Barns "röster" i beslut om tvångsvård : En kvalitativ dokumentanalys om hur barns perspektiv återges i domstolsbeslut

Sammanfattning

The study examined how children’s voices were represented in administrative court decisions on compulsory care and their significance in the decision-making process. It draws on the child perspective, Children’s Needs in Focus (BBIC), and Hart’s Ladder of Participation to analyze children’s participation and influence in legal processes. A qualitative document analysis was conducted on ten publicly available decisions, focusing on three themes: representation of voices, space for children’s accounts and voices in relation to court assessment. Results showed that children’s perspectives were often reported indirectly and mediated by professionals, limiting their influence on outcomes. When children’s own words were included, they mainly supported adult assessments within a legal context. The study highlights the gap between formal and genuine participation and the tension between children’s right to be heard and adults’ responsibility to protect them. Children’s perspectives reflected their situations rather than shaping decisions, indicating a need to strengthen influence.