The actions are the foundation of a national movement.
A newly appointed action group for violence against and among children started its work today. The group is tasked with implementing actions that the Ministry of Education and Children and the Ministry of Justice introduced at a press conference on 25 June. and actions by the Ministry of Health relating to the health and well-being of children. The intention of the actions is to counter the development towards increased violence, enhance preventive work, and bring together a diverse range of service and response providers in a coordinated effort against increasing violence among children and teenagers in Iceland.
“This is a very serious development and we absolutely do not want this to continue to grow in the way it has been, and we must address this. Everyone agrees that we need to step in as firmly as possible and we must manage to activate all parties in this. The actions are the basis of a national initiative and are aimed at activating the entire community with prevention, dialogue, and also strengthening law enforcement,” says Ásmundur Einar Daðason, Minister of Education and Children.
From the moment there is a suspicion that a child has suffered severe violence or is likely to do so, it is crucial how the situation is responded to in order to ensure the protection, well-being, and safety of the child. The same applies to a child who has committed or is likely to commit acts of violence. Services that cater to the needs of children are one of the most important components in ensuring that children receive appropriate and timely assistance when it is necessary.
Great emphasis is placed on close and effective cooperation among all those involved in child affairs. The group is composed of representatives from the Ministry of Education and Children, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, the Association of Icelandic Municipalities, the Centre for Education and School Services, the City of Reykjavík, the Children and Family Agency, primary health care in the capital area, the Office of the National Commissioner of Police, various police departments, and Home and School.
The task force is intended to prioritise actions, develop a plan for their implementation and execution, follow up on the implementation, and measure success. Through targeted implementation of actions, follow-up, and outcome measurements, it is not only addressing the serious situation that has arisen here in the country but also providing the opportunity to shed light on the extent and nature of the problem and respond appropriately. Such actions are greatly needed to ensure adequate responses and resources, in addition to reducing the likelihood of unforeseeable negative consequences of interventions.
Source: stjr.is
