PROTECTing Children’s Rights Within Crime Prevention, the Nordic Countries at a Crossroad?

The phenomenon of children delinquency represents a major legal and societal challenge, which entails a difficult balance between children’s rights and the protection of public safety.1 While the Nordic countries have long been considered as leaders in this field, this Nordic exceptionalism is being threatened by the recent increase in violent crimes committed by children and the strong political response this phenomenon has triggered (see for example Politiet 2025; Ministry of Health and Social Affairs & Ministry of Justice, 2024). These developments also question the efficacity of the child protection, criminal justice and healthcare systems in protecting children’s rights and public safety.