Relationship with the government:
Relationship with The Althing, the Icelandic parliament:
Relationship with NGO’s:
Relationship with the children themselves:
Relationship with the media:

 Relationship with the government:

According to The Ombudsman for Children Act, Art. 8, the Prime Ministry shall supervise the financial affairs of the Office of the Ombudsman for Children. However, according to the same article, the Ombudsman is independent and unaffected by orders of the executive. This means that in effect, he is not subject to instructions from the authorities in general.

This formal position enables the Ombudsman to direct observations, recommendations, instructions and proposals for remedies in matters concerning children to any Government authorities as well as private parties.

Examples in the current year:

The Ombudsman has directed a reasoned opinion to the Minister of Justice concerning the matters of young prisoners under the age of 18. The Ombudsman has urged that the Icelandic Government live up to Article 37 of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, where it is stated, among other things, that young prisoners be kept apart from adults.

Also, the Ombudsman has directed a recommendation to the Minister of Justice, that the Government establish a centre for the councilling of families, particularly where couples with children are divorcing; this in light of the great many enquiries the Ombudsman’s office has received in the last three years from adults and children with unsolved personal problems stemming from divorce.

The Ombudsman has directed an observation to the Minister of Health concerning the state of mental health care for children. The Ombudsman has pointed out various shortcomings in the care of mentally ill children and has called for a Government policy in this matter. In particular, the Ombudsman has called for a report from the Ministry on the status of health service for autistic children.

Furthermore, the Ombudsman has drawn the matters of children’s safety in general to the attention of the Minister of Health, and has submitted a memorandum proposing that a Children’s Accident Prevention Centre be established for a trial period of three years under Government supervision and funding.

The Ombudsman has directed various observations and recommendations to the Minister of Social Affairs on the occasion of the revision of the Children’s Protection Act.

The Ombudsman has directed a reasoned opinion to the Minister of Education concerning the transportation of school children in school buses. The Ombudsman has drawn the minister’s attention to many defects in the present school transportation system and has recommended that this type of transportation be regulated in the Primary School Act.

The Ombudsman observes closely what is being discussed in the Althing and strives to follow the legislative work on all stages. The Althing also frequently calls for the Ombudsmans opinion on various bills and parliamentary resolutions that are being discussed and concern children in particular.

Examples of opinions on bills and resolutions submitted by the Ombudsman in the current year:

-Parliamentary resolution concerning the rights of children to maintain contact with both parents alter divorce.

-Bill of law for the revision of the Penal law regarding sexual offences against children.

-Bill of law for the revision of the Primary school law, concerning the right of students to sit in on staff meetings with freedom of expression in matters concerning the welfare of students.

-Bill of law for the revision of the law prohibiting violent films.

-Parliamentary resolution regarding the obsession in society with violence, steps that should be taken to reduce such obsession, and the supply of violent films.

-Parliamentary resolution aiming to improve the rights of parents with chronically ill children.

-Parliamentary resolution regarding the need for a Government policy in the matters concerning children with long-term illnesses.

The Ombudsman has met with representatives of NGO’s working for the welfare of children and young people in various fields. These are organisations such as Save the Children, The Red Cross, The Teachers Association, The Association of Principals in Primary Schools, The National Lifesaving Association of Iceland, The Association of Pediatricians, Umhyggja - or Care in english - which is a umbrella organisation for sick children with a number of individual members and member associations, Samfés, which is the National Organization of Young Peoples Social- and Recreation Centres and The Organization of Secondary School Students, just to name a few.

The Ombudsman has recently initiated two projects that are currently being worked on in cooperation with two non-governmnetal organizations.

The ombudsman has regular consultations with The National Lifesaving Associaton of Iceland concerning matters of children’s safety and accident prevention, and has, in collaboration with The Association of Pediatricians, proposed in a memorandum to the Minister of Health that a Children’s Accident Prevention Centre be established for a trial period of three years.

Furthermore, the Ombudsman has, together with The Association of Pediatricians published a pamphlet aiming to raise the awareness of the parents of young children to media violence and the effect this can have on the mind of young children.

Community meetings with groups of children:

The Ombudsman has regular meetings with primary school children when visiting them in their schools. The main objective of the meetings is to let the children know there is an Ombudsman working especially for them, and the children get the chance to discuss freely what they feel their Ombudsman should be doing for them. At the end of the meeting each child receives an introductory pamphlet about the Office of the Ombudsman for Children.

National fora with children: National fora with children:

The Ombudsman has held three children’s conferences where the interests of children have been taken up for discussion. At these conferences the roles are reversed; the speakers are all children, they choose the subjects that are taken up for discussion, adults may attend but only to listen and to learn, not to take an active part in the discussions. At the conferences there are panels with politicians, ministers and representatives of local authorities and only children are allowed to ask them questions. The previous conferences have taken up child-related issues in general, but on October

17th 1998 the Ombudsman will give a conference where bullying is the only topic to be discussed. There is a quota for the attendance to this conference: 50 adults and 80 children and young people. 17th 1998 the Ombudsman will give a conference where bullying is the only topic to be discussed. There is a quota for the attendance to this conference: 50 adults and 80 children and young people.

Children sometimes visit the Ombudsman at his office, both individually and in groups, to consult with him. Many kinds of issues are discussed at these meetings, such as children’s curfew hours, bullying in school, the variety in age-limits regarding certain rights and duties, the lack of school discipline etc.

Internet or other computer technology: Internet or other computer technology:

The Ombudsman has set up a website on the Internet, www.umbarn.is, and children can communicate on the e-mail with their Ombudsman, ub@umbarn.is. Other ways of enabling children to keep in touch with the office are currently being explored, among other things how the new technologies can be of further use for this purpose.

The Ombudsman’s office has a toll free telephone number.

The Ombudsman sends press releases to the media whenever the occasion arises. With only a few exceptions, the media have been attentive and have covered the activities of the office in a positive and professional manner. In other respects, the relationship with the media is not on a regular basis.

Last edited by Barneombudet March 22, 2004
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