Committees
The Children’s Rights Division works to protect and promote children’s rights in Europe and beyond. Our committees bring together government experts, representatives of international organisations, child rights advocates, NGOs, and children themselves to set standards, shape policies, monitor progress, and coordinate responses to new challenges. Discover how these three bodies help make children’s rights a reality across our member states.
Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child
The Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child (CDENF) plays a central role in setting standards to uphold children’s rights. It is responsible for ensuring that children’s rights are included in every aspect of the work both at Council of Europe and national level.
Lanzarote Committee
The Lanzarote Committee monitors how countries implement the Council of Europe Convention on Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (the Lanzarote Convention). This convention, which is open for accession by any country in the world, requires its state parties to take legal and policy measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, protect children, prosecute offenders, and promote international co-operation.
Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU)
Set up to ensure the practical implementation of the 2023 Reykjavík Summit Declaration, the Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine (CGU) aims to protect the rights of the millions of children of Ukraine affected by Russia’s war of aggression. This includes children in Ukraine, those in Council of Europe member states, those returned following unlawful deportation to Russia, Belarus and those residing in temporarily occupied territories. The CGU facilitates exchange on applicable legal standards and policies regarding these children, identifies promising practices and develops guidance to states and other actors in the field.
