The CJ/ENF-ISE has been entrusted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to develop, draft Recommendation(s) and implementation tool(s) on the rights and the best interests of the child in parental separation and in care proceedings, under the supervision of the European Committee on Legal Cooperation (CDCJ) and of the Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF).

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).

Publication of the Recommendation CM/Rec(2025)4 on the protection of the rights and best interests of the child in parental separation proceedings and its explanatory memorandum

Checklist for policy makers for the implementation of Recommendation CM/Rec(2025)4 - Protection of the rights and best interests of the child in parental separation proceedings

Publication of the Recommendation CM/Rec(2025)5 on the protection of the rights and best interests of the child in care proceedings and its explanatory memorandum

Checklist for policy makers for the implementation of Recommendation CM/Rec(2025)5 on the rights and best interests of the child in care proceedings 

  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 terms of reference and working methods

 Feasibility study of a legal instrument on the 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 (19/07/2021)

Feasibility study on a legal instrument on the protection of the best interests of the child in situations of parental separation (22/07/2021)