Protecting children

Building a Europe for and with Children:
Council of Europe three-year action programme
Launching conference, Monaco, 4 - 5 April 2006

The Monaco conference on 4 and 5 April launched the three-year programme “Building a Europe for and with Children” (2006 - 2008). Chaired by HRH Princess Caroline of Hanover, it welcomed participants representing governments and parliaments, bodies championing the rights of the child and international organisations, together with young people aged 14 to 18.

The programme comes under the Plan of Action adopted by the Heads of State and Government at the Warsaw Summit (May 2005). Its objective is to help decision-makers and operators concerned implement general policies on awareness-raising, information and prevention, in order to uphold and further children's rights generally and especially their right to be protected against all forms of violence.

The Programme has two closely related strands: promotion of children's rights and the course of action dealing with “Children and Violence”, commenced in Ljubljana in July 2005. (more...)

Video: ''Through the Window''

Speeches: Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General Bogdan PANAIT, State Secretary, National authority for the protection of children's rights, Representing the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe Anissa Temsamani, member of the Congress Committee on Culture and Education Jean-Charles S. GARDETTO, Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (French version) Gérard GRENERON, Vice President of the INGO Conference (French version) Thomas Hammarberg,Commissioner for Human Rights

The conference focused on four different themes: Promoting children's rights, information and awareness-raising: introducing a European strategy. Participation by children: guaranteeing access to information and developing consultation and participation procedures. Combating sexual abuse of children in the cyber-era. Towards a Europe free of corporal punishment: priorities and strategies.