Strategic focus areas

This strategy is based on the continual development of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ knowledge of the situation of children and young people in each policy area, and the development of its expertise in these areas in a way that ensures the integration of a children’s rights and youth perspective.

Furthermore, in pursuing this strategy, the Nordic Council of Ministers wishes to highlight three strategic focus areas.

In general, the Nordic Region is a good place for children and young people to grow up, although it is more difficult for some than others to find their place in society and have their rights respected. It is therefore imperative that the Nordic Council of Ministers works to improve conditions for the inclusion of vulnerable children and young people, as well as to ensure that they are listened to in various processes and are given the opportunity to have an influence. Similarly, the outcomes for children and young people must be analysed on the basis of the best interests of the child in connection with the decisions that concern them. This requires further work on and knowledge of the efforts needed to promote inclusion with a view towards improving children’s and young people’s lives based on their various situations and needs.

Through a stronger general focus on vulnerable children and young people in the work of the Nordic Council of Ministers, each policy area can prioritise the initiatives that are relevant and necessary in its field. This could, for instance, be about children and young people who are refugees or migrants, who are exposed to violence or abuse, who risk physical or psychological harm, who are neither in work or study, who have no access to cultural opportunities, or who are being victimised online. The difference in living conditions between girls and boys and between young women and men, as well as the vulnerability of transgender young people, warrant special focus. In the regular follow-ups of this strategy and the evaluation of the strategy as a whole, it must be clear that the Nordic Council of Ministers has prioritised the rights and living conditions of vulnerable children and young people.

The Nordic Region has a tradition of a strong civil society

Civil society is a broad concept and can be defined as “any group of people who are not the state, the market, or a single household or individual”. One can also talk about the non-profit sector: the work and activities of associations, foundations, charities, networks, or NGOs whereby people organise themselves in relation to some sort of common goal, ideal, or interest. Nordic CSOs (groups or networks at the Nordic level) are of particular importance to the Nordic Council of Ministers. These organisations are the Nordic Council of Ministers’ primary collaboration and dialogue partners.

which is encouraged through local, national, and Nordic forms of support. The exchange of experience across borders can reinforce activities in this area in each Nordic country, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland, as well as increase children’s and young people’s opportunities to convey their thoughts and ideas. Over time the desire to come together has been assuming new forms and expressions. Civil society is an arena that often provides children and young people with the opportunity to develop their creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation. For this reason, it is important that the Nordic Council of Ministers continues to support the development of the various forms of organisation and participation in democratic processes in the Nordic Region, based on the differing situations, needs, and interests of children and young people.

By continuing to collaborate with and support civil society, the Nordic Council of Ministers can enable the development of dialogue and co-operation in each policy area with relevant organisations and find ways to highlight and make use of the expertise of many stakeholders in civil society. The Nordic Council of Ministers should continue to promote collaboration between public and civil society organisations that work for and with children and young people in the Nordic Region. In the regular follow-ups of this strategy and the evaluation of the strategy as a whole, it must be clear that the Nordic Council of Ministers is consciously working with and supporting civil society in its efforts relating to children and young people.

In order to promote the rights and perspectives of children and young people in various sectors, the Nordic Council of Ministers must ensure the constant development of knowledge and expertise in these areas. For this reason, it is important to continue to improve the Nordic Council of Ministers’ processes in order to leverage the knowledge necessary for various policy areas within the Nordic Council of Ministers so as to be able to work on the basis of a children’s rights and youth perspective. In addition, there is a requirement for further skills development and training in how best to integrate the views and knowledge of children and young people into the Nordic Council of Ministers’ work and to provide concrete examples of how this might be done. Such skills are often abundant in youth civil society. Furthermore, there is a need for skills development and training in how to analyse the consequences for children and young people based on the best interests of the child in decision-making processes. Consequently, this priority area involves developing processes, methods, and skills, as well as the Nordic Council of Ministers’ co-operation with other international organisations that have expertise in children’s rights and youth policy.

Through improved knowledge-sharing and capacity-building efforts in the Nordic Council of Ministers, each policy area can contribute to an increased level of expertise and knowledge with regard to knowledge-based work with and for children and young people. In the regular follow-ups of this strategy and the evaluation of the strategy as a whole, it must be clear that the Nordic Council of Ministers is constantly contributing to knowledge development.