Skivenes is recognised as a leading expert in the field of child protection systems, with numerous publications in well-regarded journals. She is also a popular lecturer and a widely used expert by the media. Skivenes is the Head of the Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism, and the Principal Investigator of several international research projects. Skivenes headed the commission for the Official Norwegian Report on improved quality and legal protection in child protection (2021-2023).

Contact

If you wish to be affiliated with the research centre, please contact prof. Skivenes. Other inquiries should be directed to Barbara Ruiken. Students who would like supervision, discuss the discipline, or be affiliated with one of the research projects, are very welcome to contact prof. Skivenes via email.

• Follow Marit Skivenes on Academia, ResearchGate and LinkedIn. 

Biography

Skivenes completed her PhD in Political Science at the University of Bergen in 2002. Post PhD, she worked two years as a researcher at the research institute "Fafo" in Oslo.

Later she spent three years at the Centre for Child Welfare at the Faculty of Psychology (UiB), as associate professor and head of the Centre. She then continued to work three years at the Department of Social Education at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL), first as associate professor and later as a professor.

Marit Skivenes is a professor at the Department of Government (University of Bergen), appointed in 2012.

Research interests

Theoretical focus:

• Argumentation Theory - Deliberative Democracy - Discretion and decision-making in Organizations - Freedom of Speech - Paternalism and Welfare - Political Theory - Quality of Public Administration.

Empirical research themes: 

• Access to public information, Children's Interests, Child Protection Systems, Child Rights, Decision-Making Proceedings,  Migration, Public Debate, Public Policy formation, Transparency, Welfare State Systems, Whistle-Blowing, Wrongdoing in Organizations.

Please examine professor Skivenes projects and publications for elaborations about her research.

Awards and grants 

Marit Skivenes was awarded the prestigous ERC Consolidator Grant in 2016 for her research project DISCRETION. Read more about this here.

Marit Skivenes and Katrin Kriz were awarded the ISW prize for best article published in 2015 with the article "Challenges for marginalized minority parents in different welfare systems: Child welfare workers’ perspectives".

 

Skivenes and colleagues present research in blogposts and some of Skivenes´s blogposts are also in Norwegian.

Recent Commentaries in Media

• Skivenes M. (2019). Child protection and child centrism – the Grand Chamber case of Strand Lobben and others v. Norway 2019. Strasbourg Observers, 11 October 2019.
• Skivenes, M. og Helland, H. (2019). Barns rett til familieliv ("Children's right to family life", in Norwegian). Dagbladet, 23 February 2019.
• Skivenes, M. (2018). Hvem har mest innflytelse - Solberg eller NAV-konsulenten? ("Who has the most influence - the Prime Minister or the welfare officer", in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende, 5 June 2018.
• Skivenes M. og McEwan-Strand A. (2018). A Child-Centred Court of Human Rights? Strand Lobben v. Norway. Strasbourg Observers, 3 January 2018.
• Skivenes, M. (2016). Rettigheter som utfordrer. ("Rights that challenge", in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende, December 1 2016

Marit Skivenes does also regularly publish blog posts at discretion.uib.no

Recent media coverage

• Erfaren forsker skal lede ny barnevernsutredning. (Experienced researcher to lead new Official Norwegian Report on child protection) Kommunal rapport, 30. March 2021.
• Barnevernet ber sjeldnere om å ta over omsorgen for barn med tvang. (Child protection services ask less frequently for compulsory care orders) Bergens Tidende, 16. October 2020.
• Ny forskning: Avslører nye lovbrudd. (New research: reveals new violations of the law) Dagbladet, 15. September 2020.
• Advarer mot inspirasjon fra Norge. (Warning against inspiration from Norway) Dagen, 23. May 2020.
• Professor: – Norsk barnevern er i front med barns rettigheter. Det kan virke som om vi har fått svi for det. (Professor: - Norwegian child welfare is at the forefront in terms of children´s rights. It seems like we are paying the price for this”, in Norwegian. Aftenposten / Bergens Tidende, 25 November 2019.
• De har vært fosterforeldrene til Nora (7) siden hun var ett år. Deres største ønske er å få adoptere henne. Men retten sier nei. (They have been foster parents to Nora (7) since she was 1 years old. Their greatest wish is to adopt her. But the court says no, in Norwegian). Aftenposten, 18 May 2019.
• Adopsjon gir bedre levevilkår (Adoption provides better living conditions, in Norwegian). Forskning.no, 9 February 2019.
• Too few Norwegian children under protection adopted by foster parents: report. Xinhua News, 6.februar 2019.
• Rundt 50 barn i året adopteres av fosterforeldre. Det er altfor få, ifølge ny rapport (Around 50 children are adopted by their foster parents each year. The number is much too low, according to new report, in Norwegian). Aftenposten, 5 February 2019.
• Hva skal til for at barnevernet tar et nyfødt barn fra mor? (What are the requirements for the child protection services to remove a newborn child from its mother?, in Norwegian). Forskning.no, 7 February 2018.
• Fikk 18 millioner kroner i stipend (Received 18 million norwegian kroner in scholarship, in Norwegian). Bergens Tidende, 15 December 2016. 

