The social services' responsibility for victims of violence, etc.

Malin Höglund (M)

Madam Speaker! We are now going to debate the Social Affairs Committee's report 19 on the social services' responsibility for those exposed to violence. I move for approval of the committee's proposal in the report.

The subject of this report concerns, like so many other of the Social Affairs Committee's subjects. The report contains 100 motions from the general motion period. The subject therefore concerns, and it is important.

Madam Speaker! The social services have an important role when it comes to helping and protecting persons exposed to violence. It is important that the social services are accessible and responsive in order to be able to provide support and protection for those who need it. The social welfare committee shall conduct outreach activities and have a preventive effort to prevent children and young people from coming to harm.

In our Sweden, no girl or boy should feel afraid of their parents or afraid to go home in the evening when they have been at training or at a friend's house.

Madam Speaker! A new Social Services Act shall be presented at some point during 2024. The work shall begin for a more long-term sustainable and knowledge-based social service. The social service shall work more preventatively and provide early interventions. Support for parents is one of the best interventions a municipality can make for its residents. Through secure parents, we also get secure children. In our Sweden, no parents shall feel insecure in their parenthood. Support and help are available through, for example, parental education before the child is born, when the child is small, and when it has then become a little older. Such education is conducted in many municipalities.

Madam Speaker! One of the main tasks of the social services is to protect and support vulnerable people, including those exposed to violence. Early interventions are among the most important things we can do for children and young people. There has previously been criticism of the social services stating that it does not do enough to help people exposed to violence. It is important that we take the criticism seriously and review how the social services can become better at helping those who need it now and in the future. It is not just about providing acute help but also about providing support and protection in the long term. It is important that the social services have sufficient knowledge about different forms of violence and how to help those who are exposed to it.

Madam Speaker! The national strategy applies and is governing for the government's work to prevent and combat men's violence against women. The government is working with an action program that shall apply for 2024-2026. The government is increasing support to municipalities and regions in the work against men's violence against women and honor-related violence and oppression. The County Administrative Boards will receive a total of 46 million kronor to distribute during 2024 to strengthen cooperation and develop the work between authorities, municipalities and regions as well as civil society.

Madam Speaker! The Government has tasked the Gender Equality Authority with investigating and submitting proposals on how a reporting and follow-up system for cases concerning children and adults who have been abducted can be designed. Municipalities must be able to take the correct measures to prevent children and young people from being taken out of Sweden.

Madam Speaker! The report presents a considerable amount of work being carried out by the government. More coordinated support for those subjected to violence is needed. In the regulatory letter to Socialstyrelsen for 2024, there is a mandate from the government to investigate if and how those subjected to violence are offered a contact person. The agency shall also propose which measures can be taken so that those subjected to violence can gain access to coordinated support. Children and persons subjected to honor-related violence and oppression shall be specifically highlighted by Socialstyrelsen. The investigation will be partially reported during the spring of next year, 2025, and shall be final-reported in April 2027.

Madam Speaker! Now it is almost summer holidays, a time that most children and adults look forward to. In previous years, a number of children and young people have gone on summer holidays and then not returned to school when the summer holidays ended. We are putting a stop to that now. From June 1 of this year, 2024, there is an opportunity to decide on travel bans if there is a tangible risk that a child will be taken abroad. This could involve physical or mental abuse, improper exploitation, deficiencies in care, or some other condition in the living environment.

No girl shall be subjected to genital mutilation. No girl or boy shall have to go on conversion trips. No girl or boy shall be subjected to conversion attempts because they have a different sexual orientation.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Maj Karlsson (V)

Madam Speaker! This spring, the Riksdag, at the government's initiative, introduced a new law requiring that children must receive their own decision to be placed with the mother in a protected residence. We warned then that this could lead to the children being placed with the violent father instead, and that in turn, it could lead to women not seeking help because they will not abandon their children. It is an enormous risk factor.

Today we can read in Dagens ETC that the enormous anxiety we felt has subsided. A woman fled from her husband. The children were placed with the mother. The father appealed and received a judgment in his favor. This is very serious.

Now my question is to the member: What will the member and the government parties do to stop this very worrying development?

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Malin Höglund (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Member Karlsson for the important question. This is distressing to hear. I have heard such stories during my years as the chairman of the social welfare committee in Mora in Dalarna. Now I have great hopes for what will be in the new upcoming Social Services Act. This must absolutely not be allowed to happen.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Maj Karlsson (V)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the reflection - I unfortunately cannot say that it was an answer.

This is a new law that the government has initiated and which began to apply on April 1. The idea was that one should protect the children by giving them their own decision. We warned that with this new law's design, there was far too great a risk that it would come to be used against the women.

What I believe the member is referring to is that children have been used as a method of blackmail. But what I am referring to is a regulatory framework that makes it possible to place children with the father or the man who is violent. This makes it impossible to seek help. This is life-threatening. If the knowledge that it can go like this begins to spread, women will not turn to social services to seek help. It is, therefore, a matter of a slightly different thing.

