Newsroom on Children's Rights
Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine discusses the risks of trafficking of Ukrainian children including for the purposes of sexual and labour exploitation
Millions of Ukrainian children have fled their homeland as a result of Russia’s war of aggression, with many of them being hosted in Council of Europe member states. Armed conflicts create particular vulnerabilities for children leading to increased risks of abuse at many levels, including...
Bridging legal gaps to combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse in Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Montenegro
On 25 June 2024, stakeholders of the "End Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse@Europe Plus" (EndOCSEA@Europe+) project gathered in Strasbourg for the first workshop since its launch in September last year. The project aims to support authorities and professionals in the three focus...
Lanzarote Committee adopts an opinion on limitation periods in respect of sexual offences against children
At its 42nd plenary meeting (11-13 June 2024), the Lanzarote Committee (Committee of Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse) adopted an opinion to clarify the interpretation of the Lanzarote Convention in respect of...
Tender call for provision of event management services in Slovenia
The Council of Europe is currently implementing the joint European Union – Council of Europe project “Ensuring the best interests of the child in civil court proceedings in Slovenia”. The project is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and is implemented by the Council of...
Strengthening child-friendly justice: Council of Europe supports development of ISO International Workshop Agreement on Barnahus model
The Council of Europe participated in an introductory webinar on the international workshop on Barnahus Model, a child friendly multidisciplinary and interagency response model for the investigation and treatment of child sexual abuse, organised in the context of the International Standardisation...
Tender call for provision of event management services in Croatia
The Council of Europe is currently implementing the joint European Union – Council of Europe project “Implementing the Barnahus Model in Croatia”. This Project is implemented by the Council of Europe's Children's Rights Division in close co-operation with the Croatian Ministry of Justice, Public...
Call for tenders to design, print and produce visibility materials for Barnahus Ireland project
The Council of Europe is currently implementing the Project “Barnahus Ireland: Supporting the implementation of the Barnahus model in Ireland”. It is co-financed by the EU Structural Reform Support Programme and implemented in close cooperation with EU DG Reform and the Irish Department of...
Steering Committee for the rights of the child: key takeaways from the 9th Plenary meeting
During its 9th Plenary meeting held in Strasbourg on 28-30 May 2024, the Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF) reviewed the progress of implementation of the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027). The CDENF approved two topical Mapping Studies on...
"Nothing about us without us" - new guidelines on engaging with victims and survivors of childhood sexual violence
Ahead of the International Children’s Day celebrated on 1 June, the Council of Europe has published Guidelines for policy makers on engaging with victims and survivors of child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse – “Nothing About Us Without Us”. This initiative is in line with the day’s mission...
New Council of Europe Guide to children’s participation in decisions about their health released
Respect for free and informed consent is one of the fundamental rights of every patient cared for by a healthcare professional or institution. This principle lies at the heart of the doctor-patient relationship and is recognised by international law (Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine,...
Tender call for provision of hospitality services in Reykjavík, Iceland
The Council of Europe is currently implementing the Project “Barnahus Ireland: Supporting the implementation of the Barnahus model in Ireland”. It is co-financed by the EU Structural Reform Support Programme and implemented in close cooperation with EU DG Reform and the Irish Department of...
Montenegro to introduce Barnahus model to support child survivors and witnesses of violence, abuse and sexual exploitation
The Government of Montenegro, with support from UNICEF, Council of Europe and the European Union, have today announced the introduction of a multidisciplinary model that provides child-friendly support for child survivors and witnesses of violence, abuse and exploitation, Barnahus (Children’s...
Armenia: Council of Europe launches package of measures in response to refugee influx, including protecting children's rights
The Council of Europe has launched a €2.8 million comprehensive response package to the refugee influx in Armenia. It includes four new initiatives and incorporated additional components into two ongoing projects. “The response package aims at protecting the human rights of refugees, resilience...
National and regional representatives meet in Las Palmas to discuss the draft Strategy to scale up Barnahus services in Spain
The first court specialised on violence against children in Spain is a pilot project settled in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria since October 2021. With the aim of exploring this child-friendly justice experience and fostering the debate on regional policy measures to implement the Barnahus model, a...
CJ/ENF-ISE - Work on an instrument on the rights and best interests of the child in care proceedings continues
At its 9th meeting (20-22 March 2024), the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Rights and the Best Interests of the Child in Parental Separation and in Care Proceedings (CJ/ENF-ISE) reviewed the draft recommendation on the protection of the rights and the best interests of the child in...
Council of Europe launches the first Comprehensive Assessment of Child-Friendly Justice System in Ukraine
Today the Council of Europe Project “Protecting the Rights of Ukrainian Children during and in post-war context”* organised an online presentation of the Comprehensive Assessment of Child-Friendly Justice System in Ukraine, in co-operation with Children’s Interagency Coordinating Council. This...
Lanzarote Committee: a year in review and roadmap for 2024
The Committee of the Parties to the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Committee) held its 41st plenary meeting in Strasbourg from 13 to 15 February 2024. Following this meeting, the Committee adopted its 8th Activity Report covering...
Committee of Experts on the Prevention of Violence: highlights from the 3rd ENF-VAE meeting
At its 3rd meeting (11-12 March 2024), the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on the Prevention of Violence (ENF-VAE) examined the revised draft feasibility study on age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education to strengthen responses for inter alia preventing and combating violence...
Access to education for Ukrainian children in Council of Europe member states: key focus of the CGU plenary meeting
On 26-27 March, the Council of Europe Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU), held its 2nd plenary meeting online. Members discussed the work of the Thematic Dialogue Groups on Transnational Procedures and Cooperation, on Guardianship, and on Psychological Support and Trauma-informed...
Council of Europe supports the Andorran National Action Plan for Children and Adolescents
The Council of Europe has supported the Andorran Government in the promotion of their National Action Plan for Children and Adolescents (PNIA) by developing visibility materials: posters and leaflets to be used in schools for children, along with four videos to raise awareness and engagement. The...
Calls for Tenders