Keynote speaker (selected)

• Keynote speaker at the 15th International EUSARF Conference “All Children, All Families. Promoting Excellence in Child Welfare Research, Policy and Practice”. 2018-10-03 – 2018-10-05. Porto, Portugal
• Keynote speaker at the conference “Decision Making in Child and Adult Protection: Discretion and Dialogue“. 2018-05-31 – 2018-06-02. Basel, Switzerland
• «Do we still trust barnevernet - and should we?» UiB Innsikt. 12-09-2020.
• Key note speaker at the 3rd Annual International ERCPAMM Seminar “Research, social policy and action with migrant minors”, Title: «Children across borders: Rights and policies», Melilla, Spain; 2018-04-25 to 2018-04-27.
• Key note speaker at the conference “Unaccompanied minors across borders: Main social and political issues for their protection”. Title: “Discrimination of unaccompanied asylum seeking minors”, Melilla, Spain; 2017-04-25
• Keynote speaker at the 8^th ESFR Conference “Changing Family Relations – Gender and Generations”; 2016-08-31 – 2016-09-03. Dortmund, Germany.
• Keynote speaker at the Nordic Congress on Child Welfare; 2015-08-26 - 2015-08-28. Turku, Finland.

Recent videos

• Er det norske barnevernet i krise?. (Is Norwegian child protection in crisis?) UiB 19. November 2020
• Child protection in Norway - an international perspective. UiB 19. November 2020

For full overview of media contributions, presentations and publications, please visit the Cristin database.

Students who would like supervision, discuss the discipline, or be affiliated with one of the research projects, are very welcome to contact prof. Skivenes via email.

PhD-students under supervision

• Frøydis Lønborg Haarberg, project (UiB): Addressing the ‘how’ of children’s participation
• Mathea Loen, project (UiB): Legitimacy Challenges: Participation in Public Debate
• Irene Aase Kvåle, project (HVL): Priorities in Child Protection and Health Services

Courses

• GOV350 Master's thesis in Politics and Public Administration (supervisor)
• GOV323 Qualitative Methods (supervisor)
• GOV216 Constitutions, Courts and Politics
• Effects of Lawfare – Courts and law as battlegrounds for social change
• AORG 907 Introduction to Systematic Review and the use of SR in Social Science
• AORG 350 Master's thesis in Administration and Organization Theory
• AORG 332 Research design
• AORG 325 Discretion and paternalism
• AORG 250 Bachelor’s Thesis (2013 - 2017)
• AORG 104 Political Theory and Democratic Governance (2013 - 2014)
• AORG 100 Introductory Course in Administration and Organization Theory (2013 - 2014)

Academic article

• Hege Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes (2026). Children´s Visibility and Voice in the ECtHR – An Analysis of Child Protection Judgements. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Katrin Teresa Maria Kriz (2026). Child-Centric Populations? A study of Nordic populations’ justifications for children’s participation. (external link)
• Zacky Dhaffa Pratama; Marit Skivenes (2026). Religion and Continuity for Children in Care—An Examination of Public Views in 40 Countries. (external link)
• Lucie Margot Ducarre; Marit Skivenes; Anna Linda Gröning (2026). PROTECTing Children’s Rights Within Crime Prevention, the Nordic Countries at a Crossroad?. (external link)
• Jenny Krutzinna; Katre Luhamaa; Tarja Poso et al. (2025). What About Their Future? An Analysis of Child Protection Systems' Focus on the Future of Newborn Children in Care Order Decisions. (external link)
• Jill Duerr Berrick; Kenneth Burns; Tarja Pösö et al. (2025). Ask the children: youth views about parenting, parental freedom, and child safety. A survey study of youth in Finland, Ireland, Norway, and USA. (external link)
• Mathea Loen; Marit Skivenes (2025). The value of responsibility, certainty, and child rights for supporting state intervention in the family – An empirical study of populations in six european countries. (external link)
• Frøydis Lønborg Haarberg; Katrin Teresa Maria Kriz; Audun Gabriel Løvlie et al. (2025). Balancing paternalism and child centrism: a Nordic population study on children's rights in child protection. (external link)
• Jill Duerr Berrick; Siri Gloppen; Larissa Cristina Margarido et al. (2025). A Global Review of Children’s Visibility in Constitutions. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Asgeir Falch-Eriksen; Bilal Hassan (2024). Restricting family life-an examination of citizens’ views on state interventions and parental freedom in eight European countries. (external link)
• Jill Duerr Berrick; Hege Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes (2024). Public Rights Orientations and Views on Long-Term Care Options for Children in the Child Protection System: An Analysis of Representative Samples of Adults in California, USA and Norway. (external link)
• Jill Duerr Berrick; Marit Skivenes; Joseph N. Roscoe (2023). Public perceptions of child protection, children's rights, and personal values: An assessment of two states. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Asgeir Falch-Eriksen; Bilal Hassan (2023). Restricting Family Life An Examination of Citizens’ Views on state interventions and Parental Freedom in Eight European Countries.. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Communication No. 139/2021 B.J. and P.J. v. Czech Republic, Case Note 2023/07. (external link)
• Mathea Loen; Marit Skivenes (2023). Legitimate child protection interventions and the dimension of confidence: A comparative analysis of populations views in six European countries. (external link)
• Katrin Kriz; Jenny Krutzinna; Tarja Poso et al. (2022). The invisible child. A comparative study of newborn removal judgments from a Child Equality Perspective (cep). (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Rami Benbenishty (2022). Populations trust in the child protection system: A cross-country comparison of nine high-income jurisdictions. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Rami Benbenishty (2022). Securing permanence for children in care: A cross-country analysis of citizen's view on adoption versus foster care. (external link)
• Jill Duerr Berrick; Marit Skivenes; Joseph N. Roscoe (2022). Parental Freedom in the Context of Risk to the Child: Citizens’ Views of Child Protection and the State in the US and Norway. (external link)
• Hege Stein Helland; Siri Hansen Pedersen; Marit Skivenes (2022). Comparing population view´s on state responsibility for children in vulnerable situations – the role of institutional context and socio-demographic characteristics. (external link)
• Jill Duerr Berrick; Marit Skivenes; Joseph N. Roscoe (2021). Children’s rights and parents’ rights: Popular attitudes about when we privilege one over the other. (external link)
• Audun Gabriel Løvlie; Marit Skivenes (2021). Justifying interventions in Norwegian child protection - an analysis of cases of violence in migrant and non-migrant families. (external link)
• Katre Luhamaa; Amy McEwan-Strand; Barbara Ruiken et al. (2021). Services and support for mothers and newborn babies in vulnerable situations A study of eight European jurisdictions. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2021). Exploring populations view on thresholds and reasons for child protection intervention–comparing England, Norway, Poland and Romania. (external link)
• Claire Breen; Jenny Krutzinna; Katre Luhamaa et al. (2020). Family life for children in state care. An analysis of the European court of human rights’ reasoning on adoption without consent. (external link)
• Hege Beate Stein Helland; Siri Hansen Pedersen; Marit Skivenes (2020). Adopsjon eller offentlig omsorg? En studie av befolkningens syn på adopsjon som tiltak i barnevernet. (external link)
• Amy McEwan-Strand; Marit Skivenes (2020). Children’s Capacities and Role in Matters of Great Significance for Them. (external link)
• Jill Duerr Berrick; Jonathan Dickens; Tarja Pösö et al. (2020). Are child protection workers and judges in alignment with citizens when considering interventions into a family? A cross-country study of four jurisdictions. (external link)
• Kenneth Burns; Hege Beate Stein Helland; Katrin Križ et al. (2020). Corporal punishment and reporting to child protection authorities: An empirical study of population attitudes in five European countries. (external link)
• Jenny Krutzinna; Marit Skivenes (2020). Judging parental competence: A cross‐country analysis of judicial decision makers' written assessment of mothers' parenting capacities in newborn removal cases. (external link)
• Anne-Dorthe Hestbæk; Höjer Ingrid; Tarja Pösö et al. (2020). Child welfare removal of infants: Exploring policies and principles for decision-making in Nordic countries.. (external link)
• Jill Berrick; Jonathan Dickens; Tarja Pösö et al. (2019). Children’s and parents’ involvement in care order proceedings: a cross-national comparison of judicial decision-makers’ views and experiences. (external link)
• Jenny Krutzinna; Marit Sissel Irene Skivenes; June Thoburn (2019). Acceptability of family court decision-making in eight jurisdictions. (external link)
• Kenneth Burns; Katrin Križ; Jenny Krutzinna et al. (2019). The hidden proceedings - An analysis of accountability of child protection adoption proceedings in eight European jurisdictions. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Milfrid Tonheim (2018). Improving decision-making in care order proceedings: A multijurisdictional study of court decision-makers' viewpoints. (external link)
• Jill Duerr Berrick; Jonathan Dickens; Tarja Pösö et al. (2018). International Perspectives on Child-responsive Courts. (external link)