Will the government review the legislation? Will you look at whether this perhaps didn't turn out as well as one had intended? It is already starting to show the consequences that we were afraid of.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Malin Höglund (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Member Karlsson again for the question. It is very important that a child is not placed with a violent parent. No parent should feel insecure when they hand over their child to the other parent. It is very important.

I say as I said just now: I have great hopes that we put a stop to this with the new Social Services Act.

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Helena Vilhelmsson (C)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for her speech.

I would like to ask a question about human trafficking and trafficking, which is a major problem. There is an EU report stating that 75 percent of the victims of human trafficking in the EU are women and girls. In the majority of cases, it occurs for sexual purposes, of course.

Then it becomes a bit strange that the government has not renewed the role of the ambassador against human trafficking. Now it is happening on a national basis. I know that. But the social services are, after all, responsible for identifying and caring for the victims and giving them the support they deserve. It becomes a bit strange that the social services have that work but the government removes the ambassador against human trafficking, who has had an immensely important role, especially internationally, in cooperating with all the organizations that are needed internationally to stop trafficking.

I would very much like to hear the member's reflections on this and also on how one generally works to reduce trafficking.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Malin Höglund (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Member Vilhelmsson for an important question. What is being presented by the Member is appalling. It should not occur at all.

What we are talking about now is the social services' responsibility for those exposed to violence and what the social services can do. There are now great hopes for the new Social Services Act. Preventive work with early interventions is being carried out, and naturally, these matters are viewed differently than they have been previously. I have great hopes for the new Social Services Act, which will arrive shortly.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Helena Vilhelmsson (C)

Madam Speaker! I also have great hopes for the new Social Services Act and, of course, even more so after this debate because much trust is obviously being placed in it – with all rights reserved, for the Social Services Act naturally needs to be revised.

This is a communicating vessel. The ambassadorial post against human trafficking has been vacant for three months, and as far as I know, there is still no government decision on whether it should be abolished or not reappointed.

Here the government leaves a question unanswered. I have asked several times and received no answer. I have full respect for the fact that the member cannot answer this, but if nothing happens, we cannot interpret it in any other way than that the government is ignoring this ambassador.

It is quite true that today we are to debate what the social services can do to support victims of human trafficking. The member may be welcome to elaborate on that a bit. The Center Party has, for example, proposed a national hotline - a hot line in Swedish. The Gender Equality Authority is responsible for this area, but the coordinators who exist are employed by the social services in the municipalities. This work needs to be developed in so many ways to address the problem.

I would therefore like to hear if the member has any thoughts on how the work can be developed. A line that can be called 24 hours a day is important for victims, for employees within the public sector, for non-profit organizations, and for fellow citizens who suspect something.

A major problem in this context is also that victims of human trafficking for sexual purposes are not the target group for the a-krim centers that exist around the country, which is an additional major deficiency.

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Malin Höglund (M)

Madam Speaker! That this ambassador has not been appointed for three months is not a particularly long time. It is, however, an important issue, and I hear what Helena Vilhelmsson says.

If the Centre Party has proposed a hotline, it is a good thing, I think too. But I say as I said earlier: I am now awaiting the new Social Services Act, because the work with early interventions will look different in the future.

(THIRD DEPUTY SPEAKER: As the members note, the subject of the debate is the social services' responsibility for those exposed to violence and so on, and nothing else.)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Gustaf Lantz (S)

Madam Speaker! When we debate the situation of those subjected to violence, it places special demands on us politicians to understand how people function in extreme situations that many of us have not personally experienced – why it is far from obvious to leave a violent relationship and why women often return to a man who hits them. We must read the researchers' articles. But above all, we must talk with both those who are vulnerable and those who work to help. When we begin to understand the mechanisms behind the violence, when we begin to see patterns, an understanding can grow for what we politicians must do.

Apparently small obstacles to leaving a violent relationship can be overwhelming for those who lack strength and self-confidence after years of control and violence. We Social Democrats therefore want to see a series of measures to lower the thresholds for those subjected to violence to take the step out of harmful relationships. This is literally a matter of life and death.

We therefore argue that there should be a standardized and rapid way for society to respond to the needs of women exposed to violence in a completely different way than today. We want there to be clear routines for how the care should act, how social services can assist, how placement in protected housing should proceed, and how care for children and counseling support can be offered. This is a task that the government must take forward.

Madam Speaker! The women's shelters perform a life-saving work to defend human rights on the front line. It is about the right to a life free from violence and oppression, the right to decide over one's own body and the right to decide over one's own life. We need to review the women's shelters' activities and work in order to defend, strengthen, and develop them.

Madam Speaker! Housing and livelihood are a foundation of life for all of us. If this is taken away from a woman subjected to violence, it becomes very difficult for her to move forward or to not feel forced to return to the violence.

