Honor screening in schools could be introduced in Sweden as early as next term under a new proposal from the four Tidö parties, which say student health services should ask children structured questions to detect honor-based oppression and related crimes at an earlier stage.
Tidö leaders want schools to ask direct questions on control at home
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of the Moderates (Moderaterna), Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) leader Jimmie Åkesson, Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna) leader Ebba Busch and Liberal (Liberalerna) leader Simona Mohamsson have backed the introduction of honor screening within school student health services.
In a joint debate article published by Aftonbladet and reported by Sweden Herald, the four party leaders argue that Swedish society needs to become better at asking children direct questions in order to identify honor crimes before they escalate. The proposed questions would cover issues such as control in the home, compulsory veiling and whether young people are free to choose a partner.
The proposal is framed as part of the Tidö parties’ broader law-and-order and integration agenda ahead of Sweden’s 2026 election year. The Tidö cooperation brings together the centre-right government parties — the Moderates, Christian Democrats and Liberals — with the Sweden Democrats as their parliamentary support party.
Honor-based oppression remains a major Swedish policy concern
According to the Tidö party leaders, estimates suggest that at least 200,000 children in Sweden live under honor-based oppression. The figure has been used in Swedish political debate to underline the scale of the problem, although measuring honor-based violence and coercive control remains difficult because many cases are hidden within families and communities.
Swedish authorities define honor-based violence and oppression as a violation of fundamental rights and freedoms. It can include threats, surveillance, restrictions on everyday life, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, violence and pressure linked to sexuality, relationships or family reputation. Girls and young women are often the main victims, but boys, men and LGBTQ+ people can also be affected.
Schools already have a role in Sweden’s preventive work. The Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket) states that student health staff need knowledge of honor-based violence and should cooperate with social services, police and healthcare when pupils may be exposed to honor-related problems.
National guidelines would be central to the screening plan
The Tidö proposal says the questions should follow national guidelines and be paired with clear procedures for how schools should act when warning signs emerge. That would include cooperation with social services and other authorities.
This point is important because screening children on sensitive family issues can create both opportunities and risks. Supporters argue that direct questions may help identify pupils who would otherwise remain invisible, especially in cases where control at home is normalised or where children do not know that their situation can be reported.
At the same time, any screening system would need safeguards. Questions about family control, religion, clothing and relationships must be designed in a way that protects children’s privacy, avoids stigmatising groups and ensures that schools are not left alone to manage complex and potentially dangerous cases. If a child discloses coercion or fear, the response must be immediate, professional and coordinated.
The proposal may extend beyond schools and into healthcare
The Tidö leaders also want to investigate whether honor screening could be introduced in maternal healthcare (MVC), child healthcare (BVC) and the asylum reception system. This would broaden the measure beyond schools and place it within several institutions that regularly meet children, parents and newly arrived families.
Sweden has already strengthened its work against honor-based violence in recent years. The government has presented measures to improve support for victims, reinforce legislation and make public authorities’ work more effective. The National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) has also developed assessment support for social workers investigating children exposed to honor-related violence.
The new proposal therefore does not start from an empty field. Rather, it would move the debate toward a more systematic form of early detection, with schools and healthcare services asked to identify risks before violence or coercion becomes more visible.
A sensitive election issue for Sweden’s welfare institutions
The proposal is likely to become part of a wider Swedish debate on integration, children’s rights and the role of public institutions. For the Tidö parties, honor screening in schools fits into a political message that combines child protection, gender equality and tougher action against parallel social norms.
For critics, the main questions will concern proportionality, implementation and trust. Screening can only work if children feel safe enough to speak and if professionals have the time, training and authority to act. Poorly designed procedures could instead increase mistrust between families and institutions, or place vulnerable children at greater risk if disclosures are not handled safely.
The Nordic context gives the issue wider relevance. Across the region, governments have treated honor-based violence as both a human rights problem and a challenge for welfare systems built on early intervention, universal services and trust in public authorities. Sweden’s proposal shows how that model is being tested: the ambition is to detect hidden oppression earlier, but the effectiveness of the measure will depend on whether schools, healthcare and social services receive clear tools and sufficient resources.
