Sterling received two Baccalaureate degrees in History and Philosophy from the University of North Texas. Currently, he is studying Applied Human Rights at the Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien.
Internationally 153 million children are orphans. Only 1% of these children will be adopted. The unfortunate reality that millions of children will be without care illuminates the great necessity for an effective youth welfare system. Especially when these children are more susceptible to alcohol and drug use compared to non-orphaned youth. In Eastern Europe, 60% of girls who are orphaned will be trafficked, while 70% of boys will become criminals. Others may suffer from psychological conditions leading to suicide. The vulnerability of children is a necessary component when looking at the methods taken by governments to address children’s rights.
In general, children rest in a position where they are unable to have a tangible effect on the government. Regardless of the integration of youth voices, there still remains a distinct inability for children in marginalized positions (orphaned, without parental care, or disabled) to participate in a meaningful way that elevates their needs. Yet, children’s rights have internationally been recognized as an integral component to society. With 196 countries having signed onto the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), numerous nations have ubiquitously committed themselves to ensuring the security of children. Yet, millions of children remain without parental care, institutionalized, or cared for by the child and youth welfare systems. Globally, governments have implemented guidelines for these systems, with Luxembourg, Thailand, and Iceland all ranking highly in potential.
A Well-Rounded Youth Welfare System
The importance of human rights and its development in a nation’s legislation present the quality of its system for children’s care. Health, education, protection, and dedication to protecting children’s rights are all factors taken into account when analyzing the performance of countries. Providing security to children insofar as halting child labour, accessing clean water and sanitation, continuing education, and enshrining the interests of children are a few necessary steps to improving the quality of life for children. Investigating the mentioned actions by the nation allows for the possibility to end the cycle that children in foster care or orphaned are susceptible to.
Overview of Icelandic Care
Iceland’s child and youth welfare system involves a collaborative approach that marries the national services with the community-based care in the local municipalities. The mingling of the two systems bolsters the ability to provide the most effective care. The Icelandic government strengthens the local and national child protection services through extending counseling to elected committees, continuing development of the protection of children, and conducting check-ins on institutions and homes. The facilities that exist for providing care to children are small (6 children to a household) to ensure that the necessary degree of support is available. Moreover, education and recreational activities are emphasized in long-term facilities. Improvement of care was initiated by the creation of three levels of services: the primary, secondary and tertiary. The primary level specializes in the assistance of all families to secure the success of the children, including health care, education, social services, and extracurricular activities. Secondary services help in professional manners to create a plan for the development of the child. This is a systematic level of support that is exterior to basic care that assists with the needs of a child. Tertiary services are those that are implemented when stopping recurrence of endangerment.
Icelandic Aims & Work
The major change to the positionality of children comes from the Prosperity Act that was brought into force in 2022. The aims for the act were to provide access to necessary services and guarantee Iceland undertook its obligations under the CRC. Additionally, the act includes provisions for other activities, such as the need to “monitor…and evaluate” the implementation of the act, “respond effectively… to needs”, and conduct consultations to establish the proper procedures are being taken.
Children returning to their family of origin is a primary focus of the Icelandic foster care system. Whether or not children are placed into long-term care, the aims of the institution remain the same. This intention prioritizes the child’s needs and does not leave them behind. One illustration of this concept takes the form of the Barnahus, which is a multidisciplinary system that engages with numerous agencies to minimize the impact on children that may be in an insecure environment——most commonly due to violence. When conducting interviews of children, they include every aspect of the process, such as law enforcement, child protective services, the representative of the child, and mental health services. This reduces the amount of stress on kids in violent situations by having them do one comprehensive interview without a need to repeat the procedure.
Additionally, collaborative work that includes the participation of children in the foundation of the laws around foster care improved the actions taken by the state. In 2019, the youth were invited to participate in the production of government policy. In conjunction with international organizations, the proposals that were developed were then adopted and are being implemented.
Iceland’s child protective services contain numerous tactics in addressing supplemental housing for children. One temporary solution is “residential placement facilities”. Children are housed here for short periods, while the parents and themselves are supported by trainings and targeted sessions on improving the needs of the child. Another method taken is family homes, where children who “have not received permanent housing” are given individualized care until further placement. There are then three forms of foster care: temporary, permanent, and supported. Temporary foster care acts as a home that allows for the child to return one the improvement of the family of origin occurs. Permanent foster care takes place after their current living situation has been compromised. Then, there is a period of time where the foster parents and foster child become acquainted. Once a match has been established, there is the possibility to create long lasting bonds. Supported foster care is for children “with major emotional and behavioral problems” and lasts for “a maximum of two years”. In this level of care they are provided intensive support by professionals and their foster parents.
Prioritizing the well-being of children and youth there is an indication of the potential empowerment of the future. Escalating the status of children and the enshrinement of children’s rights within national legislation and targeted policies internationally could produce a new generation of security for children.
3 Relevant Questions:
- How are children’s rights being protected and implemented by the government of other nations and is it effective?
- What are possible ways of including youth voices in civil society as well as amplifying the advocacy of children and youth rights within public spaces?
- In what ways can the Icelandic system and others continue to improve its system with new tactics?
3 Relevant Readings:
- KidsRights. “The Kids Rights Index Report 2024” KidsRights. 2024.
- Council of Europe. “Reykjavik conference: Investing in children – the key to prosperity” Council of Europe. 2023
- United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. “Introduction to the Committee” United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. 2024.