The County Administrative Boards have previously conducted a mapping regarding municipalities' efforts to help victims of violence arrange permanent housing after a stay in protected housing. It is important that the government takes the County Administrative Boards' conclusions further. Few municipalities work to motivate perpetrators of violence to move so that victims of violence can stay.

When someone is forced to live with a protected identity while fleeing from a former partner, the opportunity to support oneself as before often disappears. This issue must be addressed. Here, we as a society must see if we can strengthen the protection. The question must be placed on the government's to-do list.

Madam Speaker! Unfortunately, the violence and control over women do not stop at the country's borders. Every year, a number of cases are reported where children, especially girls, are taken from Sweden to other countries. We need to do more for these children. A concerted effort at the national level is therefore needed to support children who risk being taken from Sweden. A national competence team could coordinate the cooperation between the police, social services, school, and healthcare.

Madam Speaker! In conclusion, I would like to extend a big thank you to all of you who, outside of this chamber, give your time and energy to work against violence in close relationships, against human trafficking, and against the culture of honor. You defend human rights in a very concrete way. It is in dialogue with you that politics must be shaped.

Regardless of paragraphs and authorities, regulations and appeal possibilities, for the individual it is always about which people one meets when life is at its most fragile. We can, and shall, give you the legislation and the resources that are needed. But it is your work that makes the big difference in people's lives. A big thank you for that!

With that, I move for approval of reservation 6.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Camilla Rinaldo Miller (KD)

Madam Speaker! We in the Christian Democrats support the committee's position regarding the report we are debating today. It is a report that concerns the social services' responsibility for those subjected to violence, for preventive work, for honor-related violence, and for support regarding violence in close relationships. This means that we move for the rejection of all motions.

Madam Speaker! I have said in other debates what I am now going to say, and I will continue to repeat it: The goal of the Christian Democrats' social policy is to support the communities, the families and the individual people. It is about self-sufficiency, good care and enabling active participation in society.

In this, the social services have a broad and fundamental task within the public sector. The social services have the ultimate responsibility to ensure that people in the municipalities have it well, have a roof over their heads and food on the table.

Madam Speaker! The mission is, however, further than that. The mission is also about providing security, both socially and economically, and working for good living conditions and participation in social life. This is particularly important when it concerns children and young people.

We Christian Democrats always emphasize the importance of families and small communities. We shall safeguard the security provided at the beginning of children's and young people's childhood and upbringing. Parents are those who can best take care of their children.

At the same time, we also see that many children are suffering and that the reports of concern to the social services have increased. It is the public sector's responsibility to be there for these children when, for various reasons, it does not work within the family. According to the Social Services Act, the social services' activities shall be based on respect for people's right to self-determination and privacy, and in measures concerning children, the child's best interests shall be particularly considered.

Madam Speaker! This is very important. The municipalities have an incredibly important task in terms of supporting families and protecting children. Our children and young people are our future. For that reason, we need to ensure that we give them the best possible upbringing. It is our collective responsibility, both from the public sector and as fellow human beings. It is true as someone has said: It is easier to build strong children than to fix broken adults.

Building strong children is largely about ethics and morals. It is about giving them a value compass to navigate by, about fixing what is broken, and about giving them a stable foundation to grow from. Here, I mean that interventions within the social services for children and young people play a large role and can play an even larger role. It is the early interventions directed at both the children and the parents that are most effective in preventing, for example, crime.

Important work is underway within the government, and several things are now being proposed to strengthen the protection for children and young people. The Christian Democrats support these initiatives and are influencing within the government so that the family and the child's best interests are placed in the forefront.

I want to give a few examples here in the speaker's chair of these ongoing works. The initiative on parental support programs is now being expanded with the aim of strengthening parental support. The goal is for these programs to become more numerous and be able to exist in all the country's municipalities. More open support forms are being established, for example at family centers that are being expanded.

There shall be more foster homes. In cases where the family breaks down and care for the child's best interests justifies that care and upbringing are provided outside the own home, the Christian Democrats' ambition is that the child should still grow up in home-like conditions as far as possible. Therefore, it is important that we create conditions for more foster homes while simultaneously strengthening the foster homes that already exist.

Madam Speaker! It is incredibly sad and serious when the support from society and the municipality fails. It is particularly bad when it concerns children and young people. We need to review how we can strengthen the protection for children who are harmed.

Several investigations are currently being prepared within the Government Offices. In the report Safer Homes for Children, there are proposals for legislative changes to strengthen the protection for children when a question arises as to whether the child should have contact with a parent who has committed violence or committed some other serious violation. The report has been referred. The proposals are now being prepared, and a government bill is planned to be submitted by the autumn of 2024.

During the spring of 2024, the government also appointed the investigation on strengthened safety and security for children and young people in homes for care or housing. The special investigator Stefan Holgersson shall submit his report by May 2025 at the latest. It is about seeing what improvements can be proposed regarding care at HVB. But it is also about strengthening the safety and security for children and young people.

