Sweden: Whether the police and judiciary are obliged to fully investigate or prosecute allegations of child sexual abuse (incest) if the complainant does not wish to press criminal charges (1996-2002)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 9 April 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SWE38385.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Sweden: Whether the police and judiciary are obliged to fully investigate or prosecute allegations of child sexual abuse (incest) if the complainant does not wish to press criminal charges (1996-2002), 9 April 2002, SWE38385.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4beae4.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information provided during a 1 March 2001 telephone interview with a representative of the Office of the Prosecutor General in Sweden indicated that the police and judiciary are legally obliged to investigate and prosecute allegations of child sexual abuse (incest) whether or not the complainant wishes to press criminal charges.
This information was corroborated by correspondence received from a representative of the Swedish National Police, which stated that if the police or a prosecutor is informed of a case concerning the sexual abuse of a minor, an investigation must be opened (21 Mar. 2002). If, after taking statements from the victim, the suspect and any witnesses, the prosecutor believes that there is sufficient evidence to pursue the charges, the case will be taken to court (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Office of the Prosecutor General, Sweden. 1 March 2002. Telephone interview with representative.
Swedish National Police. 21 March 2002. Correspondence from representative.