Strasbourg, 12 March 2012 CDLR(2012)10
Item 18 of the agenda
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEMOCRACY
(CDLR)
APPOINTMENT OF CDLR RAPPORTEUR
ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
For action
Secretariat Memorandum
prepared by the
Directorate of Democratic Governance, Culture and Diversity
Democracy, Institution-Building and Governance Department
 |
Introduction
At its latest meeting (see document CDLR-BU(2012)7), the Bureau of CDLR took note of the adoption by the Committee of Ministers, at the 1134th meeting of the Deputies (15 February 2012) of a Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child 2012-2015 and agreed that the CDLR should be invited to contribute to it.
The Strategy on the rights of the child proposes a vision for the Council of Europe’s role and action in this field, taking into account the progress achieved during the two previous policy cycles, the needs expressed by governments and the challenges identified by the international community. It is the result of extensive consultations with governments, parliamentarians, key international organisations and civil society representatives. It is also based on an analysis of surveys and consultations with children.
In fulfilling its role as a catalyst for the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in Europe, the overarching goal in 2012-15 of the Programme “Building a Europe for and with children” will be to achieve effective implementation of existing children’s rights standards. To that end, the programme will provide policy guidance and support to the member states in implementing United Nations and Council of Europe standards, promote a holistic and an integrated approach to children’s rights, and identify measures that will tackle old and new challenges in this field.
The programme focuses on four strategic objectives:
1. promoting child-friendly services and systems;
2. eliminating all forms of violence against children;
3. guaranteeing the rights of children in vulnerable situations;
4. promoting child participation.
The Council of Europe, through the Programme “Building a Europe for and with Children” and this Strategy, will continue to act as a regional forum for the promotion of the rights of the child and will focus on implementing the objectives of this strategy in co-operation with its key partners, whose role it shall strive to reinforce and support effectively in the implementation of the strategy objectives.
The key partners in the implementation of the Strategy are:
- the Council of Europe Inter-Secretariat Task Force on the Rights of the Child which meets regularly to exchange on results and difficulties arising in their respective fields of activities, to co-ordinate the response and propose action;
- the Committee of Ministers Thematic Co-ordinator on children’s rights (TC-ENF), who liaises with relevant rapporteur groups and ensures Committee of Ministers ownership and leadership of the programme;
- the Council of Europe Network of Focal Points on the Rights of the Child, which was created to promote co-ordination of the various actors and policies at national level, and to reinforce the link between such co-ordination mechanisms and the Council of Europe strategy and programme; the role of the Network of focal points will be redefined and reinforced;
- representatives of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the Commissioner for Human Rights and other entities such as steering and expert committees, monitoring bodies and the relevant institutions and bodies;
- representatives from international organisations, civil society, ombudspersons, higher level education and research institutions, international experts, professional networks, youth organisations, parents associations and individual children.
Further details on the Strategy can be downloaded from the webpage of the CoE Committee of Ministers[1].
In order for the CDLR to follow and contribute to this work, it is envisaged that it appoint one or more rapporteurs.
Action required
The Committee is invited to appoint one or more rapporteurs to liaise with the stakeholders’ network of the Strategy and report back to and raise awareness within the CDLR on issues related to child protection.