Madam Speaker! We also look forward to a new Social Services Act with a clearer connection to knowledge and with a preventive perspective.

Madam Speaker! The public sector cannot do everything. We also have a collective responsibility to react and act as fellow human beings.

A few weeks ago, a woman rushed into my husband's shop. She asked to borrow a phone. When my husband gave her a phone, she said: My boyfriend is hitting me. They stepped aside so that she could make the call undisturbed. Then the boyfriend also entered the shop. One of the employees quickly helped the woman hide in the breakroom. The boyfriend walked around the shop looking for her but then left the shop. The police then arrived and took the woman with them.

It is an event that one, of course, wishes had never had to occur. But we, as fellow human beings, need to learn to notice early signs that something is not right. We must dare to help and act.

In this case, the woman received first aid from the staff in the store. Now we do not know more. Now it is the social services that are to step in and take responsibility for the woman who was subjected to violence. This is just one example of an unfortunately far too large group of vulnerable people who need to receive real help.

Madam Speaker! We have a responsibility, both from the public and as fellow human beings, for those who are victims of violence. I am grateful that the government and the Christian Democrats take this responsibility seriously, just as we have heard in the debate today. We must never stop being a voice for those who are victims of violence.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Christofer Bergenblock (C)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for the speech, Member Camilla Rinaldo Miller!

This government is working hard and in a structured manner to address gang crime in society. We can follow this day by day through press conferences and new initiatives.

Men's violence against women has unfortunately not received any attention or space at all in the work that the government has undertaken. There is reason to compare these two, men's violence against women and gang criminals' violence. In the latter case, the violence is primarily committed against each other, but we see that many innocent people are also affected there. Why does the government not treat these in exactly the same way?

One part that has become important in the work against gang crime is defector programs. It is a structured way to be able to leave the criminal environment, receive support from society to get away from the situation and the crime, and avoid being subjected to violence by those one has left.

Madam Speaker! One might think it would be reasonable that the same opportunity should exist for women who want to leave a violent relationship, similar to a structured exit program.

Centerpartiet has, in this motion report, proposed that a national transition program for women should be introduced. It concerns the possibility of support and coordination of the authorities' various interventions, the possibility of joining a national housing queue, and the possibility of participating in a national transition grant.

Madam Speaker! Why can the Christian Democrats and the rest of the government not also stand behind and push forward such a proposal?

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Camilla Rinaldo Miller (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for the question, Christofer Bergenblock!

I am the equality spokesperson for Kristdemokraterna and think that what you are raising is a very important issue. Men's violence against women must never be accepted. Therefore, I am extra happy that this government has developed an action program to address this as far as is possible.

We will never be able to get inside the door of someone's home, neither politically nor as a municipality and state, but as I said in my speech, it is about finding early signals where we as fellow human beings react and where social services step in. The action program applies to 2024-2026, and in it, there are several clear proposals to address the problems. Therefore, I do not want to get ahead of myself now and say anything. We let the action program have its impact and effect, but the goal is, of course, that fewer women should be subjected to violence and gross violence. They should have the opportunity to leave relationships that are harmful, not only for the woman herself but also for children who are often present in the context. It also concerns others around them.

The government ensures that it becomes easier to leave by ensuring that one can receive protected housing and assistance with housing. It is not the woman who should have to move far away. It is the man who should be kept away from the woman and relocated. I have full confidence that the government will take these issues seriously.

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Christofer Bergenblock (C)

Madam Speaker! I may not trust as fully that the government will take these issues as seriously as gang crime. I am not convinced that the government would have been satisfied with just an action program when it comes to tackling gang crime in society. Sharp measures and proposals are required. We have not seen any clear examples so far regarding tackling violence against women. But there are, of course, parts where the government and the Center Party agree on important measures.

I want to return to the part concerning a national shelter program. What the government has approached in that issue is that one should at least be able to have a contact person from the municipality's side if one is subjected to violence, but that is only a small part. A coordination of measures from the authorities' side was needed, i.e., from social services, the school, the police, the Swedish Tax Agency, and so on, to protect women who need to flee. There was a need not only for protected housing for a short period at a women's shelter or equivalent but also for permanent housing. Therefore, we want to see a national housing queue. Financial support was also needed.

It is also interesting in this context that the Kristdemokraternas kvinnoförbund as recently as March 7 this year wrote a debate article about precisely this Center Party proposal. They called it a defection program, and we call it a resignation program.

I return again to the question of why the government cannot take a holistic approach. Why can the Christian Democrats also in the Riksdag not say that this is something they stand behind?

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Camilla Rinaldo Miller (KD)

Madam Speaker! It is true that the women's association had a debate article about precisely a defection program. I will not say here in the Riksdag that we as a party stand behind it. But we will pursue the issue for the reason that every woman who is vulnerable is important. I need to stand up for every woman and every woman's opportunity to leave a harmful relationship.

