The Council of Europe Family Policy
Database
The Council of Europe family policy database is
a unique source of reference
for all policy-makers, practioners and researchers who want to gain
a better understanding of how family policies work - from Iceland
to Azerbaijan, from Norway to Greece. It was set up to address the
demand for up-to-date and comparative data on family policies across
greater Europe.
The database contains key quantitative data, but its main focus
is on qualitative information on all relevant sectors of family
policy. It covers 40 of the Council of Europe's 47 member States,
including all members of the European Union.
The information in the database was provided by the ministries responsible
for family affairs on the respective Council of Europe member States
and co-ordinated by members of the
European Committee for Social Cohesion and the
Committee of Experts for Social Policy for Families and Children.
The national contributions have not been edited by the Council of
Europe and for the time being, some are available in French only.
To learn more about the database,
please contact: familypolicy@coe.int.
Information in the database is organised under the following headings:
0. Structural indicators
1. Institutional framework and family policy objectives
2. Financial
policies aimed at families
3. Reconciliation
of work and family life
4. Family law and
children's rights
5. Policies
dealing with family difficulties
6. Parenting support
0. Structural indicators
Social benefits as % of GDP and impact of social transfers
Demographic indicators
Employment rates by gender, part-time employment
1. Institutional framework and family policy objectives
1.1. Institutional framework
Government bodies responsible for family policy
Co-ordination between family policy and other policies
(+ comparative table)
Relationship between government and non-governmental organisations
Plans for changes in 2008 and 2009
1.2. Family policy objectives
Main family policy objectives (+
comparative table)
Concerns and policy drivers underlying the objectives
Policy objectives on reconciling work and family life
Shifts in policy objectives over the last decade
Sources on institutional framework and objectives of family policy
2. Financial policies
aimed at families
2.1. Family/child allowances
System of family/child allowances (+
comparative table)
Trends over the last years
Public debate on family/child allowances
2.2. Fiscal policies
Tax deductions and benefits for families
Major changes over the last years
2.3. Other family benefits
Social security benefits by categories (children, lone parents, poor families, etc.)
Sources on financial policies towards families
3. Reconciliation
of work and family life
3.1. Protection of mothers in the workplace
System of protection of mothers in the workplace
3.2. Flexible working
Flexible and part-time working; impact on gender equality
3.3. Leave arrangements
Maternity leave (+
comparative tables)
Paternity leave (+
comparative tables)
Parental
leave (+
comparative tables)
Other leave arrangements / time off (+
comparative table)
Leave / time off to care for adult dependants (+
comparative table)
Estimates for take up of leave
3.4. Services provision
Child care services (+
comparative tables)
Timetables for children in primary school
Informal child care systems
Care provisions for the elderly and other dependant adult persons
Sources on reconciliation of work and family life
4. Family law and
children's rights
4.1. Marriage and cohabitation
Legislation on marriage
Legislation on cohabitation
4.2. Divorce and parenthood
Legislation on divorce
Child custody and maintenance
Family mediation
4.3. Rights of children (in judicial procedures, etc.)
Sources on family law and children's rights
5. Policies
dealing with family difficulties
5.1. Violence in the family
Legal framework on family violence
Policy on corporal punishment of children
5.2. Stress and other difficulties in
the family
Counselling services for family members
Removing parental authority
Sources on policies dealing with family difficulties
6. Parenting
support
Policies to help parents with child-raising
Providers and beneficiaries of parenting programmes
Compulsory parenting programmes for families at risk
Sources on parenting support
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