Council of Europe Policy Guidelines on Integrated National Strategies for the Protection of Children from Violence By Lioubov Samokhina

Mandate:

- 2005 Warsaw summit – launch an action plan to address social, legal, health and educational dimensions of violence against children - the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child - the UN Study on Violence against Children

The UN Study on Violence against Children:

- to develop, by 2007, a national strategy to prevent and combat all forms of violence against children

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Council of Europe Strategy on the Rights of the Child (2009-2011):

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act as regional initiator and coordinator of national and regional initiatives to combat violence against children

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serve as the European forum for follow up to the recommendations included in the UN Study

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support the adoption and implementation of integrated national strategies in member States

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Pilot project

Four volunteers: Italy, Norway, Portugal and Romania in-depth national reviews bottom-up consultations with all stakeholders multidisciplinarity development of a model integrated strategy open debate on the text

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Guidelines: objectives

Help decision makers and stakeholders develop integrated strategies to promote the rights of the child and eradicate all forms of violence against children Serve as a navigation chart (international and European human rights standards) Foster a culture of respect for the rights of the child Afford better protection from violence

Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: Violence or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse…” – “all forms of physical

Prevention of violence:

•Education in children’s rights •The training of professionals in

contact with children

•Sensitisation of the media and

the new technology sector

• Creation of child-friendly

services and mechanisms

Integrated National Strategy against violence:

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multi-faceted and systematic framework with specific time frame with realistic targets coordinated and monitored supported by adequate human and financial resources based on current scientific knowledge

CoE Network of focal points on the rights of the child:

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act as a liaison between the Council of Europe and child protection authorities at national, regional and local levels; co-ordinates the preparation of national responses on issues relevant to several policy areas; co-operate with the Council of Europe on the adoption and implementation of national strategies against violence

Follow up (2010-2011):

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Translation into at least 10 languages

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Regional awareness-raising seminars

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Invitation to countries to pilot the Guidelines

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Technical assistance Campaign against sexual violence (as from autumn 2010)

Regional and local dimension:

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Importance due to proximity to children and families Decentralisation process Privatisation of social services

Regional and local dimension – guiding principles:

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Co-operation and networking State/region and state/regional/municipal fora

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Multidisciplinary networking Monitoring quality standards Multisectoral approach Allocation of resources Transnational dimension

more information at:

www.coe.int/children [email protected]

Illustrations: G. Pagonis and E. Puybaet, L.Klaver

© Council of Europe