Second implementation report on the Strategy on the Rights of the Child (2016-2021)

Date: 22nd July 2020
Category: Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Family Environment and Alternative Care

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The report presents an overview of children’s rights-related progress by and information on the Council of Europe’s actions and achievements under each of the five thematic areas of the Strategy on the Rights of the Child, namely; equal opportunities for all children, participation of all children, a life free from violence for all children, the rights of the child in the digital environment.

The Council of Europe’s Strategy for the Rights of the Child sets out to reduce poverty, inequality and exclusion, strengthen the participation of children in all contexts, ensure a life free from violence for all children, promote child-friendly justice and children’s rights in the family, protect children in the context of deprivation of liberty, and ensure their rights in the digital environment.

The second implementation report on the Strategy on the Rights of the Child report states that the Council of Europe has made much progress across the five thematic areas  set out in the Strategy. The Council of Europe and other relevant bodies have made efforts to implement a majority of the actions planned in the framework of the Strategy, with emphasis being placed upon mainstreaming children’s rights and ensuring multi-stakeholder collaboration to maximise the impact of these efforts. At member State level, the report says there is a significant consensus that more children are enjoying their rights across each of the five priority areas. This suggests that all actors’ efforts are overall combining to produce a positive impact on children’s rights across Europe.

While recognising the progress made, the report also examines areas requiring further work or action and persistent challenges faced when attempting to achieve each thematic area of the Strategy, taking into account the changed circumstances since the adoption of the Strategy and other existing risk factors, including the lack of financial and human resources and lack of political commitment. In addition, the report includes some reflections to inform the Council of Europe’s work in this area going forward and for the new Strategy for the Rights of the Child beyond 2022 under the lead of the newly established Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child.

Read the Strategy report here.