On the 1st of July 2020, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted the 2nd implementation report on the Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016-2021); which covers the period between July 2017 and December 2020.

The report presents an overview of progress achieved by member states in the area of the rights of the child and information on the Council of Europe’s actions and achievements under each of the five thematic areas of the strategy (equal opportunities for all children, participation of all children, a life free from violence for all children, the rights of the child in the digital environment).

Much progress has been achieved in the first three years of the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016-2021). At this three-year juncture, the identified priority areas and specific actions have stood the test of time, illustrating the transversality of the Strategy and the impact of the coordination and mainstreaming efforts both within the Organisation and in member States. Overall, the situation for children and their rights across all five priority areas has improved to some extent.

The report underlines that the Strategy’s vision and priority areas remain relevant and appropriate and address member States’ needs and priorities. It also identifies concrete developments where the respect and implementation of children’s rights continues to fall short of the obligations set out under global and Council of Europe standards and calls for stepping up actions in these areas.

The Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child will continue to oversee the implementation of the Strategy while initiating work for the development of a new Strategy beyond 2021 and for taking into account the implications for children and their rights as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.