IMPLEMENTERING AV BARNKONVENTIONEN PÅ BARNAVÅRDSCENTRALER : En kvalitativ jämförande studie om implementeringsprocessen av barnkonventionen som lag i Stockholm och Värmlands region ; Implementation of Convention on the Rights of the Child

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether, and in such cases how, children's rights have been strengthened by the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child as a law in Sweden. The study also aims to analyze the similarities and differences between the Värmland and Stockholm regions. The main questions that will be answered are as follows: - To what extent have child healthcare centers in each region adapted their activities since the enforcement of the Convention on the Rights of the Child as law?- To what extent are there resources for the implementation of the new law in child healthcare centers?- What level of knowledge is there about the new law (and what is considered to be the children's best interests) in child healthcare centers?- Is it possible to explain on the basis of implementation theory (want, can, and understand) the extent to which child healthcare centers have adapted their work and activities to accommodate the new law? This study is a qualitative case study using a common theoretical framework, in which we have chosen to interview care staff at child healthcare centers. The study chose the interviewees as they represent the final stage of policy implementation in the political governance chain. The analysis shows that the staff agreed that it is positive that the convention has been given a higher status since being enforced as a law. The result shows that the experience of implementing the new law differed between regions. Whether the newly enforced law strengthens the child's rights is, however, still difficult to assess as some interviewees find it difficult to interpret whether or not to refer to the Convention in certain contexts. This can be problematic, especially in situations with no open dialogue about the healthcare center’s' working methods and approach. This can result in a lack of practice when applying strategic methods (based on the legal principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child) that aim to protect the rights of the child.