Sweden is moving forward with plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 in serious cases as it grapples with a growing number of children recruited into gangs to carry out violent crimes without facing serious legal repercussions.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer said the country was in an "emergency situation" and stopping the use of children in criminal networks was a "crucial task" for the government.
But several authorities, including police, prison officials and prosecutors, have opposed the plan, with some worried that it may lead to even younger children becoming offenders.
If passed, the legislation will go into force as early as this summer.
Strommer insisted that the proposal did not amount to a "general lowering of the age of criminal responsibility" and would only apply to the "most serious crimes" such as murder, attempted murder, aggravated bombings, aggravated weapons offences and aggravated rape.
