IN ENGLISH | YOUTH POLICY | SWEDISH NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY

Swedish national youth policy

The overall objectives of Swedish youth policy is that all young people between 13 and 25 years shall have real access to welfare and real access to influence.

Swedish youth policy works to give young people equal opportunities and fair conditions. This means that factors such as gender, ethnicity, cultural or socio-economic background, age, place of residence, sexual orientation or disability must not be an obstacle to the opportunities of young people.

Swedish youth policy covers all policy areas that in any way affect the life of young people. Both traditional youth areas such as leisure and school and typical welfare issues such as work, housing and health, have a place in youth policy.

Objectives and perspectives for Swedish youth policy

In the autumn of 2004 the Riksdag, Swedish parliament, adopted a youth policy bill “The Power to Decide – the Right to Welfare”.

The follow-up system of Swedish national youth policy

The Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs is coordinating and compiling the follow-up of the Swedish national youth policy. The compilation contains around 80 indicators on young people's living conditions.

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 emergence of youth policy in Sweden

Swedish youth policy – as a distinct and independent policy area – is a relatively new phenomenon, even though it has a history stretching a long way back in time.

The situation of young people in Sweden

Most young people in Sweden live in good conditions and a majority of young people are optimistic about their future. There are, however, considerable disparities within the group. This is a short summary of young people´s situation in Sweden.

Swedish youth policy in a European perspective

Swedish youth policy is characterised by the fact that it includes many areas of policy and is cross-sectoral, that it sees young people as a resource and that there is a minister responsible for youth affairs and of national objectives for youth policy.