The Council of Europe has adopted a new strategy to protect and promote children’s rights. The strategy is a response to the needs expressed by governments, professionals working with children, civil society and children themselves who ask for more efforts to be made in implementing existing standards. In order to achieve this, the Council of Europe will provide guidance and support to its 47 member states on how best to bridge gaps between the rights and the reality of children in Europe.

Recommendation CM/Rec (2012)13 of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers to member States on ensuring quality education, adopted on 12 December by the Ministers' Deputies.

Recommendation CM/Rec(2011)6 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on intercultural dialogue and the image of the other in history teaching. Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 6 July 2011 at the 1118th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies.

Recommendation CM/Rec(2009)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the education of Roma and Travellers in Europe. Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 17 June 2009 at the 1061st meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies.

The Council of Europe Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education which was developed over a period of several years with wide consultations and is non-binding - will be an important reference point for all of Europe and will be used as a basis for the Council of Europe’s future work in this field in the coming years.