medborger_i_danmark_engelsk.pdf - Ny i Danmark

139Child custody(Forældremyndighed)Child custody refers to the duty of parentsto look after their children and to takedecisions that are in the children’s bestinterest. Parents who are marriedautomatically share custody. If theparents are not married, custodyautomatically lies with the mother of thechild, unless otherwise agreed between theparents. If the parents separate or divorce,a decision must be made as to who will beawarded custody. The parents may agreeto continue to share custody.County councils (Amtsråd)At 1 January 2003, Denmark was dividedinto 13 county authorities responsible forimportant local matters, such as hospitals,health care, upper secondary education,nature conservation, environmentalprotection and highway maintenance.Thecounties are governed by popularly electedcounty councils consisting of between nineand 31 members.The councils are electedfor a four-year term.religious and cultural life of Danishsociety. The intention is also to enablenewly arrived citizens to supportthemselves within a short time and to givethem an understanding of thefundamental norms and values of Danishsociety. The Act requires municipalauthorities to provide accommodation forrefugees and to offer all newly arrivedrefugees and immigrants an introductionprogramme.All persons covered by the Act onIntegration are offered a course on Danishsociety and Danish language lessons.Persons without other means of supportare also offered job and educationorientedactivation programmes alongwith payment of introduction benefit*.Danish Aliens Act(Udlændingeloven)The Danish Aliens Act contains provisionsgoverning the right of foreign nationals toenter and reside in Denmark, includingvisa, work and residence permitrequirements and rules for deportation.GLOSSARYDanish Act on Integration(Integrationslov)In 1999, the Danish Parliament(Folketinget) adopted “The Act onIntegration of Foreign Nationals inDenmark”, also called the IntegrationAct.The primary purpose of the Act is tohelp ensure equal opportunities for newlyarrived refugees and immigrants in thepolitical, economic, working, social,Danish Immigration Service(Udlændingestyrelsen)The Danish Immigration Service is anagency under the Ministry of Refugee,Immigration and Integration Affairs(Ministry of Integration). However, theImmigration Service makes decisionsindependently of the Ministry. It dealswith a wide range of issues relating to theentry and residence of foreign nationals in