Is it true they easily take your children away in Norway?
Posted by demonios05@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 28 comments
I like Norway a lot but I'm scared if I ever move to that county I could easily lose my kids
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
We get flacks predominantly from pro-family advocates and national conservatives around the world, not only because of what the Barnevernet does, but more because of the underlying principle that children have individual rights and it is threatening parental authority and their “right to discipline.”
But there is a space for improvements. Things like improving work life balance for parents and supporting mental health is important for the welfare of children, I think.
I’ll probably get downvoted for this. But I’m just trying to convey that if you are moving to Norway, it’s important to know that every child has inalienable rights regardless of cultural differences.
mynameisritaj@reddit
On paper, children here in the US have rights, but not in reality.
We need a Childrens' Rights Amendment.
StrikingVariation199@reddit
Sadly, the unborn have more rights than women or children in the US…
Odd-Smile-8233@reddit
This is a disgusting comment. The unborn is still fucking life. Just because it isn’t physically out of the mother’s womb doesn’t disregard it as life. Bacteria on Mars is considered life more than a literal fetus which is sickening mentality. Abortion is quite literally noramalized Nazi eugenics on steroids. In order to even have women and children walking around you have to let the unborn grow and develop into the physically born. If we kill all fetuses humans won’t be here.
StrikingVariation199@reddit
And yet some red states are prioritizing the life of a fetus before the mother now. Some women are forced to carry non viable fetuses and cannot abort them which is causing sepsis in the mother. At what point will the mother's life be considered more important than an unborn child? (Especially one that is already dead or dying in the womb).
Sad-Lingonberry-4928@reddit
You cannot murder women or children just because you do not want them. Not sure what you mean.
StrikingVariation199@reddit
Not sure why you think you have any say in what a woman does with her body. Perhaps you should do more research about reasons a woman may need an abortion.
Sad-Lingonberry-4928@reddit
The baby is a separate human with its own DNA. I think you may need a biology lesson. Why murder the most innocent of all human life? Is there a sufficient reason for such evil?
Impressive-Fall-3769@reddit
They do kidnap kids. Just read the following post. Nothing is more comprehensive than this.
https://www.quora.com/Is-Norway-really-taking-children-away-from-their-families-Why/answer/Martina-Ve%C4%8Derkov%C3%A1?ch=17&oid=250769419&share=c1714dd2&srid=H1j3&target_type=answer
zehsilva@reddit
I am Brazilian, mildly ADHD (but with PhD in CS/AI); while doing my PhD in Norway and raising my son, I struggled to arrive on time often, but I did my best and usually was 5 min to 15 min late. The school started to point this out and had a meeting where they said that by law, they were required to report this to BV because it is a concerning issue for them that I was late over 67% of the time (they had a particular percentage calculated). They didn't care that in Brazil, 5-15 late is being on time or that I struggle (as my son also does) with being on time. I left Norway a little after that, but this is just an example of what can be reported. Of course, one incident like that won't lead to losing your child, but compound that with possibly other incidents and complaints by the school, doctors, or other parents around issues that are primarily behavioral, and you can be in an unlucky position. I know some cases of people who were desperate and had to deal with kids being taken right after school and being able to have the kids back at home only six weeks later.
This is not only an issue for religious or right-wing, as some people here talk about, but mainly for any foreigner in Norway. It is not about stuff like physical punishment, but rather things like time to sleep, how messy your home is, lateness, if the children are friendly and open with strangers (like Latinos often are), if you drink in front of the children (Norwegians don't do it, while most Mediterranean people have a drink at the table often during lunch for instance), etc. This stuff can be compounded in a case that might affect many foreigners. Most cases I have known end up having the kids back after three to six weeks (which is the time that the child welfare agency often uses to investigate further a claim after having placed an order for removal of custody). But yes, I recommend that any foreigner be aware of how they interact with Norwegian authorities, and I know many foreigners living in Norway are concerned about this. Anyway, imagine the stress some families feel even if, after a while, the kids are back. Also recently, the Grand Chamber of the European Courts for Human Rights has found Norway violating humans rights in some such international cases. I am not gonna lie, the way that some authorities put their expectations on foreigners when it comes to child rearing is sometimes very close to xenophobic and racist to me ("our way is better, yours is wrong and I am concerned, so I will find a way to rationalize that concern in terms of the law and child wellbeing").
zehsilva@reddit
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-195909%22]}
LordFondleJoy@reddit
I have had much to do with Barnevernet over the last couple of years, and no, they will not take away your kids for small things.
There have been a few high profile cases where it looks like barnevernet has been in the wrong. But, it's important to understand that what we get to know about these cases are always from the parents that feel wronged, You can guess how they are going to spin the story. Meanwhile, Barnevernet never gets their side of the story out, because they need to respect the privacy and rights of the children involved and cannot speak out.
In almost all cases, Barnevernet will enter a situation that looks bad and try to work with the parents, guide and teach them. That is their mandated 1st priority, to keep the children with their parents, by working with the family. They only take the children away if they feel there is acute and serious neglect. And even then, the parents have many means of protesting and suing and complaining. It is not willy nilly, very far from it.
Some of the cases have been from familes that have moved here from more conservative places, for instance where physical discipline is common and practiced. If you move to Norway with your kids, be aware that any form of physical discipline is illegal. As it should be. The UN human rights charter defines it as abuse, as does Norway.
