Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF)
Established in 2020, the Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF) is the Council of Europe intergovernmental body responsible for the standard-setting activities in the field of the rights of the child.
It guides the Council of Europe work in this field by advising the Committee of Ministers on appropriate action and proposals concerning the overall priorities to be taken in its field of competence, future work. Where appropriate, it undertakes actions for the development and promotion of activities and instruments (for example recommendation, declaration, policy guidelines, guide to good practices) concerning the rights of the child for consideration and adoption by the Committee of Ministers.
The CDENF also oversees the implementation of the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016-2021), ensures that the rights of the child are mainstreamed into all relevant Council of Europe committees and bodies and supports member States in mainstreaming children’s rights. Furthermore, the CDENF follow-up on the work completed by the Ad hoc Committee for the Rights of the Child (CAHENF).
Its Terms of Reference, which are valid from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2021, set out in detail its tasks and responsibilities for the current biennium. During this period, the CDENF, together with the European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ) also oversee a subordinate body, the Committee of Experts on the rights and the best interest of the child in parental separation and in care proceedings (CJ/ENF-ISE).
Background documents
Areas in focus
- Areas in Focus (under construction)
Subordinate committees and working groups
Transversal approach
- Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027)
- Gender Equality Strategy for 2018-2023
- Disability Strategy for 2017-2023
- Counter-terrorism strategy for 2018-2022
- Council of Europe Strategic Action Plan for Roma and Traveller Inclusion (2020‑2025)
- Council of Europe youth sector Strategy 2030
- Strategic Action Plan on Human Rights and Technologies in Biomedicine (2020-2025)
Plenary Meetings and Thematic exchanges
1st Meeting, 4-6 February 2020
26 June 2020 (Videoconference)
Covid-19 pandemic responses: lessons learnt from management and adaptation to ensure that children are treated as rights holders during the pandemic and beyond
Concept note and Agenda (CDENF(2020)12 Bil)
List of participants (CDENF(2021)LOP2)
Summary (CDENF(2020)PV02)
Plenary Session, 17 September 2020 (Videoconference)
Thematic exchange of views on the preparation of the CoE Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027)
Annotated agenda and order of business (CDENF(2020)OJ2Rev1)
List of Participants (CDENF(2020)LOP3)
2nd Meeting, 16-18 November 2020 (videoconference)
Annotated agenda and order of business (CDENF(2020)OJ3ANN)
List of Participants (CDENF(2020)LOP4)
Meeting Report (CDENF(2020)PV3)
3rd Meeting, 18-20 May 2021 (Videoconference)
Annotated agenda and order of business (CDENF(2021)OJ1ANN)
List of Participants (CDENF(2021)LOP1)
Abridged Report (CDENF(2021)AR1)
Meeting Report (CDENF(2021)PV1)
Plenary Session, 14-15 June 2021 (Videoconference)
Thematic exchange of views on the draft CoE Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027)
Annotated agenda and order of business (CDENF(2021)OJ3ANN Rev)
Abridged Report (CDENF(2021)AR3Rev)
Meeting Report (CDENF(2021)PV03)
List of Participants (CDENF(2021)LOP3)
Plenary Session, 16-17 September 2021 (Videoconference)
Plenary Session dedicated to the rights of children in migration
Agenda and order of business (CDENF(2021)OJ2ANN)
List of Participants (CDENF(2021)LOP2)
Abridged Report (CDENF(2021)AR2)
4th meeting, 13-15 October 2021
Annotated agenda and order of business (CDENF(2021)OJ4RevANN)
List of Participants (CDENF(2021)LOP4)
Abridged Report (CDENF(2021)AR4)
Report (CDENF(2021)PV4)
2nd Plenary Session, 1-3 February 2022
Plenary Session dedicated to the rights of children in migration
Annotated agenda and order of business (CDENF(2022)OJ1ANN)
List of participants (CDENF(2022)LoP1)
Abridged report (CDENF(2022)AR01)
5th meeting, 4-6 July 2022
Draft Agenda
List of participants
Abridged report
Bureau Meetings
25-26 May 2020 (Videoconference)
1 July 2020 (Videoconference)
20 October 2020 (Videoconference)
2 February 2021 (Videoconference)
12&13 April 2021 (Videoconference)
10 September 2021 (Videoconference)
19 January 2022 (videoconference)
16 May 2022 (Videoconference)
Meeting report
Adopted texts
CDENF Opinions on Parliamentary Assembly Recommendations
- Opinion on PACE Recommendation 2206(2021) on the Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children’s rights
- Opinion on PACE Recommendation 2196(2021) on Impact of labour migration on left-behind children
- Opinion on PACE Recommendation 2190(2020) on Effective guardianship for unaccompanied and separate migrant children
- Opinion on PACE Recommendation 2169(2020) on International obligations concerning the repatriation of children from war and conflict zones
- Opinion on PACE Recommendation 2175(2020) on Adressing sexual violence against children: stepping up action and co-operation in Europe
- Opinion on PACE Recommendation 2167(2019) on the Role of education in the digital era: from “digital natives” to “digital citizens”
Latest publications
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“Listen – Act – Change”: launch of a new Council of Europe guide on children’s participation
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“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
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Kiko’s exciting adventures continue in the digital age
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New digital parenting guide by the Council of Europe
Documentation
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