Academic book chapter

• David Archard; Marit Skivenes (2025). Normative considerations about the guiding principles for the European Court of Human Rights allocating custody in child protection. (external link)
• Hege Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes; Siri Gloppen (2025). The European Court of Human Rights: an untapped source for advancing child rights?. (external link)
• Hege Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes; Siri Gloppen (2025). Children's Rights under pressure: Norway, the European Court of Human Rights and the challenge of welfare state legitimacy. (external link)
• Hege Beate Stein Helland; Katrin Teresa Maria Kriz; Marit Skivenes (2023). Gauging the child’s presence and voice in adoption proceedings of children from care in seven European countries: applying a child equality perspective. (external link)
• Anne-Dorthe Hestbæk; Marit Skivenes; Asgeir Falch-Eriksen et al. (2023). The Child Protection Systems in Denmark and Norway. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Hege Beate Stein Helland (2021). Adoption from care in Norway. (external link)
• Tarja Poso; Marit Skivenes; June Thoburn (2021). Introducing the field of adoption from care. (external link)
• Tarja Poso; Marit Skivenes; June Thoburn (2021). Making sense of adoption from care in very different contexts. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Øyvind Samnøy Tefre (2020). Errors and mistakes in the Norwegian child protection system. (external link)
• Katre Luhamaa; Marit Skivenes; Karl Harald Søvig (2019). Discriminating against children.. (external link)
• Asgeir Falch-Eriksen; Marit Sissel Irene Skivenes (2019). Right to Protection. (external link)
• Malcolm Langford; Marit Sissel Irene Skivenes; Karl Harald Søvig et al. (2019). Introduction: Implementing Child Rights. (external link)

Blog post

• Marit Skivenes (2026). Bør Norge forby sosiale medier for ungdom under 16?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2026). A matter of autonomy? Norway’s proposed social media ban for youth. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2026). Norway´s ban on social media for youth: The arguments for and against the proposed social media ban for under-16s. (external link)

Book anthology

• Hege Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes; Siri Gloppen (2025). Child protection and the European court of human rights. Lessons from Norway in the Development and Contestation of Children’s Rights. (external link)
• Jill Duerr Berrick; Neil Gilbert; Marit Skivenes (2023). Oxford Handbook of Child Protection Systems. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; June Thoburn; Tarja Poso (2021). Adoption from Care. International Perspectives on Children’s Rights, Family Preservation and State Intervention.. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Karl Harald Søvig (2019). Child Rights and International Discrimination Law: Implementing Article 2 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. (external link)
• Malcolm Langford; Marit Skivenes; Karl Harald Søvig (2019). Children’s Rights in Norway: An Implementation Paradox?. (external link)

