Marit Skivenes

Dr. Marit Skivenes is a Professor and Director of the Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism (DIPA) at the University of Bergen. Her work focuses on child protection systems, children’s rights, and the legal and policy frameworks governing child welfare. She has led international research projects, including those funded by the European Research Council, and contributed to the Norwegian government’s Child Protection Law Committee report. Skivenes is also an editor of the Oxford Handbook of Child Protection Systems, emphasizing global comparative perspectives.

Her research interests span child participation, adoption policies, and the ethical dimensions of state intervention in family life. She frequently collaborates with Nordic and international institutions, such as the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and Waseda University. Key projects include analyzing judicial decision-making in child protection cases and exploring citizens’ views on child welfare systems across Europe and North America.

Recent publications highlight trends in youth perceptions of parenting, the role of legal frameworks in child protection, and the balance between paternalism and child-centric approaches. Skivenes has also been invited to speak at major conferences, such as the Nordic Seminar on Child Confinement and the Foster Home Conference, addressing challenges in foster care legal security and adoption from care.