On 20 September 2017, the report “Age assessment: Council of Europe member states’ policies, procedures and practices respectful of children’s rights in the context of migration” was published. The aim of the report is to provide a factual overview of the current situation in the member states and support the Council of Europe’s work in developing guidelines on age assessment which respect children’s rights in the context of migration.                    

On 11 October 2017, the Council of Europe launched a guide to equip parliamentarians visiting children held in immigration detention. Parliamentarians, as policy makers, have the power to bring immigration detention of children to an end. It is vital for them to be informed about the effects of detention on children, and to become effective advocates to end this practice. Packed with practical tips and checklists, this guide will enable parliamentarians to conduct visits, to interview detained children and detention staff, undertake effective follow-up to their visit and ultimately become advocates to end detention of children. This guide was developed for the Council of Europe’s Campaign to End Immigration Detention of Children, in co-operation with Defence for Children International. A training workshop for Parliamentarians and Ombudspersons to complement the implementation of the guide will be held on 20 November 2017.

On 24-25 October 2017, the Lanzarote Committee will be celebrating the 10^th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. A conference “Ending sexual exploitation and abuse of children: Towards a world of trust” will take place in Strasbourg to mark the occasion.

A delegation of the Lanzarote Committee visited Hungary on 5-7 July 2017 in order to assess the situation of possible sexual exploitation and/or sexual abuse of children staying in the transit zones of Röszke and Tompa.  A report on the visit will be considered by the Lanzarote Committee at its 19th meeting (25-27 October 2017).