The government is now ensuring that authorities can exchange information so that people do not fall through the cracks. We heard the member from Vänsterpartiet talk about children being placed with the father who has beaten the mother. That is something we cannot accept. I do not believe that any of us in this Riksdag can say that it is something we look upon with pride when it happens. I am therefore convinced that the government, with Equality Minister Paulina Brandberg at the helm, will do everything to ensure that the number of women living in harmful relationships and subjected to violence will have the opportunity to leave that relationship and be able to live a dignified life where they are not afraid every day when they wake up.

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Mona Olin (SD)

Madam Speaker! Today we are debating the Social Affairs Committee's report number 19 on the social services' responsibility for victims of violence. The Sweden Democrats move for the approval of reservation number 11 but stand behind all their reservations.

No one should have to be subjected to violence in any form. Violence affects women, men, children, young people and the elderly, and it occurs not only in public places but also in the home and in close relationships. Both physical and psychological, sexual and economic violence occur. Violence in the home, which should be everyone's safest place, and in close relationships is a serious problem.

Honor-related violence and oppression have increased in Sweden as a consequence of previous governments' policies and extensive immigration from culturally distant countries. It has become an ever-growing societal problem, where violence and control are used to maintain the family's or clan's honor. Often, several family members are involved as perpetrators. The situation is complex. Sometimes a person can be both perpetrator and victim, for example when a son is forced to control his sister according to the family's honor codes even though he himself does not think the sister is doing anything wrong. This problem has been noticed, and measures have been introduced to help the vulnerable, but more and more extensive interventions are required to effectively counter honor-related violence and oppression.

There are also other groups that need to be noticed. One of them is the children and young people who are subjected to sexual abuse - what no one talks about and what the children in turn do not understand is a crime committed against them. These children need immediate and long-term help to manage the mental and physical injuries that the abuse has caused.

The social services offer different forms of support, but educational interventions must be implemented at all levels. This applies to schools, in the classrooms and student health services, within the social services, healthcare at BVC, and the police. On average, two students per school class are affected, and if a report is made in error, it is not uncommon that the person who was targeted ends up in a HVB home for their own protection. Unfortunately, many HVB homes lack the competence to offer the support that an affected person needs.

A comparison between the support offered to children who have been subjected to sexual abuse and the measures directed at the perpetrators shows significant differences. The victims receive, at best, support to manage trauma and readjust to a normal life. This includes therapy, sometimes protected housing, and psychosocial support. The perpetrators, on the other hand, often undergo treatment programs within the correctional system with the goal of reducing the risk of recidivism. Their treatment may include therapy and other rehabilitation programs. Despite the interventions, it is often the case that the victims experience a long-lasting and profound impact from the abuse, while the perpetrators, after serving their sentence, can return to society with relatively small consequences. This creates an imbalance in the justice system's support and care resources.

The Sweden Democrats are clear: All forms of violence and oppression must be countered and fought with force. We must have zero tolerance for violence and work to ensure that the justice system functions effectively and fairly to protect the victims and prevent further abuses. It is, however, in the preventive work that we see great opportunities to reduce the occurrence of violence in close relationships and on our streets.

That children grow up in safety is very important. The family is very important. It is there that the foundation is laid for a child's development and well-being. It gives the child a stable environment where the child can feel loved and safe and also promotes the child's self-esteem and ability to build healthy relationships in the future.

Parents or guardians are responsible for the children's upbringing conditions. It is not always easy, and early and preventive interventions for families are crucial. Society needs to offer support and resources for parenting and family life. This cannot be overemphasized.

It is positive that a new Social Services Act, as agreed in the Tidö Agreement, is being developed. It shall be reformed, and crime prevention work shall be prioritized. The work to take people out of crime shall be clarified and codified. More open forms of support shall be established, for example at family centers that exist today and are being expanded. The municipalities' crime prevention work shall also be regulated in law.

The Sweden Democrats consider that the work to prevent violence in close relationships must be strengthened. There are major deficiencies, and society needs increased understanding and knowledge of violence in close relationships and honor-related violence, which must be ensured within more professional groups.

Cooperation is required across sectors such as the justice system, healthcare, schools, and voluntary organizations. Society must ensure that victims receive the help they need to leave violent situations and rebuild their lives.

We also propose that municipalities' evaluations of violence in close relationships should also include elderly care. The Gender Equality Authority has been tasked, among other things, with mapping the knowledge regarding elderly people over 65 who are victims of violence, which is another very important area that is rarely addressed.

Finally, I want to emphasize the importance of stopping violence in close relationships. We must work towards a zero vision when it comes to violence in close relationships.

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Maj Karlsson (V)

Madam Speaker! The other day, Expressen presented a study from the University of Gothenburg which showed that nearly 50 percent of primary school students in Sweden have been subjected to sexual harassment. 1,000 children in grades 4 to 6 participated in the study. 17 percent answered that they themselves had subjected someone to sexual harassment. For the vast majority, it is a terrifying fact that so many of our children have been subjected to sexual oppression and that our own children are actually being subjected to crimes. But the question is how often a parent wonders who the perpetrator is and that the person might live under one's own roof.

