The Smacking Law hypocrisy
The smacking law hypocrisy
By Ruby
Harrold-Claesson, lawyer
This article was previously published in New
Zealand on August 29, 2007, on Section59 blogspot under the title "Sweden's
smacking law hypocrisy"
and on Family Integrity blog spot as "Sweden. The smacking
law hypocrisy". |
On August 21, Sweden awoke to the first part of the government report that
was commissioned to investigate the abuse of children who had been in state
care between 1950 - 1980. The report was commissioned following the documentary
"Stolen Childhood"** that was broadcasted in Nov. 2005.
Between 200 000 - 250 000 children were in foster homes and
orphanages during the period 1950 - 1980. Today, many of them
are suffering from mental disorders, others have broken
relationships, poor education, low self-esteem, difficulty to find work
or chronic unemployment, have become substance abusers and many are
dead mostly due to overdoses, suicide or gang killings.
So far 62 persons have been interviewed by the commission. Another 120 persons
are still to be heard. They have told gruesome stories of the abuses that they
suffered in their foster homes or the orphanages in which they were placed.
Light smacks and other forms of discipline that were acceptable before the
passing of the anti-smacking law are not taken into account: only that which
constituted assault or gross bodily harm and which under normal circumstances
could have been prosecuted if the reports from the children and/or their
parents had been heeded, have been recorded.
The former foster children tell of how they were beaten with brooms, leather
belts, punched, deprived of food, made to eat food that they had vomited,
sexually abused, insulted, pushed down stairs, held under water etc. Some of
these crimes were committed after 1979 - the year of the passing of the
anti-smacking law. The documentary* about Ekbacken "treatment home"
where more than 20 youngsters were placed between 1980 - 2003, showed how
youngsters were removed from their parents care because they had been smacked,
then placed at Ekbacken where they were severely abused.
It is quite interesting to hear the reactions of the head of the commission,
Göran Johansson. "It was much worse than we had expected. None of us knew
the full extent or depth of their misery," Göran Johansson told Dagens Nyheter.
"We feel a sense of desperation, and indeed rage, with respect to the
stories we have heard," he said.
"They tell of systematic abuse at the hands of those who were
supposed to care for and protect them as children. There was everything
from ruthless exploitation by means of physical labour to serious assault,
psychological terror and rape," he added.
Maria Larsson, the minister of Health and Welfare said: "I am very upset
over the fact that so many children were so badly treated while they were in
state care in Sweden". "I feel numb when I read the report. At the
same time it is necessary that these stories come out in the open so we can see
what has been hiding in our Swedish history. It is a dark history, she said. (Sweden's
dark history also includes the forced sterilisation of ca 60 000 mostly
women from 1936 - 1976 when the law was repealed.)
The NCHR is pleased that the Swedish government is now in possession of the
report into the conditions for the children who were former residents in foster
homes and orphanages. It is however of utmost urgency that the government
should investigate the conditions of the tens of thousands of children and
young people who are living in foster homes today.
Neither the social authorities nor the police listen to the reports of abuse
that the foster children, their parents or others make on their behalf. Not
even reports made by lawyers are treated with any degree of seriousness.
I only hope that the government will not wait another 20 or 30 years to investigate
the conditions of the children in the so-called "family homes". These
children are suffering abuses similar to those unearthed by the foster home
abuse commission.
The NCHR is pleased that the
Swedish government is now in possession of the report into the conditions for
the children who were former residents in foster homes and orphanages. It is
however of utmost urgency that the government should investigate the conditions
of the tens of thousands of children and young people who are living in foster
homes today.
Neither the social authorities nor the police listen to the reports of abuse that the foster children, their parents or others make on their behalf. Not even reports made by lawyers are treated with any degree of seriousness.
I only hope that the government will not wait another 20 or 30 years to investigate the conditions of the children in the so-called "family homes". These children are suffering abuses similar to those unearthed by the foster home abuse commission.
* This documentary "Ekbacken" was shown
at private meetings in New Zealand on the occasion of my visit in July 2006.
** The documentary "Stolen Childhood" was shown at private meetings
in New Zealand on the occasion of my visit in July 2006.
Sweden's smacking law hypocrisy
By Ruby Harrold-Claesson
Sweden. The
smacking law hypocrisy
By Ruby Harrold-Claesson
Report from Ruby
Harrold-Claesson's New Zealand smacking debate tour July 19 - August 1, 2006
By Craig Smith
Sweden
to probe years of abuse in children's homes
Foster home
child abuse 'worse than expected'
The Local
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