others, we are appalled that they ignore the serious Human Rights violations that are taking place on a daily basis in our own countries. Our parliaments and governments have passed laws that undermine The Family, the cornerstone of society in favour of the institutions put in place by the welfare states - "in the best interest of the child", they claim. By using the term "the best interest of the child" they seem to comply with the pre-requisites of Article 3 of UNCROC. However, the history of our Nordic welfare states show that several tens of thousands of children have been taken into care and placed in foster homes and institutions - on arbitrary grounds.

Christmas is fast approaching and Christmas time is Family time. Families, whose children have been taken into compulsory care and placed in foster homes, are very often subjected to rigid restrictions on their visiting rights. Often the parents and relatives of the children in "care" are not allowed to see the children at Christmas or to even deliver their presents in person on Christmas Eve. The social services' staff require the parents and relatives of the children in compulsory care to deliver the Christmas presents to them for them to be handed over to the children - when it suits the foster homes.

Every year the NCHR/NKMR sends Christmas Appeals to the rulers of our respective Nordic countries requesting them to release the children so that they can spend Christmas with their near ones and their dear ones. So far, our appeals have fallen on deaf ears, but once again we encourage parents and grandparents and relatives to demand visiting rights with their children in compulsory care.

Ruby Harrold-Claesson
Lawyer
President of the NCHR/NKMR

Human Rights Day, 2008

Human Rights Day 2008

Reports

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The NCHR celebrates Human Rights Day - 2009

1948 - 2009. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights commemorates its 61 st anniversary on Human Rights Day, 10 December 2009.

On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UDHR, which has become the universal standard for defending and promoting Human Rights.

Every year on December 10, Human Rights Day is celebrated all over the world in commemoration of the adoption of the Universal Declaration. On Human Rights Day we celebrate around the globe that "All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms". Article 16, section 3 of the UDHR reads: "The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State." Everyone is guaranteed protection by the law for the right not to be subjected to arbitrary interference with one's privacy, family, home or correspondence, or to attacks upon one's honour and reputation, Article 12 UDHR. These rights are confirmed in the European Convention on Human Rights, ECHR, and fundamental freedoms, (Article 8) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNCROC, (Article 16).

"Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

"Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty," Article 2 UDHR.

December 10, 2008 marks the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In Sweden, December 10 is celebrated as the Nobel Prize Day, but not as Human Rights Day.

The theme of Human Rights Day 2009 is non-discrimination. In Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway, we have laws that discriminate against and undermine the family - the biological family - which of course is the corner stone of society.

All the Nordic countries have signed and ratified the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which prohibits discrimination. In addition, the European Convention is embedded in our Constitutions, and our Constitutions contain non-discrimination laws. But, nevertheless, parents and relatives of children who are forcibly taken into care and placed in foster homes are discriminated against systematically. The result has been that several tens of thousands of children have been taken into care and placed in foster homes among total strangers, even though for eg Sweden as late as 1997 - which should be the record for the recognition of the value of relatives for each other in a Western democracy - introduced a law that gives relatives equal rights to care for their relatives' children in competition with the strangers that the authorities routinely choose.
 
Our countries, the governments of Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway are always quick to condemn Human Rights violations in other countries. While we deem it important and necessary to criticise others, we are appalled that they ignore the serious Human Rights violations that are taking place on a daily basis in our own countries. Our parliaments and governments have passed laws that undermine The Family, the cornerstone of society in favour of the institutions put in place by the welfare states - "in the best interest of the child", they claim. By using the term "the best interest of the child" they seem to comply with the pre-requisites of Article 3 of UNCROC. However, the history of our Nordic welfare states show that several tens of thousands of children have been taken into care and placed in foster homes and institutions - on arbitrary grounds.

Christmas is fast approaching and Christmas time is Family time. Families, whose children have been taken into compulsory care and placed in foster homes, are very often subjected to rigid restrictions on their visiting rights. Often the parents and relatives of the children in "care" are not allowed to see the children at Christmas or to even deliver their presents in person on Christmas Eve. The social services' staff require the parents and relatives of the children in compulsory care to deliver the Christmas presents to them for them to be handed over to the children - when it suits the foster homes.

Every year the NCHR/NKMR sends Christmas Appeals to the rulers of our respective Nordic countries requesting them to release the children so that they can spend Christmas with their loved ones. So far, our appeals have fallen on deaf ears, but once again we encourage parents and grandparents and other relatives to demand visiting rights with their children in compulsory care.

Ruby Harrold-Claesson
Lawyer
President of the NCHR/NKMR

Human Rights Day, 2008

Human Rights Day 2009

Reports

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THE NCHR CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL FAMILY DAY
May 15, 2002

The world celebrates International Family Day on May 15. In recognition of the importance of the Family, the Nordic Committee for Human Rights - NCHR - For the Protection of Family Rights in the Nordic countries, wants to draw to the attention of the civilized world, that International Family Day is not being celebrated officially in Sweden.

International Family Day is about recognising the importance and value of families in our society. The family plays a crucial role in influencing our lives across so many areas - including our health and our well-being. The family is the corner stone of every society, however family is not allowed to play any prominent role in the so called welfare states of Scandinavia.

Many of the problems with juvenile delinquency, mobbing and violence in our society today can be directly attributed to the “modern” child-rearing practices, the absence of mothers in the homes and the high divorce rate. Instead of helping families to remain intact, the mainstream policy is to break up families by all means, even by depriving children of their parents and placing them in foster homes among total strangers - all under the motto of “the best interests of the child”.

The best interest of the child however seems to be best served in the bosom of the Family.

In January 2002, the Swedish government published "A National plan of action for Human Rights" (En nationell handlingsplan för de mänskliga rättigheterna) (R Skr 2001/02:83). Appendix 3 of the publication contains a list of the organisations that have been invited to participate or to give an opinion on the work to be done. The NCHR is not listed among the organisations that the Swedish government has invited to participate in this work, which is indicative of the attitude of the Swedish system towards concrete measures for the protection of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms in Sweden.  

Ruby Harrold-Claesson

Attorney-at-law

President of the NCHR

Destroying the Family: Swedish style

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