The Child Welfare Services in Norway and Migration – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)

The author discusses the deep distrust immigrant families in Norway have toward the Child Welfare Service (Barnevernet), noting that this fear often outweighs the understanding that some children need protection. This crisis of confidence has evolved into a foreign policy issue, with countries like Lithuania, Poland, and India becoming involved. The author argues that the state's communication measures have been insufficient and that trust in such institutions is essential for a democratic society and the successful integration of immigrants.

• Immigrant parents in Norway express significant fear and a lack of confidence in the Child Welfare Service, perceiving it as a system that could arbitrarily remove their children. This fear is prevalent across various educational and professional backgrounds, though trust levels vary based on language skills, system competence, and length of residence in Norway.
• The distrust of the Child Welfare Service extends to other public institutions; parents fear that sharing difficulties about settling in a new country with health services, schools, or kindergartens could be used against them in future child welfare proceedings.
• The conflict has transcended domestic borders to become a foreign policy issue, involving diplomatic engagement from India and media coverage in Lithuania and Poland, including reports of a private detective removing children from Norwegian custody to take them to Poland.
• While suspicion of discrimination is widespread among immigrant populations, the author notes that a lack of confidence in the Child Welfare Service is not exclusive to those with immigrant backgrounds.

APA

Erdal, M. B. (2015). The Child Welfare Services in Norway and Migration – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://www.prio.org/comments/331

Chicago

Erdal, Marta Bivand. The Child Welfare Services in Norway and Migration – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2015. https://www.prio.org/comments/331.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Erdal |first1=Marta Bivand |title=The Child Welfare Services in Norway and Migration – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=17 June 2015 |url=https://www.prio.org/comments/331 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{erdal2015child, author = {Erdal, Marta Bivand}, title = {{The Child Welfare Services in Norway and Migration – Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)}}, publisher = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2015}, month = jun, url = {https://www.prio.org/comments/331}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }