On 18 October 2017, during its 33rd Session, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe held a debate on the reception of unaccompanied child migrants in European towns. Yoomi RENSTRÖM (Sweden, SOC) commented that, while this year's statistics showed a fall in the number of child migrants in Europe, this had only been due to a tightening up of migrant filtering mechanisms. Three moving testimonies by refugees from Syria, Somalia and Afghanistan, who arrived in Europe as migrants minors, confirmed that integration measures had helped them continue their studies and succeed in their host country (Germany, Sweden and France). During the debate which followed, Congress members commended the personal efforts made by these young people and reiterated the need to mobilise local and regional authorities, in order to increase the number of foster families for migrant children, prevent child trafficking and establish a system to provide each young person with a guardian. The introduction of platforms for contact with local residents would help prevent a parallel society emerging and ensure that children’s rights are respected.
Children's Rights
Local and regional authorities have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the safety and welfare of children and young people, working together with partners such as the third sector, public organisations and the private sector. To meet this challenge, the Congress aims to raise Europe’s towns and regions awareness of the issue, to develop and implement community-based action plans and strategies, and to invest in better services.
The Congress has devised a Pact of Towns and Regions to Stop Sexual Violence against Children which proposes measures and strategies to prevent abuse, protect victims, prosecute perpetrators, and ensure the full participation of children in the entire process.
The Pact of Towns and Regions to Stop Sexual Violence against Children is a tool, launched at the initiative of Council of Europe Congress, that brings together the towns, regions and associations of towns and regions of many countries of Europe. The Pact proposes measures to prevent abuse, protect victims, prosecute perpetrators and ensure the full participation of children in the process as a whole.
Council of Europe Convention
- Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention)
Council of Europe Strategy
Congress pact to stop sexual violence against children
- Seminar on the pact of towns and regions to stop sexual violence against children (13 June 2017, Belgrade, Serbia)
- Seminar on the pact of towns and regions to stop sexual violence against children (30 June 2015, Hertogenbosch, Netherlands)
- Towns and regions: a pact to stop sexual violence against children - A contribution of the Congress to the Council of Europe ONE in FIVE campaign
- The local and regional dimensions of the Council of Europe ONE in FIVE Campaign to stop sexual violence against children
Congress texts
- Reception of women and children refugees in Europe’s cities and regions
- Unaccompanied refugee children: the role and responsibilities of local and regional authorities
- Championing children’s rights in times of austerity: Local and regional authorities’ responsibilities
- Regional legislation and action to combat sexual exploitation and abuse of children
- Preventing violence against children
Lanzarote Convention
The Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse
Seminar on the pact of towns and regions to stop sexual violence against children (13 June 2017, Belgrade, Serbia)
Conclusions
Seminar on the pact of towns and regions to stop sexual violence against children (30 June 2015, 's Hertogenbosch, Netherlands)
Conclusions