Actors and Structures in charge of youth in Sweden

The Ministry of Integration and Gender Equality, The Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs, other public bodies, parliamentary committees, regional county councils and municipalities all have different areas of responsibility concerning youth issues.

The Ministry of Integration and Gender Equality
The Ministry of Integration and Gender Equality is responsible for the coordination of the government’s youth policy, issues affecting youth organisations and international cooperation in the youth field.

The Swedish youth policy approach is cross-sectoral. Several ministries are responsible for policy areas that concern young people, such as work, education, health, housing, culture, etc. Normally certain responsibilities will also be delegated to one or more government agencies within each policy area.

The Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs
The Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs is the government agency responsible for the follow up of the objectives set for the national youth policy by the Swedish Parliament. The Board produces and communicates knowledge about young people’s living conditions and supports municipalities in the development and implementation of local youth policy.

The Children’s Ombudsman
The main duty of the Children’s Ombudsman is to promote the rights and interests of children and young people (up to the age of 18) as set forth in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Other public bodies that have relevance for youth policy are among others the Swedish Public Employment Service, The Swedish National Agency for Education, The Swedish National Institute of Public Health, The Swedish Arts Council, and The Swedish Consumer Agency.

Parliament commission in charge of youth issues
In the parliamentary committees the members of the Parliament (Riksdagen) prepare all decisions. The composition in each committee reflects the one of the parliament as a whole. After a committee has presented its proposal the members of the parliament adopt a position on the proposal. Youth issues are prepared in different committees depending on the specific issue.

Regional public authorities with competencies in the youth field
Sweden has 20 county councils/regions (18 counties and two regions) with competences in fields relevant for youth. They have a considerable degree of autonomy and have independent powers of taxation. The main task of the county councils/regions is health care. Some of the county councils/regions have, or have the last years had, specific projects for young people.

Local public authorities with competencies in the youth field
Sweden has 290 municipalities with local governments. There is no hierarchical relation between the municipalities and the regional public authorities. The local authorities have a considerable degree of autonomy and have independent powers of taxation. Many decisions that concern young people are taken at municipal level.

Youth policy goals established by the Parliament are requirements for the central government but only advisory for the municipalities. Youth policy in municipalities can, if the municipalities wish so, start from the national objectives but the way it is executed in practice is shaped on the basis of local conditions.

The municipalities are responsible for:water and sewerage, schools, spatial planning and
building, health and environmental protection, refuse collection and waste disposal, rescue services, social services and security. Voluntary activities are: recreation activities, culture, housing, energy, industrial facilities and employment.