Guaranteeing the rights of the 150 million children in Europe is an ongoing challenge which is of concern to us all. The rights of children and young people under the age of 18 are guaranteed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Anchored in this international treaty and a broad base of European legal standards, the Council of Europe promotes and protects the rights of children in its 47 member states.

The Council of Europe Children’s Rights Division (DG Democracy) works with governments, civil society, the European Union, other international organisations and many other stakeholders to uphold and expand the protection of children’s rights in Europe. The Council of Europe promotes a holistic and integrated approach to children’s rights and mainstreams children’s rights across all relevant policy areas.