Back 14th European Forum on the Rights of the Child 2022 Bringing children to the centre: empowering, protecting and including children

As delivered by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe

 

Chers enfants,

Mesdames et Messieurs,

C’est pour moi un grand plaisir de participer à cette conversation sur la manière dont les gouvernements et les organisations internationales peuvent œuvrer ensemble à la protection des droits de l’enfant.

Il s’agit d’un domaine où le Conseil de l’Europe peut s’appuyer sur une longue expérience.

Il y a quelques mois, j’ai lancé notre 4e Stratégie pour les droits de l’enfant –

Notre Stratégie de Rome.

Inspirée des normes contenues dans la Convention européenne des droits de l’homme, la Charte sociale européenne et la Convention de Lanzarote –

La Stratégie se fonde sur une double démarche –

Garantir la continuité dans la défense des enfants conformément à nos valeurs communes –

Tout en innovant afin que notre aide parvienne à celles et ceux qui en ont besoin en ces temps où les circonstances, les défis et les points de repère changent tant.

La Stratégie de Rome a le soutien de nos 46 États membres et elle vise à défendre les intérêts de tous les enfants de notre continent.

Au fil des années, le Conseil de l’Europe a pu tirer pleinement parti de ses stratégies grâce aux solides partenariats opérationnels et stratégiques que nous avons noués dans ce domaine.

L’Union européenne figure au premier rang de ces partenaires.

Et ce n’est pas un hasard.

Nos organisations ont en commun leur intérêt pour les droits de l’homme, la démocratie et l’État de droit.

Par le biais du Comité des Ministres et du Comité directeur pour les droits de l’enfant du Conseil de l’Europe, la Commission européenne a contribué au contenu de notre Stratégie de Rome.
Et les travaux de nos deux coordinateurs respectifs pour les droits de l’enfant permettent une coordination continue.

Aussi n’est-ce pas une surprise si les stratégies du Conseil de l’Europe et de l’Union européenne pour les droits de l’enfant partagent une vision commune et des objectifs communs.

L’une et l’autre prônent expressément la participation des enfants, des systèmes intégrés de protection de l’enfant et une justice adaptée aux enfants.

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By exchanging guidance and expertise, we support progress towards these goals.

And I appreciate in particular the way in which the Commission has invested financially in the concrete measures that give meaning to our aspirations.

For example, on child participation, the right of the child to be heard is now more deeply embedded than ever –

With the Council of Europe and the EU implementing my Organisation’s Recommendation on the participation of children and young people under the age of 18 –

And applying the Child Participation Assessment Tool, which measures the progress that, thankfully, states are making.

And when it comes to child-friendly justice, the Barnahus model is designed to provide the highest standards of care, support and access to justice when it comes to child sexual abuse.

It draws on the Council of Europe’s European Guidelines in this area, which are themselves central to both Organisations’ rights of the child strategies.

And its rapid expansion across Europe has been achieved thanks to the funding and determination of the EU, to the benefit of those who need it. 

Given the rich history of working together, it is no surprise that the Council of Europe recognises and supports the objectives outlined in the new European Union strategy.

Its aims of empowering, protecting and including children are right and just.

And, again, there is fertile ground for co-operation.

The Council of Europe’s experience and expertise are available where required.

Our door is always open.

Because we can only learn from one another’s experience and reinforce one another’s impact.

Certainly, when it comes to children’s rights we must not shy from confronting change and challenge when they confront us.

And they do.

Take the recent growth of self-generated sexual content made by children – photographs, videos, and so on – which has presented a complex, technology-driven issue for policy makers.

The Council of Europe has responded with guidance to member states –

Making clear that when children create such images in their own private sphere, this should not be criminalised –

But where adults exploit those images, this should.
Of course, right now, many Ukrainian children are also at added risk of abuse.

We know that the rights of the child are under greater threat during crisis and emergency situations.

And this is one of the many appalling effects of Russia’s aggression.

Both the Council of Europe and the EU are doing what we can, within our remits, to ensure that the rights of all refugees are respected – 

With specific measures aimed at protecting the young and displaced.

I know that we are each determined to do all that we can.

So, there has been plenty of co-operation over the rights of the child – and there will be plenty more to come.

Not just with regard to the EU and Council of Europe strategies.

But in light of new problems as and when they emerge.

This is a product of common values, a belief in multilateralism and a shared determination to make further progress.

Thank you.

Strasbourg 27 september 2022
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