International recommendation

Best interests of the child

Issue date:
Human rights body:
Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
Populations of concern:
Asylum seekers and refugeesChildren
Relevant CRC articles:
Art. 12 – Respect for children’s viewsArt. 3 – The best interests of the child
Source:
CRC/C/NOR/CO/7

Recommended measures (2)

Welcoming the fact that the principle of the best interests of the child is enshrined in the State Party’s Constitution and that the best interests of the child are a primary consideration in the adoption of all policies, legislation and by-laws, but concerned that in different situations they are not given adequate weight, and recalling its general comment No. 14 (2013) on the right of the child to have his or her best interests taken as a primary consideration, the Committee recommends that the State Party:

Measure
Measure type:
Institutions, practices and guidelines
Responsible Ministry:
Ministry of Children and Families

(a) Develop national criteria and guidelines for determining the best interests of the child to be followed consistently by all authorities that make decisions affecting children

Measure
Measure type:
Institutions, practices and guidelines
Responsible Ministries:
Ministry of Children and FamiliesMinistry of Justice and Public SecurityMinistry of Labour and Social Inclusion

(b) Strengthen measures to ensure that the right of children to have their best interests taken as a primary consideration is appropriately integrated into and consistently applied in all legislative, administrative and judicial proceedings and decisions and in all policies, programmes and international cooperation relevant to and having an impact on children, including in decisions concerning the placement of children in foster care, exposure of children to unsafe contact with their biological parents, the child justice system, asylum-seeking and refugee children, children on the move, immigration and family reunification