Conference lecture

• Marit Skivenes (2026). Cross-National Social Work Perspectives on Childhood Obesity Policy. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2025). Building Bridges to the Future: Trust, Sustainability, and Child Protection in the Nordic Model. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Andrea Castagnola; Mathea Loen et al. (2025). Childrens Rights: Trust, Justice & the Future of Welfare Systems. (external link)
• Jill Duerr Berrick; Marit Skivenes; Zacky Dhaffa Pratama (2025). International perspectives on children’s care. (external link)
• Hege Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes; Jill Duerr Berrick et al. (2025). Children’s Rights as Human Rights: Examining the Links between Children and International Human Rights in a Global Context. (external link)
• Mathea Loen; Marit Skivenes; Zacky Dhaffa Pratama et al. (2025). Attitudes and Adherence to Children’s Rights Across the World. (external link)
• Hege Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes (2025). Child Rights in the European Court of Human Rights. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2024). Barnesensitive prosesser og styrking av barns rettigheter – hvor langt har vi kommet, og hva gjenstår?. (external link)
• Alexander Wright Cappelen; Björn Bartling; Henning Hermes et al. (2023). Free to fail? Experimental studies of paternalistic preferences. (external link)
• Hege Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes (2023). Family Life and Child Protection in the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). (external link)
• Hege Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes; Katrin Teresa Maria Kriz (2023). ‘Gauging the Child’s Presence and Voice in Adoption Proceedings of Children from Care in Seven European Countries: Applying a Child Equality Perspective’. (external link)
• Kjell Gunnar Salvanes; Anna Aizer; Alexander Wright Cappelen et al. (2023). Allowing Children to Choose: Parenting Style Across Children's Age and Socioeconomic Background. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2021). 2 år etter Strand Lobben-dommen. Hva har skjedd?. (external link)
• Claire Breen; Jenny Krutzinna; Katre Luhamaa et al. (2021). Family life for children in state care. An analysis of the European Court of Human Rights’ reasoning on adoption without consent. (external link)
• Audun Gabriel Løvlie; Marit Skivenes (2021). Justifying best interest interventions in Norwegian child protection cases on violence in migrant and non-migrant families. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Jill Duerr Berrick (2021). International comparative attitudes about child protection and the state: Parental freedom in the context of risk to the child. (external link)
• Barbara Victoria Ruiken; Marit Skivenes; Amy McEwan-Strand et al. (2021). Services and support for mothers and newborn babies in vulnerable situations. (external link)
• Øyvind Samnøy Tefre; Marit Skivenes (2021). Errors and Mistakes in Child Protection. International approaches and strategies to strengthen the perspective and rights of the child - Child perspective errors in the Norwegian child protection system. (external link)
• Katrin Kriz; Jenny Krutzinna; Tarja Poso et al. (2021). Decision-making and Participation of Children in the Child Protection System’ - The Invisible Child: The Child’s Perspective in Judicial Decision-Making in Eight European Countries.. (external link)
• Jenny Krutzinna; Marit Skivenes (2021). Discretionary reasoning in child protection. (external link)
• Jenny Krutzinna; Marit Skivenes (2021). Judging parental competence: A cross-country analysis of judicial decision-makers’ assessment of parental capacities in newborn removal cases. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Jill Duerr Berrick (2021). Child Protection Systems: A Global Typology. (external link)
• Jill Duerr Berrick; Marit Skivenes (2021). Children’s rights and parents’ rights: Popular attitudes about balanced decision making. (external link)
• Björn Bartling; Alexander Wright Cappelen; Henning Hermes et al. (2020). Free to Fail? Paternalistic Preferences in the U.S.. (external link)
• Audun Gabriel Løvlie; Marit Sissel Irene Skivenes (2019). Justifying the Child’s Best Interest - A Comparison of Court Decisions in Norwegian Child Protection Cases of Violence in Migrant and Non-Migrant Families. (external link)
• Claire Breen; Jenny Krutzinna; Katre Luhamaa et al. (2019). The Child’s Right to Family Life. An analysis of the European Court of Human Rights’ reasoning on adoption without consent. (external link)
• Hege Beate Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes; Øyvind Samnøy Tefre (2018). In the Best Interest of the Child – An Analysis of Judgments on Involuntary Adoption in the Norwegian Judicial System. (external link)