Men's violence against women is not a phenomenon that suddenly strikes like a bolt from the blue. It is a structural and long-standing behavior that often accompanies the perpetrator from a very young age.

Some time ago, I met the association Storasyster, which works to support young people who have been subjected to sexual abuse and violence. Since the structure follows the same pattern as for adults, the perpetrator is often a boy and the victim is often a girl. They told me about their concern that violence against young people in close relationships is not noticed and what terrible consequences it has for the one who is victimized. This means that the violence often occurs in the perpetrator's or the victim's parental home, in school, or during the young people's free time—places that should be surrounded by safe adults, where our young people's safety should be at its highest, but where the violence is not noticed. The victim is doubly victimized through the perpetrator's violence and the surroundings' invisibility.

The organization Storasysters oro's concerns are confirmed by Brå. The knowledge base regarding how widespread violence by young boys against young girls is is very modest. The subject has, believe it or not, not been sufficiently studied in Sweden. But according to Brå's report on violence in young people's relationships, we can read that previous research shows that young people are more vulnerable than adults. Research also shows that between 20 and 25 percent of all sexual assaults were committed by young people.

We all and society must have the courage to see that the perpetrator is not someone far away and that the abuse and violence can begin at a young age and be committed in our vicinity. When we see it, we can also act.

Madam Speaker! In the study from the University of Gothenburg that I mentioned at the beginning of my speech, one can clearly see that the risk of being subjected to abuse varies greatly depending on which school the children attend. In the schools where one actively works with good relations between adults and students and between students, and where one talks about sexuality and close relationships, the risk of being subjected to abuse is significantly lower.

Even in the previously mentioned report from Brå, it is emphasized that active measures to detect and meet violence are of great importance for whether the development of violence can be stopped or if it actually escalates. It is therefore fully possible, yes, even successful, to work with norms and values, spread knowledge, and actively act to stop violence and oppression, as long as it happens in time and the work is carried out systematically. Today, there are good examples of models that work in exactly that way.

A municipality free from violence is, for example, a model where one works to identify risks and develop preventive measures to prevent them. In that work, all of the municipality's activities are included so that the preventive work can achieve the best possible impact. Therefore, we in Vänsterpartiet want every municipality to introduce methods like A municipality free from violence.

The whole of society must turn its gaze towards the perpetrators and act before it is too late. Therefore, I move for approval of reservation 7.

Madam Speaker! The preventive work against men's violence against women and honor-related violence is absolutely central for us to be able to stop this widespread and acute security problem. But it must never occur at the expense of those who are affected here and now. The voluntary women's organizations have for decades fought tooth and nail to ensure that the protection and support for those exposed to violence is robust and meets the needs of the victims, without being heard. Women's lives and safety are still a budget item in the eyes of politicians.

Unizon's annual statistics for 2023 show an alarming decrease in the proportion of children in residential homes during 2023, despite the fact that support calls are increasing. At the same time, a large number of voluntary protected residences have been forced to close following the legislative change regarding the permit requirement that we were against but which the Riksdag decided on this spring.

From the Left Party's side, both funding and legislation are of utmost importance to protect women and children. Last year, we allocated 50 million more than the government to the shifts. We also allocate 350 million kronor to the social services so that more women seeking help from the social services will be granted placement in protected housing and be able to stay there for as long as needed.

We will continue our work, in both words and actions, to both stop violence against women and honor-related violence and protect those who need it. This is a matter of life and death that we demand the government take most seriously.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Christofer Bergenblock (C)

Madam Speaker! Initially, I would like to move for approval of reservation 8 on preventive work and support.

During the first three months of this year, eight people were killed in the escalating gang violence in Sweden. It is a high and completely unacceptable figure, naturally. The bloody gang violence is a relatively new phenomenon in Sweden, and all parties agree that this trend must be broken. An untold number of press conferences have also been held with Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer regarding how the government is working to stop the gang violence.

During the first three months of this year, twelve women were murdered by men in their immediate vicinity. One of the murdered women was also heavily pregnant. Unlike gang violence, men's violence against women is not a new phenomenon. It has looked like this year after year after year in all parts of Sweden, in all social classes and in all ages. Perhaps that is also why measures against this violence rarely take center stage and this has not been taken as seriously as the gang violence.

It is, however, pleasing that the Minister for Justice managed to squeeze in a press conference on men's violence against women in early April. He is by far the most diligent minister when it comes to calling press conferences, but on this theme, the press conferences have unfortunately been few. An ongoing failure, those were the words the minister himself used to describe the situation. That it is so, there is absolutely no doubt about.

What can we then do to address this, to prevent and counter violence against women and to support and help the women who are subjected to it? We can do quite a lot, according to us in Centerpartiet. I intend to highlight three different parts.

