Steering Committee for 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 and 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 (2022-2027), 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.
Its Terms of Reference, which are valid from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2025, set out in detail its tasks and responsibilities for the next 4 years. 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) and the Committee of Experts on the prevention of violence (ENF-VAE).
Bewteen 2016 and 2019, the Council of Europe's the intergovernmental work in the area of the rights of the child was guided by the Ad hoc Committee for the Rights of the Child (CAHENF).
Meetings 2024
Plenary meeting
28-30 May 2024 (Strasbourg)
3-5 December 2024 (Strasbourg)
Draft agenda and Annotated Agenda
List of participants
Abridged report
Meeting report
Bureau meeting
11 and 12 April 2024 (Lisbon)
4 July (ad-hoc online meeting)
2-3 October (Strasbourg)
Meeting Report
Composition
Background documents
Subordinate committees and working groups
- Committee of Experts on the rights and the best interests of the child in parental separation and in care proceedings (CJ/ENF-ISE)
- Committee of Experts on the prevention of violence (ENF-VAE)
- Working Group on responses to violence against children (CDENF-GT-VAE)
- Committee of Experts on access to child-friendly justice through multidisciplinary and Interagency services (ENF-JUS)
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 2023-2027
- 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)
Adopted texts
CDENF Opinions on Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) and on Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Recommendations
- Opinion on PACE Recommendation 2274(2024) on the Protection of children against online violence
- Opinion on PACE Recommendation 2256(2024) on the Situation of the Children of Ukraine
- Opinion on PACE Recommendation 2253(2023) - Deportations and forcible transfers of Ukrainian children and other civilians to Russian Federation or to Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied: create conditions for their safe return, stop these crimes and punish the perpetrators
- Opinion on PACE Recommendation 2244(2023) – Addressing the issue of Daesh foreign fighters and their families returning from Syria and other countries to the member States of the Council of Europe
- Opinion on Recommendation 481(2022) of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities – Reception of women and children refugees in Europe’s cities and regions
- Opinion on PACE Recommendation 2234(2022) on Eradicating extreme child poverty in Europe: an international obligation and a moral duty
- Opinion on PACE Recommendation 2227(2022) on Deinstitutionalisation of persons with disabilities
- Opinion on PACE Recommendation 2225(2022) on For an assesment of the means and provisions to combat children's exposure to pornographic content
- Opinion on PACE Recommendation 2219(2022) on Inaction on climate change - a violation of children's rights
- Opinion on PACE Recommendaton 2218(2022) on the right to be heard: child participation, a foundation for democratic societies
- Opinion on PACE Recommendation 2216(2021) on the Best interest of the child and policies to ensure a work-life balance
- 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”