Lecture

• Marit Skivenes (2026). Spør en forsker. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2026). Remarks on Child rights in Constitutions, Law and Populations. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2026). Foreldre i barnevernet. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2026). Child Protection Systems and Legitimate Interventions. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2026). Book Workshop on Child Welfare Removals by the State. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Hege Stein Helland; Mathea Loen et al. (2026). Presentations: A Study on Child Protection and Foster Care in Norway. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Hege Stein Helland; Mathea Loen et al. (2026). Seminar med MR-N. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2025). Research seminar: Children, Youth and Crime in the Welfare State. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2025). Mathildedagen. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Hege Stein Helland; Siri Gloppen (2025). Book Launch: Child Protection and the European Court of Human Rights. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Anna Linda Gröning (2025). Hvordan møter samfunnet barn som begår alvorlige handlinger som skader andre? . (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; June Thoburn; Tarja Poso (2025). International Lecture Commemorating the Publication of “Adoption from Care”. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2025). Children’s rights and participation in the context of child protection: a conversation with Marit Skivenes. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2025). Veien videre på kunnskap og kompetanse i norsk barnevern. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2024). Oppfølging av familier og barn etter omsorgsovertakelse. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2024). Fagdag statsforvalteren. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Jill Duerr Berrick; Satang Nabaneh et al. (2024). Children and the law. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2024). Keynote III: The legitimacy of child protection in times of changing environments. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2024). Barnesensitive prosesser og styrking av barn rettigheter – hvor langt har vi kommet, og hva gjenstår?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2024). Barns rett til å bli hørt i beslutninger på samfunnsnivå. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2024). Dissemination on Participation and Child Protection Systems Across the World. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2024). Norsk barnevern – rettssikkert og legitimt?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2024). Politisk påvirkningsformer. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2024). Bruk og vilkår for systematisk kunnskapsoppsummering i velferdspolitikken. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Kunnskapsbehov om barn og unge i utsatte livssituasjoner. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Rettssikkerhet i barnevernet. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Safe Childhood, Secure Future” (Skivenes Report on the rule of law and child protection, Norway). (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Use of knowledge and research in expert committees. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Rettssikkerhet og barnevernet. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Hvordan bidrar de to NOU’ene til å gi nye muligheter for barnevernet?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Barnevernsutvalget - NOU Trygg barndom, sikker fremtid: Tema og problemstillinger fra rapporten og innspill fra høringsinstanser. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Legitimitet og tillit i barnevernet. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Minoriteter og barnevern. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Barn og unges rettigheter i barnevernssaker. (external link)
• Tarja Poso; Audun Gabriel Løvlie; Tuğba Dik et al. (2023). Structuring Children’s Participation in a Legal Culture. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Hvordan går det egentlig med barnevernet?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). NOU 2023:7 Trygg barndom, sikker fremtid. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Child Protection and Human Rights. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Book Launch: Oxford Handbook of Child Protection Systems. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Family poverty, parenting behavior, and child welfare involvement: A global comparative analysis. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Legitimacy and normative foundations of child protection systems in six European countries – an analysis of populations’ attitudes and views. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Barnevernutvalgets rapport og anbefalinger som berører fosterhjem. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Barnevern og rett til familieliv. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Er barnevernet rettssikkert nok?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). Rett og sikkert i barnevernet. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2023). How can the global typology assist in providing policy and technical support to government wanting to strengthen their child protection systems to be responsive to the needs of its children?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2022). Barneperspektivet i barnevernforskningen - vet vi nok om hvordan tiltakene virker for barna og tjenestene? Hva vet vi for lite om?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2022). Digitalt innlegg om NOU-arbeidet. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Mathea Loen; Elaine Sutherland et al. (2022). The International Anti-Liberal Right Versus Barnevernet?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2022). Plenumsdebatt om temaet: Hvordan sikre god utvikling av barnevernsinstitusjoner og miljøterapien i lys av nye krav og standardisering?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2022). Tema: Rettsikkerheten for barn i fosterhjem, er barna og ungdommen godt nok ivaretatt?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Edvard Hviding; Tor Eldevik (2022). How to link your project proposal to current and future challenges. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2022). Rettsikkerhet for barn i barnevernet. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2022). Child Protection Systems Across the World. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Mathea Loen (2022). The International Anti-Liberal Right Versus Barnevernet. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2021). Children’s Right to Participation. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2021). Barnevern - Blir det noen gang rett?. (external link)
• Tarja Poso; Marit Skivenes; June Thoburn et al. (2021). Book Launch «Adoption from Care». (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2021). The global typology of child protection systems. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2021). Fra et forskerperspektiv: Forventninger til hvordan anbefalingene i BarnUnge21-strategien skal følges opp.. (external link)
• Alexander Wright Cappelen; Björn Bartling; Henning Hermes et al. (2021). Free to Fail? Paternalistic Preferences in the United States. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; June Thoburn; Tarja Poso et al. (2021). Book Lauch: Adoption from Care. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Jane Barlow (2021). Assessment and intervention at an individual level: innovative ways of assessing, engaging and supporting pregnant and newly delivered women whose infants are at risk of harm. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2021). Children's participation in child protection - current knowledge and knowledge gaps.. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2020). Barnevern og barns rettigheter i en turbulent tid. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2020). Protecting Children, Creating Citizens: Participatory Child Protection Practice. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Jenny Krutzinna; Katre Luhamaa et al. (2020). Protecting Children, Creating Citizens. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2020). Principper og praksis for anbringelser ved det norske barnevern og udfordringerne fra dommene ved Den Europæiske Menneskeretsdomstol.. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2020). Har vi fortsatt tillit til barnevernet – og bør vi ha det?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2020). Beslutningsfatting i barnevernet. (external link)
• Hege Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes (2020). Barns medvirkning – presentasjon av en forstudie og Fjeld-utvalgets hovedfunn. (external link)
• Björn Bartling; Alexander Wright Cappelen; Henning Hermes et al. (2020). WHY DO PEOPLE LOVE NUDGES? EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE. (external link)
• Marit Sissel Irene Skivenes (2020). Barnevernsarbeidernes erfaring med og synspunkter på konflikter. (external link)
• Marit Sissel Irene Skivenes (2020). Norsk barnevern vurdert i forhold til andre lands systemer. (external link)
• Hege Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes (2020). Adopsjon som barneverntiltak - Terskler og skjønn. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2020). Norsk barnevern vurdert i forhold til andre lands systemer, samt refleksjoner om hva de store protestene mot norsk barnevern skyldes.. (external link)
• Amy McEwan-Strand; Marit Skivenes (2019). Discretion and decision making: The Child’s Best Interest Principle as a decision making standard. (external link)
• Hege Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes (2019). Adopsjon som barneverntiltak. (external link)
• Marit Sissel Irene Skivenes (2019). Trenger norsk barnevern en kursendring?. (external link)
• Marit Sissel Irene Skivenes (2019). Det norske barnevernsystemet: Hva skiller oss fra andre land?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2019). Rettssikkerhet for barn i barnevernssaker i nemnd og domstol. Hvilke muligheter finnes?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2019). Hvordan kan fagfolk forstå barn og ta et barneperspektiv?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Hege Beate Stein Helland (2019). Adopsjon som barnevernstiltak – lansering av forskningsrapport.. (external link)

