1.2 National Youth Law
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Existence of a National Youth Law
Currently, there is no national youth law in Denmark. Youth legislation is embedded in the legislation across the ministries.
Social security and social service is covered by the Child’s Act (Barnets lov), which is the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Housing and Senior Citizens.
Youth education is covered by the act on upper secondary education (Lov om de gymnasiale uddannelser) and the act on vocational education and training (Lov om erhvervsuddannelser). They are, together with youth guidance, which is covered by the Consolidation act on Municipal Provision for Young People under 25 years (Lov om kommunal indsats for unge under 25 år), the responsibility of the Ministry of Children and Education.
Youth delinquency is covered in the act on combating youth crime (Lov om bekæmpelse af ungdomskriminalitet), which is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice.
Young people’s leisure activities are supported partly by municipal measures, partly by voluntary associations. The law on day, leisure and club offers for children and young people (Lov om dag-, fritids- og klubtilbud m.v. til børn og unge) is the responsibility of the Ministry of Children and Education, while the act on support for voluntary activities for children and young people, the Act on Non-formal Education and Democratic Voluntary Activity (Folkeoplysningsloven), is the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture.
Scope and contents
There is no national youth law in Denmark, however the sector divided legislation covers most aspects of the life of young people.
Social security and social service is covered by the Child’s Act (Barnets lov). The purpose of the law is to prevent young people's social problems in general, as well as to meet the special needs of young people with reduced physical or mental functioning, or special social problems.
Youth education is covered by the act on upper secondary education (Lov om de gymnasiale uddannelser) and the act on vocational education and training (Lov om erhvervsuddannelser). They regulate the educational offers to young people.
The Consolidation act on Municipal Provision for Young People under 25 years (Lov om kommunal indsats for unge under 25 år) puts the responsibility on the municipalities to provide extensive guidance to young people so they are able to make achievable decisions about choice of education, and to obtain an education.
The purpose of the act on combating youth crime (Lov om bekæmpelse af ungdomskriminalitet) is to prevent youth crime by determining targeted individual preventive measures for young people under the age of 18, and to ensure that the measures are carried out.
The purpose of the act on day, leisure and club offers for children and young people (Lov om dag-, fritids- og klubtilbud m.v. til børn og unge) is to promote young people's well-being, development and learning through leisure and club offers, including social-pedagogical leisure offers, as well as to prevent negative social inheritance and exclusion by integrating offers for young people with special needs into the municipality's general offers for young people.
The purpose of the act on support for voluntary activities for children and young people, the Act on Non-formal Education and Democratic Voluntary Activity (Folkeoplysningsloven) (an authorised translation of the act – made in 2015 - is available) is to support the activity of voluntary associations that is based on the principles of democracy, fundamental freedoms and human rights, and community with the purpose to promote the understanding of democracy and active citizenship.
Revisions/updates
The Child’s Act (Barnets lov) is new legislation that was first adopted in 2023. Its content is not completely new, the statutory sections have been separated from the Act on social service (Lov om social service) that now only covers adults. However, modifications and amendments have been made.
Besides that, there is no major recent revisions or updates to the sector laws mentioned above.