Parliamentary Ombudsman urges better adherence to Convention on the Rights of the Child in Faroes

The Convention on the Rights of the Child should be utilized more effectively when the Faroese authorities handle cases involving children.

Decisions or actions that impact children should not be made without fully considering the child’s best interests and perspective, which must be adequately represented in the decision-making process.

This statement comes from the Parliamentary Ombudsman, who also serves as the Children’s Ombudsman and has authored an article on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the obligation to provide information in child-related matters.

If the authority’s documentation does not adequately reflect the child’s best interests and perspective, the handling of the case cannot be considered compliant with the stipulations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Additionally, there is a risk that decisions may not only be legally flawed but also not serve the best interests of the child, the Parliamentary Ombudsman warns.

To uphold the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and make sound, rational decisions, it is crucial for authorities to make the effort to articulate the child’s best interests and viewpoint in the context of case handling and governance more broadly. This conclusion is drawn from the Ombudsman’s article.