Council of Europe: Platform on the Rights of Children

The Council of Europe is setting up a platform on children's rights composed of a network of focal points and representatives of civil society, ombudspersons, international organisations and experts, and research institutions. Main goal is to endorse the future guidelines on integrated national strategies for the protection of children against violence. The platform will enable e-consultation and ad hoc discussions between different stakeholders.

Objectives of the Platform include:

• to provide a forum for the discussion and promotion of the draft Council of Europe Policy Guidelines on National Integrated Strategies for the protection of children against violence, and review progress of its implementation;

• to seek individual member States' commitment for the adoption and implementation of such strategies at national level;

• to suggest ways for a cross-sectoral exchange of experiences between countries with regard to effective methods of protecting children from all forms of violence;

• to discuss European follow up to the recommendations included in the UN Secretary General's Study on Violence against Children, in co-operation with the UN Secretary General Special Representative on violence against children (this may entail in particular the preparation of a report for the 65th session of the UN General Assembly in 2010);

• to ensure a follow up to the III World Congress against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents (Rio, 25-28 November 2008), e.g. by launching an awareness raising campaign, supporting efforts towards the ratification of relevant CoE Conventions and the adoption of national legislation in conformity with those standards, promoting cross border collaboration and the promotion of exchange of information, and the coordination and monitoring of progress on the protection of children from sexual exploitation; and

• to develop specific action to protect vulnerable children.

The launching conference of the platform will take place in Strasbourg on 2nd and 3rd June 2009.

More information at the CoE website