Around ten demonstrations are planned from Luleå in the north to Malmö in the south, with the message that children should not be in prison. The aim is to “show the massive resistance that exists against a lowering of the age of criminal responsibility,” according to the organizations behind it, including Save the Children, Bris, the Church of Sweden, Vision, and the Swedish Association of Academics SSR.
The Church of Sweden does not usually get involved in public politics. But when it comes to matters like human dignity, and especially how we treat our children, our youngest; it concerns the church to the greatest extent, says Andreas Holmberg, bishop of the Diocese of Stockholm.
Not right-left
What do you say to those who believe that the Church of Sweden should not interfere in politics?
All churches, not just the Church of Sweden, get involved in social policy when human dignity is at risk of being eroded. This is not a right-left issue.
Heavy-duty Major consultation bodies such as the police, the Swedish Prosecution Authority and the Swedish Prison and Probation Service are critical of the plans, but the government is moving forward and the change will come into effect in July if the proposal is approved by the Riksdag.
Through the reform, we will strengthen society's protection against serious crime and take care of children convicted of serious crimes in a much better way than before, said Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) in February.
Experiment
The church shares the government's view that society must take responsibility for children who commit crimes such as murder, but there is no research to support the idea that child prisons are the solution, says Andreas Holmberg. The risk is instead that it entrenches a criminal lifestyle and creates trauma that makes rehabilitation more difficult.
The government is going ahead with this in contradiction to the collective knowledge and expertise. It is a very big experiment that these young people are being subjected to. So this is probably a final appeal to members of parliament not to vote for this, says Holmberg.
