Social services are a key component of child protection systems. When social services systems fail to effectively protect children’s rights and well-being, the risk of child rights violations increases drastically. This may cause children to mistrust institutions and service providers thus increasing the odds of further children rights violation. In order to effectively protect children who are in vulnerable situations, social services need to take a child-centred approach.

The Council of Europe Recommendation on children’s rights and social services friendly to children and families (2011) builds on child rights principles and provides a framework for member states to look at social services legislation, policies and delivery with a critical eye, to enhance their work and, ultimately, to contribute to better outcomes for children.

Accessible, appropriate and adapted to the needs of every child

The Recommendation builds on three principles: the provision of social services in the best interest of the child, the child’s rights to participation and the child’s right to protection. These three principles are to be applied to all social services provided to children, including general, specialised and intensive social services and in all aspects of social service delivery.

General elements of child-friendly social services:

  • Information and advice
  • Accessibility of services
  • Availability
  • Appropriateness, suitability
  • Interdisciplinary and multi-agency collaboration
  • Professional competency: training, supervision and accountability
  • Confidentiality and privacy rights

Recommendation on children’s rights and social services friendly to children and families (2011) also available in: ARA - AZER - ROU – SRB – TUR

Children and Social Services (2016)

Exhibition “Austerity Bites: Children’s Voices” introduces 32 short films made by children

The Council of Europe and the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) launch an exhibition expressing children’s views on how the economic crisis and austerity measures affect them and their rights.
https://www.coe.int/en/web/childrens-voices

Links

European Commission – Integrated child protection systems

Nazaj “All on board – all online”: Council of Europe launches a new Handbook for policy makers on the rights of the child in the digital environment

“All on board – all online”: Council of Europe launches a new Handbook for policy makers on the rights of the child in the digital environment

On 10 December 2020 - on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day - the Council of Europe held a webinar to launch a new tool: the Handbook for policy makers on the rights of the child in the digital environment.

As 1 in 3 internet users worldwide are children, they represent a large group of digital citizens. While they explore the digital environment, children are presented with many opportunities, including access to education material and information, and platforms to express themselves and engage in play. However, children also face many risks online, and can suffer from human rights violations.

To protect children’s rights in the digital environment, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted the Guidelines to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of the child in the digital environment, which also exists in a child-friendly version. The new Handbook completes these guidelines, by supporting policy makers in dealing concretely with the online rights and protection of children. It will assist the formulation of national frameworks and policies, as well as provide interpretative and practical guidance to ensure the respect of children’s rights online.

The three prominent authors of the Handbook, together with an expert who prepared a closely related Council of Europe Report on children with disabilities in the digital environment, discussed the importance of policy making and presented how the Handbook can be used to safeguard and support children’s activities online:

  • Ms Sonia Livingstone, Professor of Social Psychology, Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), United Kingdom
  • Ms Eva Lievens, Professor of Law & Technology, Ghent University, Belgium
  • Mr John Carr, International Advisor on children’s internet safety and security, United Kingdom
  • Ms Laura Lundy, Professor, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom.

 Concept note and programme

 Introduction by Ms Regina Jensdottir, Head of Children's Rights Division, Council of Europe

 Presentation by Ms Sonia Livingstone, Professor of Social Psychology, Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), United Kingdom

 Presentation by Ms Eva Lievens, Professor of Law & Technology, Ghent University, Belgium

 Presentation by Ms Laura Lundy, Professor, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom

 Facebook livestream of the webinar

Strasbourg 10 Decembre 2020
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