On 16-17 September 2021, the Steering Committee on the Rights of the Child (CDENF) held an online plenary session dedicated to the protection of the rights of children in migration. During the session the Committee examined a Draft Recommendation relating to Human Rights Principles and Guidelines on age assessment for children, together with a Draft Explanatory Memorandum of the Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)11 of the Committee of Ministers on Effective guardianship for unaccompanied and separated children in the context of migration.

At the opening session, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees, Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, expressed his strong support to all the migration-related activities that the Committee has carried out over the years, which greatly contributed to the successful implementation of the previous Council of Europe action plan on protecting refugee and migrant children in Europe. He emphasized: "I attach the highest importance to CDENF´s work on protecting vulnerable migrant and refugee children through guidance on effective guardianship and the preparation of a new standard on age assessment, respecting children´s rights and dignity.”