Changes to be made in Norwegian child welfare practice

Solveig HorneMinister of Children and Equality Solveig Horne ( Progress Party )

Norway has ratified the Hague 1996 Convention, which will take effect from 1 July.

The government hopes it can provide them with new means  of resolving child care disputes where the child have ties to several countries in a more harmonious way.

According to Dagbladet, one of the things that the Convention entails  is that children who are taken from their parents in Norway, can be placed with relatives abroad rather than in Norwegian foster care.
The government’s proposal states that ratification would give Norway “a new means to prevent and resolve international parental disputes, child care and child abduction cases – and may facilitate more long-term care solutions for the affected children.”
– If a child has grandparents or aunts and uncles who can take care of them in another country, and that also have  ties to the land, there will be a possibility that the family abroad assume care, says children Minister Solveig Horne .
The proposal further states that for the family abroad to assume care it has to “be prudent and to the individual child’s best. The child’s ties and attachment to the country should be given particular emphasis. ”
Another consequence is that foreign governments may request access to the documents of  cases of the child welfare services.
The Hague 1996 Convention has over 40 affiliated members, including all of the EU countries.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today