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.

The strategy will focus on four main objectives:

• promoting child-friendly services and systems (in the areas of justice, health and social services);
• eliminating all forms of violence against children (including sexual violence, trafficking, corporal punishment and violence in schools);
• guaranteeing the rights of children in vulnerable situations (such as those with disabilities, in detention, in alternative care, migrant or Roma children)
• promoting child participation.
  

In fulfilling these objectives, the Council of Europe will continue to act as the leading organisation in the field of children’s rights.

The CoE Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2012-2015)

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