Emilie White
Public Affairs & Project Manager
European Children’s Network ◦ Avenue des Arts, 1-2 ◦ First Floor ◦ B-1210 BrusselsTel: +32 (0)2 217 0186 ◦ Fax +32 (0)2 513 4903
[email protected] ◦ www.europeanchildrensnetwork.eu
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
• Network of national and transnational NGOs sharing a common concern that children’s rights, based on the UNCRC, are taken into account in all EU legislation, policies and programmes which have an impact on children’s rights.
Who are we?
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
The networkMember organisations• Austrian Coalition of Child Rights NGOs,
represented by Die Kinderfreunde (Austria) • BICE, Bureau International Catholique de l'Enfance
(EU Office) • Coordination des ONG pour les Droits de l’Enfant –
CODE (Belgium)• EFSCW, European Foundation on Street Children
Worldwide (Belgium)• International Save the Children Alliance (EU Office) • Kinderrechtencoalitie Vlaanderen vzw (Belgium) • SOS Kinderdorf International (EU Office)• Friends of Europe – Varna (Bulgaria)• Center for the Study of Childhood & Adolescence
(Cyprus)• Our Child Foundation (Czech Republic)• Red Barnet (Save the Children Denmark)• Pelastakaa Lapset (Save the Children Finland) • COFRADE (French coalition of children’s NGOs)
(France) • European Network of Master’s in Children Rights
(Germany)• German National Coalition (Germany) • ISPCC, Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children (Ireland) • Save the Children Italia (Italy) • Save the Children Lithuania (Lithuania)• FICE (Luxembourg)
• CHI, Child Helpline International• DCI, Defence for Children International
(Netherlands) (on behalf of Dutch Children’s Rights Coalition)
• Polish Forum for Children’s Rights (Poland)• Nobody’s Children Foundation (Poland)• “Our Home” Association (Poland)• Salvati Copii ( Save the Children Romania)• Plataforma de Organizaciones de Infancia (Spain) • Rädda Barnen (Save the Children – Sweden) (on
behalf of Swedish Children’s Rights Coalition) • EACH, European Association for Children in
Hospital• NSPCC, National Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Children (United Kingdom) • Save the Children Fund (United Kingdom)• Estonian Union for Child Welfare (Estonia)
Associated Organisations• Media Literacy Network (Greece)• ARSIS, Association for the Social Support of Youth
(Greece)• Save the Children (Iceland)• First Children’s Embassy in the World (Macedonia) • Save the Children (Norway)
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
Child Participation
at the EU
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
Child Participation
at the EU
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
Child Participation is a right• Children have the right to be heard at the EU level
– The EU makes laws, programmes and policies which have both direct and indirect affects on the lives of children; children have a right to be heard on these issues
• Children are European citizens too– Of the 100 million children in Europe not one child has been consulted
by the EU on policies which have an effect on their lives
• The future EU Strategy on the rights of the child must be developed for and by children– The Strategy is based on the UNCRC and the Commission has
committed to involve children in decision-making on EU matters that concern them
– Effective, and safe methods must be developed to ensure that children are consulted in a meaningful way
– As key stakeholders children should be included in a safe and meaningful way in all future European Fora
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
• Article 12 of the UNCRC:1. States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her
own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.
2. For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law.
Child Participation: the law
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
Lisbon Treaty
“The Union …shall combat social exclusion and discrimination, and shall promote social justice and protection, equality between women and men, solidarity between generations and protection of the rights of the child.”
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
Fundamental Rights: Article 24 The Rights of the Child
1. Children shall have the right to such protection and care as is necessary for their well-being. They may express their views freely. Such views shall be taken into consideration on matters which concern them in accordance with their age and maturity.
2. In all actions relating to children, whether taken by public authorities or private institutions, the child's best interests must be a primary consideration.
3. Every child shall have the right to maintain on a regular basis a personal relationship and direct contact with both his or her parents, unless that is contrary to his or her interests.
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
How can children be heard at the EU?
• EURONET child participation projects:- Agenda 2000- Consultations on discrimination, social exclusion and poverty- Consultations on European Constitution – 2003
• Save the Children children’s participation initiative in Europe focused on EU decision making- Europe wide consultation with children and young people on the
EC Communication (Towards an EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child) 2007
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
What do children think of Europe?
To see equality in all the
countries in the EU
Equality for boys and
girls
Unity
At the end of the day to have no racism!
Include in the Convention, rights for
children
There is no other future for Europe but to be united.
First step is European Union
and the second is the full World
Union with peace and cooperation
all over it
Unity – Common policy –
Common European
Conscience
More child friendly information
and access to that
information!
All children have common political, cultural,
and social conscience
Equal rights in third world
countries
For all young people to be heard
Europe – where child rights are equally respected
Child healt
h care
To be politically and socially
independent we want a strong and
independent Europe
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
Consultation on the European Constitution, 2002-2003
On the last night everyone gathered together to relax and talk, we like to
think it was more of a celebration. The atmosphere was smitten with cheer and achievement but with a mix of
sadness as everyone was leaving the next day. We had gathered together as one to try to make Europe a better place for children and young people to live in and we, personally, think that we are well on our way to making it
happen
Words from Kerri, Teri, Mhairi and Wendy – Children from Scotland
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
What do children think about an EU Strategy on Children’s Rights?
They [adults] should give hope to children, not discriminate against them
Children grow up in fear. I think that children are afraid. So they
don’t tell anyone about the violence used against them.
There should be places where a child can come and tess about
his/her problems. Teach children to see
other things besides alcohol and
cigarettes. They have to learn that there are more fun things in life than
drugs
If nature collapses the places for
children to play will be less
All children should have enough
food and money
We need to be told about ‘grown up’
issues
Child trafficking is one of the most severe problems in the
country because it is very frequent. The
authorities should be more efficient in
trying to eliminate this problem and the guilty ones should be
punished
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
Participating in the European Forum
Purpose of the Forum• Strengthen communication among stakeholders • Contribute to the design and monitoring of EU actions
and act as an arena for exchange of good practice• Promote and strengthen networking and children’s
representation in the EU and globally, with a view to formally involving them in all consultation and actions related to their rights and needs
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
Principles:• Meaningful participation:
– Ethical, non-discriminatory, child friendly• Safe participation:
– Child protection is critical and requires training (resources already exist, adapt Violence against Children consultation in Bangkok)
– Selection of child representatives based on agreed criteria (representativeness, inclusiveness)
• Child experts are recognised as key partners throughout• Representatives from countries outside Europe• Well-prepared thorough organisation
– Child friendly documents, logistics, facilitation methods, evaluation, follow-up, adequate human, financial resources, timing
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
What children have to say about it“We need..:
• Enough funding to do this work properly and have enough (qualified) staff
• Settings that allow equality, and for us to learn from each other
• Enough time to get involved and share our ideas with others
• Literature that we can read and understand• Adults and staff that are welcoming
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
www.europeanchildrensnetwork.euEmilie White
Tel: +32 (0)2 217 01 86
Fax: +32 (0)2 513 49 03
ChildONEurope Child Participation seminar - Florence 31/01/08
• Informal grouping of NGOs committed to working together on the follow up and implementation of the European Commission Communication - Towards an EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child and for the purpose of information sharing.
• Regular meetings; web-based document sharing and email exchange system
• Members:– Eurochild– European Children’s Network (EURONET)– European Foundation for Street Children– International Federation Terre des Hommes– Plan International– SOS Kinderdorf International– Save the Children Brussels– World Vision International– UNICEF (associate)
