Sweden took a historic next step by incorporating the Convention on the Rights of the Child into Swedish law. It is a step to further protect the rights of the child and ensure that children are provided with the conditions necessary for their development. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, which makes clear that a child under the age of 18 has specific rights, is one of the most important tools for ensuring that children’s rights are met. The Convention states, for example, that children have the right to protection from violence, the right to education and the right to benefit from social security. It also states that children have the right to freely express their views in all matters affecting them and to be listened to – a right that is essential both for the individual child and for creating a better society for all children.
A core principle of the Convention is that in all actions concerning children, the best interests of the child must be a primary consideration.
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