Separated Minors in Sweden

• Children and minors are increasingly becoming a recognized part of international migration. This circumstance raises many questions about the reception of migrating minors in different national contexts. This paper focuses on separated minors in Sweden.The paper is based on the following research project: Behind closed doors – the significance of interpreting to legal rights and integration with a focus on the reception of separated children and young people. The fieldwork contains several observations and around 60 in-depth or autobiographical interviews with social workers, separated children, interpreters, staff at residences, guardians, nurses, teachers, and staff at the Migration Board. Since October 2009, we also work with a reference group including three adults who came as separated children.In this paper, we analyze the following questions: What happens with the personal life story under the asylum process and within the reception of the new country? In what way can the children’s and youth’s personal biographical stories come forward? Is the child or youth seen and heard? If so, by whom, when and why?Our purpose is to discuss the concept of separated children and describe the contemporary situation of the reception in Sweden. By using fragments from three young individual’s life-stories, we will analyze the circumstances of being a part of asylum process and reception with a special focus on recognition and identity.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Socialt arbete

Social Work

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)