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The majority of young people from the 27 Member States of the European Union are aware that people under 18 enjoy specific rights compared to adults. However, when asked which problems they thought might be encountered by others in their age group trying to defend their rights, the most commonly mentioned problem was that children would not know how to go about it and whom to contact. Education was mentioned most frequently by young people when asked about areas in which they thought the interest of children should be taken into account. Violence against children was considered as the top priority in their country.
88% said that it should be a priority to provide more information to children about their rights and were to enquire about them. 73% of the respondents across EU though it was important to involve children more in the definition of policies that concerned them. You can read more in the report The rights of the child; Analytical report, April 2008 Flash Barometer, European Commission.
Children in Europe live in a region with potentially strong human rights framework, as human rights institutions are relatively well developed compared with other regions of the world.
In recent years, child rights have become a priority at the political level in Europe. In 2006, the Council of Europe launched its 3-year programme “Building a Europe for and with Children”, focusing on mainstreaming child rights in their activities and protecting children against all forms of violence. In particular the programme has aimed at banning corporal punishment throughout the region. The Council of Europe Commissioner, Thomas Hammarberg, is focusing much of his work on the violations of child rights in European countries. The European Court of Human Rights is taking up more and more cases concerning child rights violations, often referring to the UNCRC in its judgements. Top of page
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
What does the UNCRC say?
Who control the states?
Supplementary reports
Other actors
Our partners
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
On November 20, 1989, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Children (the UNCRC). As of today, 193 states have ratified the convention. No other human rights convention has been so unanimously ratified. Only two states have chosen not to ratify it: United States and Somalia. But they have signed the Convention, which means that they have expressed their intention of ratifying it as some point in time. By agreeing to undertake the obligations of the Convention, national governments have committed themselves to protecting and ensuring children's rights and they have agreed to hold themselves accountable for this commitment before the international community.
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What does the UNCRC say?
The 54 articles say that all children – where ever they are - have the same right to have their needs met. When you do something that concerns children, you must consider what is in the best interest of each individual child. In order to learn this, it is important to find out what children themselves think and feel. The best interest of the child and children’s right to participate are two of the four core principles of the UNCRC. The other two principles state that no child must be discriminated against and that every child has the right to live and develop.
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Who controls the states?
By ratifying the UNCRC the state promises two things: to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights of the child and, to report, in writing, to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child every five years. These reports outline the situation of children in the country and explain the measures taken by the state to realize their rights.The Committee discusses the report with representatives of the concerned state and makes recommendations for improvements.
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Supplementary reports
Non-governmental organizations or coalitions of non-governmental organization can also prepare and submit supplementary reports for the Committee's consideration. Reports submitted by a coalition are generally more comprehensive than reports submitted by individual organizations. Save the Children Sweden supports NGO networks in Europe who submits reports to the Committee.
In the past years more countries have established independent monitoring mechanisms at national and local levels, specifically focused on child rights. This has resulted in an increased number of members of the European Network of Ombudsmen for children (ENOC), as well as increased activity of the network. As of 2008 it has 33 members from 26 countries.
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Other actors
The Council of Europe, the main human rights actor in the region, has become more focused on child rights issues, including the development of the programme “Building a Europe for and with Children” (2006-2008). The Council has been the strongest actor at governmental level in the region pushing for a ban on corporal punishment.
However, the political strength of the Council of Europe is not as pronounced as that of the European Union. In the Lisbon Treaty there is a reference to the protection and promotion of child rights, which will increase the possibility for EU action in this field. The Commission has already taken some steps towards the development of a common EU strategy on the rights of the child, and has established a European Forum for all stakeholders (see more under Save the Children Sweden and the EU).
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Our partners
Save the Children Sweden Europe Programme supports the organizations below in their work with monitoring the CRC, including producing supplementary reports together with other NGOs in their countries. This includes their work to follow-up the UN Committee´s recommendations, so that these will be followed in a manner that strengthens children’s rights.
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