Normally, cases that deal with sexual offenses or harassment end up with the Discrimination Ombudsman, says Emma Rossi Bolin, a lawyer at BEO.

- Serious information has been received in the case. However, the child and pupil ombudsman only investigates the information or events that are not considered to be discrimination under the Discrimination Act.

May be damages

The ombudsman for children and pupils is under the School Inspectorate and is now investigating whether the principal, in this case Gnosjö municipality, in turn has investigated the events and taken appropriate measures. One measure could, for example, be that the perpetrators be moved to another school.

In the most severe cases, the principal may be liable for damages.

- It is not common, but it does occur. Of about 1,000 notifications to BEO last year, claims were made in 46 of the cases, says Emma Rossi Bolin.

Increase in the number of violations

Since the Children's and Student Ombudsman came to 2006, the number of reports of abusive treatment has increased. Most often, these cases are cases where staff are subjected to abusive treatment and only a few are concerned with pupils.

However, the reason why the number of registrations has increased may be due to several things, according to Emma Rossi Bolin.

- An increased propensity to register when the knowledge that one can register can be a cause. Or a change in attitude in society.