Firstly, Madam Speaker, we mean that society can become significantly better at detecting violence in close relationships and at following up on suspicions of violence. In a report from the National Board of Health and Welfare presented in January this year, it emerged that there is almost always awareness among the authorities regarding both the victim of violence and the perpetrator before it escalates into serious or fatal violence.

The National Board of Health and Welfare states clearly that despite these contacts, it is common that the violence is not detected, that the response is weak if it is detected, and that psychological violence is regarded as less serious than physical violence when it is identified.

For that reason, we in the Center Party argue that competence development was needed within healthcare, social services, the police, and a long line of other authorities regarding the ability to ask the right questions and learn to act on the information received. Furthermore, proactive work was needed to support vulnerable people when it comes to leaving a destructive or violent relationship in time. Society must be particularly attentive to people living in extra vulnerability due to, for example, a disability. We unfortunately know that it is particularly difficult for those who have a severe visual impairment, a severe hearing impairment, or another physical disability to leave a destructive relationship because they are dependent on the person who subjects them to violence.

Secondly, Madam Speaker, we in the Center Party believe that a national exit program needs to be introduced for women who need to flee from a destructive or violent relationship. Although the absolutely most dangerous time in a woman's life is when she decides to leave a violent or controlling relationship, there is currently no unified support from the authorities. We therefore want an exit program to be introduced with a responsible coordinator, with access to a national housing queue, and with the possibility of an exit grant to manage the finances.

For many who choose to leave, access to a protected residence is often completely decisive. Since April 1 of this year, a protected residence has been a new housing measure according to the Social Services Act, which is subject to a permit requirement and quality requirements. It is also new that the children's rights perspective has been strengthened in the new legislation.

This is fundamentally a good reform, but it must be followed up properly. How does this affect the availability of housing - there have already been closures among non-profit organizations? Does this lead to, as has emerged earlier in the debate, that children are placed with the perpetrator? That is, of course, completely unacceptable.

Thirdly, Madam Speaker, we in the Center Party believe that laws and penalties need to be toughened. Gender needs to be introduced as a basis for increased penalties when the person's gender constitutes the very motive for the crime. This could apply to almost all types of crimes, but not least crimes of violence. Furthermore, more crimes need to be linked to men's violence against women and criminalized, such as controlling behavior and psychological violence. Restraining orders must, of course, be introduced automatically upon conviction for crimes in close relationships.

In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I can state that in a normal year in Sweden, around 75,000 women are assaulted by a man in their vicinity. Of these women, between 15 and 20 are murdered every year. Up until April this year, twelve women have therefore been murdered in close relationships. This is completely unacceptable. Men's violence against women must be handled with the same seriousness and with the same determination as gang violence is handled. This needs to come to an end.

(Applause)

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Ulrika Westerlund (MP)

Madam Speaker! This report, which we are debating today, concerns some of society's most vulnerable people and, naturally, also our society's failure to protect them. What is being done is obviously insufficient. It is evident as long as men continue to murder women they have or have had relationships with and as long as children are murdered by those who should protect them – their own parents.

Naturally, no one should have to be subjected to violence, but if it happens, society must be there and offer professional and well-functioning support. That is not always the case today, even though much has been done. It is clear in the Social Services Act that the social services have a responsibility. Furthermore, a new Social Services Act is underway. Expectations are high that it will, among other things, have more focus on preventive work. Exactly what the law will mean for victims of violence, we do not know at this moment, of course, but we in Miljöpartiet will analyze the new proposal carefully.

In this context, I want to once again highlight that, in addition to having all the laws and policy documents in place, it is important to ensure that the municipalities have sufficient resources on the ground to be able to perform their work. Miljöpartiet wants to increase the general state grants to both municipalities and regions.

Madam Speaker! Violence occurs in different forms and in a multitude of guises, and in today's debate I particularly want to highlight some of the forms.

Physical and psychological violence in close relationships is well-known to many, but economic violence often remains in the shadows. Economic violence is about the exercise of power and control and can make it difficult to leave a relationship. It can involve controlling how the other person uses their salary, hiding joint money, or taking out loans in the partner's name and thereby saddling her with debt.

There are studies showing that as many as 75 percent of those who have been subjected to physical and psychological violence in the home have also been subjected to economic violence. Many who leave a violent relationship also often do not get the opportunity to take their belongings with them. They sometimes flee with only the clothes they are wearing. It is also not uncommon for a former partner to put obstacles in the way to delay a division of property process, which can lead to many problems for the person who, for example, has left house and home and belongings without getting access to an economy to build a new life.

Since many actors are often involved when a person subject to violence tries to leave a violent relationship, it can be difficult for the person leaving a destructive relationship to know where to turn for help. One may need lawyers, social services, a women's shelter, and a new school for the children. To facilitate the leaving, we want the person subject to violence to be given a door out of the violence. Miljöpartiet wants that every woman who leaves a violent relationship should be given a unified entry point to society's support. One contact should be enough for one to receive the support that is needed. It can involve documentation of injuries, witness statements, personal protection, protected housing, trauma treatment, help with the children's situation and schooling, legal advice, and interventions from social services and healthcare.