Media feature article

• Hege Beate Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes (2019). Barns rett til familieliv. (external link)

Media interview

• Hege Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes; Siri Gloppen (2025). An interview with the editors of Child Protection and the European Court of Human Rights: Lessons from Norway in the Development and Contestation of Children’s Rights. (external link)
• Marit Sissel Irene Skivenes (2020). Professor sammenliker norsk barnevern med andre land: – Det norske systemet er godt. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Ruth Einervoll Nilsen (2020). Lovar betre barnevern etter menneskerettsrefs. (external link)
• Marit Sissel Irene Skivenes; Skogstrøm Lene (2019). – Norsk barnevern er i front med barns rettigheter. Det kan virke som om vi har fått svi for det.. (external link)

Non-fiction book chapter

• Tarja Poso; Marit Skivenes; June Thoburn (2024). Adoption from Care: Evolving Directions in Policy and Practice from a Comparative Perspective. (external link)
• Jill Duerr Berrick; Marit Skivenes; Neil Gilbert (2024). Developing a Global Typology of Child Protection Systems. (external link)
• Hege Beate Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes; Øyvind Samnøy Tefre (2019). Adopsjon som barneverntiltak – hvor er vi og hvor går vi?. (external link)

Other presentation

• Marit Skivenes (2026). The Norwegian Child Removal System. (external link)

Popular science article

• Marit Skivenes (2022). En Children’s Guardian-ordning vil sikre barns rettigheter i barnevernssaker. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2022). How to secure children´s rights in child protection proceedings. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2022). Children drop of the radar in adoption from care judgments. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2022). De usynlige barna i avgjørelser om adopsjon. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2021). How can the child protection system be more helpful to parents?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2021). Denial and blame – a result of shame?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2021). Omsorgsovertakelser etter familievold: Hvorfor benekter foreldre vold mot barn?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2021). Hvordan kan barnevernsystemet bli bedre for foreldrene?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2021). Vi bør gjøre mer for sårbare familier. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2021). Det bør gå en alarm i barnevernet. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2020). Hvorfor deltar ikke barn i barnevernssaker?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2020). Har befolkningen tillit til barnevernet?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2020). Ta barns rettigheter på alvor. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2020). Adopsjon eller ikke?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2020). Er barnets rettigheter viktigere enn foreldrenes rettigheter?. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes (2020). Når bør barnevernet gripe inn?. (external link)

Professional article

• Marit Skivenes; Hege Stein Helland (2019). Adopsjon som barneverntiltak. (external link)

Radio or TV participation

• Marit Skivenes (2025). Stort prosjekt om barnekriminalitet (God Morgen Hordaland). (external link)

Research report

• Björn Bartling; Alexander Wright Cappelen; Henning Hermes et al. (2023). Free to Fail? Paternalistic Preferences in the United States. (external link)
• Frøydis Petersen Jensen; Katrin Kriz; Marit Skivenes (2022). Structuring Practice for Children’s Participation. Report I for the Participation Project: Mapping and Evaluating Organizational Guidelines. (external link)
• Katre Luhamaa; Jenny Krutzinna; Marit Skivenes (2022). Child’s best interest in child protection legislation of 44 jurisdictions. (external link)
• Hege Stein Helland; Marit Skivenes (2020). Delrapport til strategiprosessen BarnUnge21: Forskning som støtter praksis, utdanning og innovasjon. (external link)
• Rune Fjeld; Marit Sissel Irene Skivenes; Karin Sasaoka et al. (2020). Gjennomgang av ti særlig konfliktfylte barnevernssaker i Bergen kommune.. (external link)
• Hege Stein Helland; Kaja Eek-Larsen; Lisette Holm et al. (2019). Mot et Barneperspektiv i Barnevernet: En studie av implementeringen av programmet Mitt Liv Barnevern. (external link)
• Marit Skivenes; Hege Beate Stein Helland (2019). Rapport: Adopsjon som barneverntiltak.. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in NVA.

Open Access Publications:

• Skivenes, M., Falch-Eriksen, A., & Hassan, B. (2024). Restricting family life - an examination of citizens' views on state interventions and parental freedom in eight European countries. European Journal of Social Work, 27(3), 490–504
• Berrick, J., Skivenes, M. & Roscoe, J. N. (2023) Public perceptions of child protection, children’s rights, and personal values: An assessment of two states. Children and Youth Service Review, special issue "The Perspective of the Child in Child and Youth welfare"
• Loen, M. & Skivenes, M. (2023). Legitimate child protection interventions and the dimension of confidence: A comparative analysis of the populous views in six European countries. Journal of Social Policy, 1-20. DOI: 10.1017/S004727942300003X
• Skivenes, M. & Benbenishty, R. (2022). Securing permanence for children in care – a cross-country analysis of citizen´s view on adoption versus foster care. Child & Family Social Work 28(2): 432-442
• Helland, H. S., Pedersen, S. H. & Skivenes, M (2022). Comparing population views on state responsibility for children in vulnerable situations – the role of institutional context and socio-demographic characteristics. Journal of Public Child Welfare
• Skivenes, M. & Benbenishty, R. (2022). Populations trust in the child protection system: A cross-country comparison of nine high-income jurisdictions. Journal of European Social Policy 32(4)
• Berrick, J., Skivenes, M. & Roscoe, J. N. (2022). Parental Freedom in the Context of Risk to the Child: Citizens' views of child protection and the state in U.S. and Norway. Journal of Social Policy, 1-22
• Helland, Hege Stein; Pedersen, Siri Hansen; Skivenes, Marit (2022) Comparing population view´s on state responsibility for children in vulnerable situations – the role of institutional context and socio-demographic characteristics. Journal of Public Child Welfare
• Berrick, Jill Duerr; Skivenes, Marit; Roscoe, Joseph N. (2021) Children’s rights and parents’ rights: Popular attitudes about when we privilege one over the other. International Journal of Social Welfare
• Løvlie, A.; Skivenes, M. (2021) Justifying interventions in Norwegian child protection - an analysis of cases of violence in migrant and non-migrant families. Nordic Journal on Law and Society
• Skivenes, Thoburn, J., & Poso, T. (2021). Adoption from Care. International Perspectives on Children’s Rights, Family Preservation and State Intervention. Policy Press
• Skivenes, Marit (2021) Exploring populations view on thresholds and reasons for child protection intervention–comparing England, Norway, Poland and Romania. European Journal of Social Work
• Luhamaa, Katre; McEwan-Strand, Amy; Ruiken, Barbara; Skivenes, Marit; Wingens, Florian A. (2021) Services and support for mothers and newborn babies in vulnerable situations A study of eight European jurisdictions. Children and Youth Services Review
• Breen, C., Krutzinna, J., Luhamaa, K., & Skivenes, M. (2020). Family Life for Children in State Care. The International Journal of Children’s Rights.
• Krutzinna & Skivenes (2020). Judging parental competence: A cross-country analysis of judicial decision makers’ written assessment of mothers’ parenting capacities in newborn removal cases. Child & family social work.
• McEwan-Strand, A., & Skivenes, M. (2020). Children’s Capacities and Role in Matters of Great Significance for Them. The International Journal of Children’s Rights.
• Burns, Kriz, Krutzinna, Luhamaa, Meysen, Pösö, Segado, Skivenes & Thoburn. 2019. The Hidden Proceedings – An Analysis of Accountability of Child Protection Adoption Proceedings in Eight European Jurisdictions. European Journal of Comparative Law and Governance.
• Skivenes, Marit; Helland, Hege Beate Stein. 2019. Rapport: Adopsjon som barneverntiltak. Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism, Bergen.
• Langford, Skivenes & Søvig (eds.). 2019. Child rights in Norway: Measuring Compliance. Universitetsforlaget.
• Berrick, Dickens, Pösö & Skivenes. 2018. International Perspectives on Child-responsive Courts. International Journal of Children’s Rights.
• Skivenes & Sørsdal. 2018. The Child’s Best Interest Principle across Child Protection Jurisdictions. In Falch-Eriksen, A. & Backe-Hansen, E. (eds.) Human Rights in Child Protection – Implications for Professional Practice and Policy, pp. 59-88. London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Skivenes, M. and Thoburn, J. (2016) ‘Pathways to permanence in England and Norway: A critical analysis of documents and data‘, Children and Youth Services Review, 67 (2016), pp. 152-160.
• Križ, K. and Skivenes, M. (2014) ‘Street-level policy aims of child welfare workers in England, Norway and the United States: An exploratory study’, Children and Youth Services Review, 40 (2014), pp. 71-78.
• Skivenes, M. and Trygstad, S. C. (2013) ‘Is the type of misconduct decisive for the perceived legitimacy of whistleblowing? A study of municipal managers’ assessments of whistleblowing in cases of harassment and corruption’, E-Journal of International and Comparative Labour Studies, 2, pp. 50-65.

ERC-grant: DISCRETION 

Professor Marit Skivenes is awarded an European Research Council (ERC) Frontier Research Grant for the research project DISCRETION to consolidate her research ideas and thinking around core themes in social sciences about the governments use of power towards its citizens, and the justifications of state interventions into peoples lives. The ERC sole evaluation criterion is scientific excellence of researcher and research proposal.

The full title of the project is “Discretion and the child’s best interests in child protection”, and it aims to unlock the black box of discretionary decision-making in child protection cases by a comparative-empirical study of how discretionary decisions are made and justified in the best interests of the child.

There are huge research gaps in this important area of the welfare state, with a great deal of uncertainty concerning how, when and why discretionary decisions about the child’s best interests are different between decision- makers within and between child protection systems.

