The Council of Europe protects and promotes the human rights of everyone, including children. Based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the European Convention on Human Rights and other legal standards, the Council of Europe promotes and protects the rights of millions of children in Europe.

Back New report: action needed to improve living conditions for migrants and refugees and to protect unaccompanied children

New report: action needed to improve living conditions for migrants and refugees and to protect unaccompanied children

A report on the situation of refugees and migrants in Greece and “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” was published today by Tomáš Boček, Special Representative on Migration and Refugees of the Council of Europe’s Secretary General. The report is based on his fact-finding visit to the two countries from 7 to 11 March 2016.

An important issue addressed in this report is the treatment of refugee and migrant children, especially unaccompanied minors, in Greece. The report calls for alternatives to detention for children who are often detained while their asylum claims are being processed or on their way to shelters. It also draws attention to the importance of making some provision for education in the camps and the need to strengthen the Greek child-protection system to protect refugee and migrant children from exploitation.

Strasbourg 11 May 2016
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Children as defenders of human rights: a study on Council of Europe member states

Child human rights defenders want governments to start listening to their opinions, ideas, and proposals in the development of laws and policies. This is one of the main findings of a new Council of Europe report: “Children as defenders of human rights: a study on Council of Europe member states”.

This is the first ever study of national challenges and responses regarding the recognition, protection and empowerment of children acting as “child human rights defenders” in Council of Europe member states. It is based on the responses to a survey received from 20(*) out of 46 Council of Europe member states, as well as consultations with 85 children across Europe, supplemented by desk research.

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