Information for guardians of children who have newly moved to Iceland

Children's rights

Child Protection Services help all children so they can live in acceptable conditions. Report anything you witness or know of to 112.

All children have the right to a secure environment and to be protected against exploitation, abuse, harassment and discrimination. Child Protection Services help children and support families in any way possible to provide the best environment for children.

If you think a child is neglected or abused in any way, it is your duty to notify Child Protective Services. Anyone under the age of 18 is considered a child in Iceland, including unborn babies. You should notify about negligence, incompetence or parent's behaviour towards the child. It can also be about harassment or violence of others towards a child. Do not rely on others to report. 

You can report to Child Protective Services by calling 112 or using the webchat. You can also call your local Child protective service. You need to provide your name but you can always request that your name is kept confidential. Children can also contact authorities themselves. If the child lives in Reykjavík, you can call Reykjavík Child Protective Services at 4119200 weekdays from 8:20 am-16:15 pm or send a notification through their website. Some other municipalities also allow you to file a report online, such as Akureyri, Hafnarfjörður, Kópavogur and Garðabær.

Child protection service committees in each municipality help children who exist in unacceptable living conditions and provide support for families.

Save the Children offer consultation about children's welfare issues.

Save the Children (Barnaheill) is an organization which protects the rights of children. You can contact them for information on anything regarding the welfare of children, including advice regarding responses to violence against children. They offer legal advice, information about custody issues and children's rights.

On their website, it is possible to report illegal and inappropriate online content regarding or directed at children. Children can report content concerning themselves or other children. Reports are anonymous and forwarded to the police.

If you suspect that a child is being abused, it is your duty to notify child protective services. To report, you can either call 112 or write through the webchat. To get advice, call Save the Children telephone: 5535900, or send them an email to barnaheill@barnaheill.is.

Protection and information on children's rights

Save the Children (Barnaheill) offers consultation about the welfare of children. On their website, it is possible to report inappropriate online behaviour against children.

 Bergið provides support and counselling for young people. Contact us. We listen.

Bergið headspace supports and provides service for young people under 25 years old. It offers counselling and education which is adapted to each individual. No problem is too small or too big.

It can be accessed by wheelchairs. Counsellors speak Icelandic and English. You can have sign language interpretation and language interpretation if needed.

You can come to Bergið, call Bergið and/or chat with Bergið through web chat on their website. The web chat is open on workdays from 9 am to 5 pm. Outside opening hours you can send a message and you will receive a reply as quickly as possible.

Icelandic and English. Language- and sign language interpretation.

Bergið is a support- and counselling centre for young people up to 25 years old.

Information for children and teenagers about violence and abuse. It's always better to talk to someone.

A powerful counsellors’ team answers children’s questions. 100% confidentiality.

The role of the Office of the Ombudsman for Children is to look after that children’s rights, needs and interests are taken into consideration. Salvör Norðdal is the appointed Ombudsman for Children and on the website barn.is there is plenty of information about children's rights. Everyone can go to The Office of the Ombudsman for Children and questions from children are always answered first.

Among the projects is to educate children and adults about The Convention on the Rights of the Child, create public discussion about children’s affairs and gather and publish information about children’s conditions and the position of specific groups of children.

Kids from 12 to 17 years old can take part in the Ombudsman's advisory group. There kids meet up and talk about how to improve human rights for children. You can sign up here (form in Icelandic). 

On their website, children can send in a question about anything (form in Icelandic). No question is to silly or stupid. Questions are answered as soon as possible and they appear anonymously on the site. Children can call the children's number 800 5999, free of charge. You can also follow the Office of the Ombudsman for Children on Facebook or Instagram.

The Ombudsman for Children is a public spokesperson for children and endeavours to have children’s rights, needs and interests taken into full consideration.

The Ombudsman for Children

Children’s rights

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Child Protection Services

Save the Children

Bergið headspace

Children and teenagers