• Read more here: www.discretion.uib.no

Current projects:

• Principal Investigator for the research project "CPS-WORLD" (University of Bergen). Funded by UiB and the Norwegian Research Council. 2022-2028.
• Principal Investigator for the research project Cross-national Experiences of Foster Care" (UiB/UC Berkeley). Finanisert av Peder Sather Grant Program. 2020-2021.
• Principal investigator for the research project "Legitimacy Challenges: An analysis of mistrust in core institutions and the normative fundament of the welfare state" (University of Bergen). Funded by the Norwegian Research Council (VAM). 2020 - 2025.
• Principal investigator for the research project "Discretion and the Child's Best Interest" (University of Bergen). Funded by the European Research Council (Consolidator Grant). 2017-2021. 
• Principal investigator for the research project "The Acceptability of Child Protection Interventions: A Cross-Country Analysis" (University of Bergen). Funded by the Norwegian Research Council (FRIHUMSAM). 2017-2021.
• Team leader for the research project "Cosmopolitan Turn and Democratic Sentiments: The Case of Child Protection Services" (Gabriel Bădescu, Asgeir Falch-Eriksen, Marit Skivenes) (Babeş-Bolyai University). Funded by the EEA and Norway Grants – Romania. 2019-2023.
• Member of the core group in the research project "Understanding Paternalism"  together with Alexander Cappelen and Bertil Tungodden (The Choice Lab, Norwegian School of Economics). Funded by the Norwegian Research Council (FRIPRO)
• Volume co-author (together with Jill Berrick and Neil Gilbert) on "Handbook on Comparative Child Welfare Policy» as part of the Oxford University Press International Social Policy Library. 2016-2019.

Previous projects

• Principal Investigator with Jill Berrick for the research project "Citizens’ views of child protection and the state: Welfare state theory, values, and risk" (UiB/UC Berkeley). Funded by the Peder Sather Grant Program. 2019-2020.Principal Investigator for the PRO BONO group research project on the implementation of "Mit Liv" (UiB). 2016-2019.
• Principal Investigator for the research project «Adoption as a Child Welfare Measure» (Adopsjon som et barneverntiltak, in Norwegian) (Marit Skivenes, Hege Helland, Øyvind Tefre), The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs. 2016-2018.
• Book project: "Children´s participation in child protection - street level bureaucrats exercise of discretion" (Marit Skivenes, Katrin Kriz). 2016-2018.
• Principal investigator in the research project “Legitimacy and Fallibility in Child Welfare Services – A Cross-Country Study of Decision-Making” (Marit Skivenes, Tarja Pösö, Jill Berrick, Jonathan Dickens, Anne-Mette Magnussen, Line Sørsdal), The Norwegian Research Council (VAM) 2012- june 2017.*
• Organizer of the fourth "Colloquium on the United Nations Covention on the Rights of the Child Implementation Project (CRC-IP)" together with Karl Harald Søvig. Funded by the Norwegian Research Council (VAM). April 2017.  
• Principal Investigator for the research project “The Norwegian Child Welfare System in a Comparative Perspective" (Marit Skivenes, Katrin Kriz, Heidi Skramstad, Øyvind Tefre, Milfrid Tonheim), The Norwegian Research Council (FRISAM) 2010- may 2017.
• Book project: Co-editor (Together with Malcolm Langford and Karl Harald Søvig) "Measuring Child Rights in Norway". Universitetsforlaget. 2016-2017

Verv

• Leder for Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism (external link)
• Leder for forskningsgruppen Rett, Demokrati og Velferd (LDW - Law, Democracy & Welfare)
• Valgt representant for fast ansatte i fakultetsstyret 2017-2021 (tidligere representant i 2013-2017).
• Valgt representant for fast ansatte i instituttrådet 2017-2021 (tidligere representant i 2013-2017).
• Forskningsleder for Child Rights Unit (external link) ved Centre on Law and Social Transformation (external link)
• Medlem i styringsgruppen for Centre on Law and Social Transformation (external link)
• Medlem i styringsgruppen for United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Implementing Project (CRC-IP)
• Medlem i styringsgruppen for Inter-disciplinary Network for Research on Child Welfare Proceedings and Decision-Making
• Medlem i styringsgruppen for CEIPAMM (Centro Europeo de Investigación. Políticas y Acción Para Los Menores y La Migración) (external link)
• Medlem i arbeidsgruppen for Handlingsplan for kvalitet i forskning ved UiB – FRAM 2019-2021
• Leder av arbeidsgruppen for temaområdet forskning i regjeringens Barnunge21-strategi (external link)
• Leder for NOU-utvalget for bedre kvalitet og rettssikkerhet i barnevernet (external link) 2021-2021 for Barne- og Familiedepartementet
• Valgt medlem av Det Europeiske Vitenskap-Akademi (external link)
• Valgt medlem av styret til Forandringsfabrikken (external link)

Pro bono-gruppen

Skivenes er faglig ansvarlig i en pro bono-gruppe ved Universitetet i Bergen som utfører forskning på barns rettigheter. Pro Bono er et latinsk uttrykk for arbeid og tjenester som gjøres som en tjeneste til det offentlige samfunnet. Les mer om Pro bono-gruppen her.

Frivillig

Ønsker du å være frivillig i Child Rights Unit på Centre on Law and Social Transformation (external link)? 

Kontakt professor Marit Skivenes på marit.skivenes@uib.no (external link)

Uteksaminerte PhD-studenter

• Hege B. Helland, prosjekt (UiB) : Adoption in child protection. 2021.
• Audun Løvlie, prosjekt (UiB): Accepting Care Orders: Expertise as premise-provider. 2023.
• Ida B. Juhasz, prosjekt (UiB): Godt nok foreldreskap. Vurderinger og begrunnelser ved omsorgsovertakelse av nyfødte i Norge og England. 2021.
• Øyvind S. Tefre, political science, HVL: Public and private responsibility for children. 2020.
• Astrid Strandbu, pedagogy, UiT. Barns deltakelse og barneperspektivet i familierådsmodellen. 2009. 
• Liv Walseth, medicine, UiB. Hvordan bedre lege-pasientsamtalen?. 2012. (Co-supervisor).
• Eirik Gundersern, philosophy, OsloMet. What We Owe to Our Children. Relationships and Obligations in Public Care. 2018.  (Co-supervisor).