Latter_Mobile7681@reddit
You are working with them, you will support them . In my opinion when parents comes from different places or countries first you have to dig info about the countries traditions how they raise their kids.. for example asians have their own version of raising their child. Private matters of a family and how they are raising their kids should be none of your concerns. I mean you should but not by taking away child from their parents especially without their knowledge. Imagine you moving into another country.. and you are raising your child by your culture and the country you are not staying is approving your way of raising kids and then suddenly take away your kids. No matter how developed country yours is you have no right to take children from their own matters.. you could have a talk about the parents with this give them counseling how to raise the kids etc ... You can do many more such things but taking away children and giving them life in a orphanage is much more verse.
LordFondleJoy@reddit
I am not working with them, I am a parent in a situation that had to have them involved. Also, we are not talking about about “different traditions about raising kids”. Nobody will take away your child for that. But hitting your child is abuse no matter where in the world you are, and different cultures are not excuses.
Impressive-Fall-3769@reddit
Seems like this person is trying their best to defend Barnevernet who are extremely notorious in being part of a bigger scheme to place expat children with local foster parents. There have been many cases involving expat children from varied countries being forcefully taken away from their parents and placed with local foster parents. People need to be beware if such practices prior to moving there.
ahoyhoy2022@reddit
Do you do things that might cause someone to think you are an unfit parent?
23e1995@reddit
"someone"
dardyablo@reddit
It can literally be anybody.
Anybody who might think your kid is in danger because they heard them cry or even if your kid tells a lie about being spanked by you (Yeah, that's enough for them to kidnap your kid), they can easily report it to barnevernet and that's enough for them to visit your house and if anything isn't right according to them your kid is gone, your family will be destroyed.
Wolfy_892@reddit
Wtf?? Why would a Norwegian have children with that system? It's insane.
dardyablo@reddit
If I'm not mistaken most Norwegians don't have any problem with barnevernet because they're raise their children according to the Norwegian social norms, meaning what is right in their society, what is accepted and what is frowned upon, nothing wrong with that to be honest, they have their own culture.
The problem is when immigrants do certain things that don't match the way Norwegians raise their children.
For example it's fine to spank your kid in many countries but in Norway you can't do that, if you spank your kid and someone else sees it, they can report it and there's a big chance you'll lose your kid. Even if you say you can't spank your kid there's no way you can say that's enough reason to take a kid away from their parents, that's literally kidnapping.
I've heard it's common in Norway to see elderly people with kids from other countries, in other words it's not uncommon in Norway to see elderly Norwegians with kids from Africa or Asia, it's because they adopt those kids after barnevernet takes them away from their family and yes they're paid for that... it seems they've made a business out of that.
I'm honestly fascinated by Norway, great country but I would never emigrate to a country where they can kidnap my kid like that. Family values are lost in Norway.
The-Berzerker@reddit
It might come as a surprise to you but you do have to respect the laws of the country you live in even if your culture or religion disagrees with it lol
Impressive-Fall-3769@reddit
Man, you sound so mentally challenged at this point. And maybe you are. If laws are predatory and discriminatory they need to be pointed out. Else you’re simply living in a dystopian society. Which Norway is….
brass427427@reddit
Isn't this an endless discussion of people trying to inform you about the situation and you trying to dispute them.
In the end, if you are fascinated by Norway and would never emigrate there, why don't you just belt up and stop? No one really cares if you emigrate to Norway or not.
And it's pretty obvious that the Norwegian authorities can't/won't just kick in your door and snatch your kid for having a tantrum in the grocery store because you wouldn't buy him a candy bar and you spoke sternly to him to stop. If you pulled off your belt and beat him blue, well yeah, that might cause a different reaction.
This whole discussion has gotten really silly.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
You're so wrong that you don't even know it.
What's silly is how you can't wrap your head around the fact this organization targets foreigners who don't have Norwegian values.
brass427427@reddit
First of all, please name the official agency who would be responsible for this, incidences of when it occurred and any extenuating circumstances. I'm betting you can't but not for nefarious reasons. Many people are sucked in by some unsubstantiated horror story intended to evoke an emotional reaction.
But philosophically speaking, nearly all first-world countries have some kind of government-run child service department to remove children from abusive households. What is wrong with that? It's not kidnapping if some wacko thinks it's OK to smack his kids around for not eating his peas.
Furthermore, nearly every country has local laws that are specific to that country. Why shouldn't they have laws that protect Norwegian values? Or should every country have the same laws and ignore local culture and traditions? Or should every country close their eyes to genital mutation of women?
Impressive-Fall-3769@reddit
I don’t understand why people like to be devil’s advocate. If they are being discriminatory and evil just own it up. What’s with hypocrisy all the time. Here’s your details required
https://www.quora.com/Is-Norway-really-taking-children-away-from-their-families-Why/answer/Martina-Ve%C4%8Derkov%C3%A1?ch=17&oid=250769419&share=c1714dd2&srid=H1j3&target_type=answer
Bizeed@reddit
Like for feeding your child with your hands. That’s crazy
Lord_of_ducks2@reddit
It is ilegal to hit an adult why shoud it be difrent for children?