Committee of Experts on the rights and the best interests of the child in parental separation and in care proceedings (CJ/ENF-ISE)
This work aims to provide guidance in this area to member States and other stakeholders, in particular practitioners, in line with international and European standards and good practices. It is among the priorities of the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child.
The CJ/ENF-ISE meetings are organised twice a year and held in closed session. Agenda, working documents and adopted reports of these meetings are made public. Where the Committee considers it necessary, it will ensure an inclusive participation and targeted consultations of a broad range of stakeholders, including children, judges, lawyers, administrative authorities and other civil society organisations.
On 28 May 2025, the Committee of Ministers adopted Recommendation CM/Rec(2025)4 on the protection of the rights and best interests of the child in parental separation proceedings, as well as Recommendation CM/Rec(2025)5 on the protection of the rights and best interests of the child in care proceedings and their Explanatory Memoranda. These instruments are the result of the work completed by the CJ/ENF-ISE under the authority of the CDCJ and the CDENF, and are an integral contribution to the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027).
Terms of Reference of the CJ/ENF-ISE for 2024
Terms of Reference of the CJ/ENF-ISE for 2022-2023
Members of the CJ/ENF-ISE (update: 05/09/2023)
Working methods and workplan (2024) (update: 23/05/2024)
3rd meeting (14-15 April 2021)
Videoconference
Summary table of contribution received to the survey for practitioners - Best interests and rights of the child in parental separation
Summary table of contribution received to the survey for practitioners - Protection of the best interests of the child in domestic law proceedings by public authorities to limit parental responsibilities or place a child in care
2nd meeting (14 and 18 December 2020)
Videoconference
Summary table of contribution received to the questionnaire - Best interests and rights of the child in parental separation
Summary table of contribution received to the questionnaire - Protection of the best interests of the child in domestic law proceedings by public authorities to limit parental responsibilities or place a child in care
2nd joint meeting, 24 June 2021
Videoconference
1st joint meeting (7 October 2020)
Videoconference
Adoption of two Committee of Ministers Recommendations on the rights and best interests of the child in parental separation and care proceedings
Strasbourg, 28 May 2025 – Today, the Committee of Ministers has adopted two Recommendations to strengthen the protection of the rights and best interests of the child in parental separation proceedings and in care proceedings. When parents separate or when a child’s family is unable to provide...
Joint session of the CDCJ and the CDENF: approval of the draft recommendation on the protection of the rights and best interests of the child in care proceedings
At a joint session held on 3 December 2024, the European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ) and the Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF) approved the draft recommendation on the protection of the rights and best interests of the child in care proceedings, and adopted its...
Outcome of the 10th meeting
CJ/ENF-ISE - 10th meeting on the preparation of a legal instrument on the rights and best interests of the child in care proceedings
The Committee of Experts on the Rights and the Best interests of the Child in Parental Separation and in Care Proceedings (CJ/ENF-ISE) held on 14-16 October its 10th and last meeting to finalise the draft recommendation on the protection of the rights and best interests of the child in care...
Outcome of the 9th meeting
CJ/ENF-ISE - Work on an instrument on the rights and best interests of the child in care proceedings continues
At its 9th meeting (20-22 March 2024), the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Rights and the Best Interests of the Child in Parental Separation and in Care Proceedings (CJ/ENF-ISE) reviewed the draft recommendation on the protection of the rights and the best interests of the child in...
Outcome of the 8th meeting
CJ/ENF-ISE: Rights and best interests of the child in parental separation proceedings
The Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Rights and the Best Interests of the Child in Parental Separation and in Care Proceedings (CJ/ENF-ISE) held its 8th meeting from 4 to 6 October 2023. The experts finalised the draft recommendation on the protection of the rights and the best...
Outcome of the 7th meeting of CJ/ENF-ISE on the rights and best interests of the child in parental separation proceedings
The Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Rights and the Best Interests of the Child in Parental Separation and in Care Proceedings (CJ/ENF-ISE) held its 7th meeting on 6 to 8 and 24 March 2023 during which, the experts, building on their previous work, reviewed the structure and the...
Outcome of the 6th CJ/ENF-ISE meeting
At its 6th meeting, held in Dublin from 4 to 5 October 2022, the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Rights and the Best Interests of the Child in Parental Separation and in Care Proceedings (CJ/ENF-ISE) held a hearing with selected stakeholders and made progress in the elaboration of...
Interactive hearing held on the protection of the best interests of the child and his/her rights in parental separation and in care proceedings
The Committee of Experts on the Rights and the Best interests of the Child in Parental Separation and in Care Proceedings (CJ/ENF-ISE) held on 4 October a hearing which provided a platform for member states to engage with representatives international non-governmental organisations, professional...
Hear our voices – the rights and best interests of the child in parental separation and care proceedings
Considering the voice of children and young people in determining their best interests in family courts during parental separation and care proceedings was the focus of an international conference which took place in Dublin on 3 October under the Irish Presidency of the Council of Europe. The...
Relevant documents
Terms of Reference of the CJ/ENF-ISE for 2024 Terms of Reference of the CJ/ENF-ISE for 2022-2023 Members of the CJ/ENF-ISE (update: 05/09/2023) Working methods and workplan (2024) (update: 23/05/2024) Resolution CM/Res(2021)3 on intergovernmental committees and subordinate bodies, their...
“Hear our voices – the rights and best interests of the child in parental separation and care proceedings” (Dublin, 3 October 2022)
An international conference, organised under the Irish Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, will take place in Dublin (3 October 2022) to promote the rights, voice and best interests of the child in parental separation and care proceedings.