Madam Speaker! I also want to particularly highlight what needs to be done to improve the situation for children and young people who are exposed to violence. In the investigation *En uppväxt fri från våld* (A childhood free from violence) from 2022, a coordinated ten-year strategy is proposed to strengthen the work of authorities and organizations to stop violence against children and give those exposed to violence the right to support and treatment. The ten-year strategy to prevent and combat men's violence against women has given strength and support to the authorities and organizations that have worked to counteract men's violence against women. It is time for such a strategy also regarding violence against children.

The government should also task an appropriate authority with spreading knowledge about violence in children's and young people's close relationships in order to alert more people to the violence and spread information to those at risk about what support is available. Furthermore, the government should task an appropriate authority with mapping which interventions municipalities offer children and young people who have been subjected to violence, to what extent these interventions are actually used, and how effective they are.

Madam Speaker! In conclusion, I also want to mention the need for support for people who receive compensation for sex as well as children who are subjected to commercial sexual exploitation. Permanent, structural measures are needed to improve the support.

That social interventions are central in the work to reduce the vulnerability of persons who receive compensation for sex, most have agreed on since long before the ban on the purchase of sexual services was introduced. In the preparatory works for the law, the importance of social services' interventions was also emphasized, and that the criminalization of purchase was only one part of the necessary measures to reduce vulnerability.

The social interventions have nevertheless not been sufficient, despite several targeted project initiatives, and people continue to suffer. The same also largely applies to children who are subjected to commercial sexual exploitation. One reason why the interventions are insufficient and unevenly distributed across the country may be that there are no mandatory requirements, in the Social Services Act or anywhere else, for municipalities to allocate funds to work with precisely this area.

In the Social Services Act, there are paragraphs concerning, among other things, what support people who abuse substances, have disabilities, or are victims of crime are entitled to. Similar provisions could exist for people who receive compensation for sex. The National Board of Health and Welfare could also issue binding regulations and general advice. In the further work, the government should incorporate the proposals from the investigation "Ut ur utsatthet", which was released quite recently.

I stand behind Miljöpartiet's all reservations and move for approval of reservation 13.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Helena Vilhelmsson (C)

Mr. Speaker! The area I am going to speak about, men's violence against women, is as we all know an area that extends across many areas of responsibility, many policy areas and many areas of responsibility in the municipalities. It is extremely important that one has a holistic view, which has been mentioned from the rostrum. I do not think, however, that that holistic view exists today in the government's handling of the issue. I intend to touch upon some of the contradictions that exist.

I have been involved in human trafficking. I want to point out that the ambassador against human trafficking has existed since 2006 and has been replaced a number of times. The position was also vacant for three months. What the government is doing now is saying: Solve this yourselves at the local and regional level! The Gender Equality Authority's regional coordinators, who are employed by social services, shall therefore work for this. One receives no support from the national level.

We also talk a lot about preventive activities. One of the activities that has worked preventively in an exemplary way is the support line ungarelationer.se. It has existed for five years and had a budget of 5 million but has had a budget of 500,000 kronor since the half-year turn of this year. The activity is run voluntarily by a foundation and has had over 15,000 individual chats and millions of page views. They work with informative and preventive activities together with the police and the municipalities.

Here, the government, by merging two ordinances and opening up for more organizations to apply for money, has succeeded in making it so that there are fewer funds to distribute. What does the government mean is supposed to happen? If not ungarelationer.se is to work with this issue, who will then do this work?

It has been said several times here that the government is allocating more funds to municipalities and regions to work on this issue. I see that the county administrative boards, for example, receive 18 million kronor more in investments to coordinate the work against men's violence against women. But in the same budget, the investment on women's peace at SKR, which has amounted to 21 million kronor and has existed since 2014, disappears. One is therefore giving with one hand and taking with the other.

Finally, I want to mention something about the contact ban legislation, which is also mentioned in the report. It is very good that an investigation has been conducted regarding this with many proposals for improvements, but somewhere I still think it becomes skewed. The proposals are based on the woman getting greater security by the man not being able to come into contact with her. In my world, the only reasonable legislation would be that a man who has been convicted of violence against women, or who is considered so dangerous that the social services and the police consider that he needs a contact ban, is allowed to stay in his residence, at his job, and so on, and thus has an area that he, the perpetrator, is not allowed to go outside of.

What is it, exactly, that says a restraining order regarding the woman helps if it is extended to an entire municipality? One fine day, the woman will need to travel to another municipality, go on vacation, or visit acquaintances. In that case, an extended restraining order does not help. It is the perpetrator who should be restricted in their daily life, not the woman.

The deliberation was hereby concluded.

(Decisions were made under § 16.)

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