"... de är så charmerande individer..." -Om Barnahus, samverkan och barnets rätt att bli lyssnad på.

Sammanfattning: Abstract Author: Annelie Paulsson Title: They are so charming individuals – About Children’s Advocacy centres (”Barnahus”), collaboration and the child’s right to be listen to. Supervisor: Claes Levin Assessor: Staffan Blomberg The purpose of this study was to examine how children are treated, to what extent they are allowed a voice of their own, and whether or not this voice is heard in the process begins the moment a child becomes subject to investigation by the authorities. Utilizing the practices of “Barnahuset” in Lund, the purpose is to find out whether inter-authoritative collaboration has been beneficial to the children involved. Given that this collaboration is a focal point, the professions chosen for the study are typically associated with Barnahuset; prosecutor, police, social worker, and psychologist. In the interviews, the various professionals have received identical questions—highlighting, firstly, what effects the collaboration, taking place in Barnahuset has had on children’s situations. Secondly, what is the nature of case processing compared to previous non-collaborative practices, and, finally, is more attention drawn to the child’s participation—i.e. how much attention is given to the judicial aspect. For the analysis, three central concepts have been utilized; the perspective of the child, the best interest for the child, and, finally, the powerperspective, which takes as its starting point in Greta Marie Skau´s concept of professions power wherein she exposes how power operates between the client and the aiding entity (or “helper”). The empirical work revealed that certain elements of the authoritative collaboration could be improved considerably, one of which being the still rather rigid regulations of the courts and that they, much like other authorities, have to adjust their procedures to children. One great difficulty expressed by all professions involved is the law of joint custody which demands the approval of both parents on issues concerning to the child and, consequently, when parents with dissenting opinions deliberately obstruct proceedings, the child is denied it’s much needed assistance. Key Words: Children’s Advocacy centres (Barnahus), the perspective of the child, the best interest of the child, collaboration.