Unable to enforce laws and policies without remedies

« We can do much better, the report shows it. So, this is also the inconsistency within systems and between systems and between offices, such as police offices, » says Salvör Nordal, the Children’s Ombudsman, on the results of a child -friendly judicial report.

The report reveals that the Icelandic justice system does not fully fulfill international obligations on child -friendly justice and in many respects do not comply with the rights of children under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

It is also stated that despite the general efforts of institutions to take into account the rights of children, there is considerable inconsistency within the system in terms of the understanding of different parties on the role, obligations and implementation, both within and outside certain areas.

Children still saved in Flatahraun

It is stated that children experience many unnecessary harshness on the part of the police and that the application of coercion cannot always be justified. In most cases, the deprivation of liberty is very heavy in most cases and cause them great distress.

Children who have been emergency at the police station in Flatahraun in Hafnarfjordur describe the situation there dire. The Ombudsman for Children has repeatedly made serious comments that children are emergency at the police station, as conditions are unacceptable for children.

Children have been stored there since the end of October last year, despite the government’s stated policy that children are not stored in prison cells, regardless of the reasons behind the deprivation of liberty. The Ombudsman has said that the lack of appropriate resources cannot justify such placement.

Need to fold up sleeves and let the works speak

In a conversation with mbl.is, Salvör says it is not enough to have a clear and good legal framework, if there are no resources to follow the law and policy of the government.

It is now important to establish appropriate remedies for children who are struggling with behavioral and addiction problems.

« It has to have endurance to get this on, succeed and succeed, so that this is not just done in a 20 -year campaign. It is completely available to those who work in this area, what is missing and what is needed. Now the sleeves need to be folded and let the works speak, » says Salvör.

It is also important to gather better information on the fate of the children who are struggling with the most important problem.

« So we realize what the consequences have that children are not being treated or are saved in unacceptable conditions, in the long term. »