Newsroom on Children's Rights
Social media and children’s mental health: right answers are rarely black and white
Any policy decisions about access of children to social media should be guided by a children’s rights approach, informed by the latest research and, most importantly, by children’s voices. With many countries reviewing their legislation on children’s access to social media, the participants of a...
Creating, altering and distributing AI-generated child sexual abuse material is criminalised under Council of Europe conventions
The Council of Europe’s Cybercrime Convention committee and the Committee of the parties to the Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse have issued a joint statement following a session held on 2 June 2026 in Strasbourg addressing the growing threats...
Child-focused events on AI abuse material and social media and minors’ mental health to follow
Countering sexual abuse and exploitation of children: new report published by Council of Europe
The Council of Europe’s Lanzarote Committee – the body that helps countries protect children from sexual abuse by monitoring implementation of the Council of Europe’s Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse – has published its 10th activity report....
Advancing justice for children across Europe: Final conference of the Child-friendly Justice Project
The Final conference of the Joint European Union – Council of Europe Child-friendly Justice Project was held on 27 May 2026 in Athens, in co-operation with the Ministry of Justice of the Hellenic Republic. The event brought together representatives from Belgium, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal...
Council of Europe and European Commission release new guidance to support Barnahus model reforms
Today, the Council of Europe and the European Commission have published a new Practical guidance for national authorities on how to design and implement a reform to apply the Barnahus model – a pioneering initiative for the protection of children from violence, including sexual violence....
Croatia moves closer to child-friendly justice with Barnahus (“Children’s House”) project completed at a final event in Zagreb
On 19 May 2026, the Final Conference of the joint European Union – Council of Europe project "Implementing the Barnahus Model in Croatia" took place at the National and University Library in Zagreb, showcasing the results of a three-year initiative aimed at strengthening Croatia’s response to...
31st North-South Prize Award
Barnahus as a concrete implementation of the Lanzarote Convention and child-friendly justice standards: a North-South dialogue
On 18 May 2026, a high-level dialogue was held in Lisbon to explore child-friendly and multidisciplinary responses to violence against children, with a focus on the Barnahus model as a concrete implementation of international standards, particularly the Council of Europe Convention on the...
Advancing coordinated action for children of Ukraine: taking stock and shaping next steps
The Council of Europe’s Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU) convened its 9th Plenary meeting in Strasbourg (14-16 April 2026), bringing together member states, international organisations, civil society and experts to take stock and strengthen coordinated responses to the evolving...
Lanzarote Committee launches a new monitoring round on screening persons in contact with children for sexual offences
During its 47th plenary meeting (24-26 March 2026), the Lanzarote Committee (Committee of the Parties to the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse) launched a new monitoring round on the screening of professionals, volunteers and...
How can Europe become a champion of child-friendly justice?
Children come into contact with the justice system in many different ways. They can be victims, witnesses, offenders or parties in non-judicial, judicial (civil and criminal) and administrative proceedings. Often, when faced with the justice system, they are thrown into an intimidating adult...
Council of Europe Committee makes progress on draft Recommendation to protect children from violence through age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on the Prevention of Violence (ENF-VAE) met on 19–20 March 2026 to advance its work on a draft Recommendation to member states on the protection of children against violence through age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education as a key measure to...
From strategy to practice: Spanish regions move forward on the Barnahus model in Pamplona
On 10 - 11 March 2026, the fourth inter-regional meeting of the European Union - Council of Europe joint project “Strengthening child-friendly justice among Barnahus-type services in Spanish regions (Phase II)” took place in Pamplona, Navarra. The meeting brought together 64 participants,...
Special Envoy on a visit to Geneva to discuss protection and return of Ukrainian children
On 9 March, the Special Envoy of the Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, visited Geneva to take part in discussions on the margins of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council focusing on the protection and return of...
Four years after full-scale invasion, Ukrainian children still suffer most
Today marks four years since Russia initiated its illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine - an ongoing conflict whose devastating impact continue to fall hardest on children. Over two million Ukrainian children have been displaced. While exact figures differ, estimates consider that tens of...
Justice and accountability for children of Ukraine must remain high on the political agenda
Ensuring accountability for children of Ukraine, supporting their psychological rehabilitation and social integration, and returning illegally deported Ukrainian children back to the country were the focus of the meeting between the Special Envoy of the Secretary General on the situation of...
Best practices for interviewing children: evidence-based techniques
In line with the Council of Europe’s unwavering commitment to securing accountability for crimes committed during Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU) focuses on ensuring that justice efforts protect and empower Ukrainian children....
Council of Europe participates in the First International Congress on Barnahus in Barcelona
The Council of Europe Children’s Rights Division has participated in the First International Congress on a Comprehensive Approach to Sexual Violence Against Children and Adolescents with the Barnahus Model, organised on 6th February 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. This Congress brought together more...
Strengthening child protection from sexual violence in Croatia: Certification and re-launch of the HELP training
On 4 February 2026, the Council of Europe – European Union joint project “Implementing the Barnahus model in Croatia”, re-launched the Croatian version of the HELP course on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. The event in Zagreb marked the start of a second...
Co-operation to support children of Ukraine is a test of our collective credibility, says Council of Europe Special Envoy in exchange of views with United Nations
Addressing participants of a discussion on relations with the United Nations , Special Envoy of the Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, pledged to reinforcing co-operation with UN agencies and other international actors to address...
Raising awareness of the Barnahus model and advancing its implementation in the Balearic Islands
The implementation of the Barnahus model continues to advance in Spain, with the Balearic Islands hosting an event to raise awareness of child-friendly and multidisciplinary practices for supporting child victims of sexual violence. The session, organised by the joint European Union - Council of...
Calls for Tenders
