Justice and Consumers

Welcome to the second 2019 issue of the newsletter on the rights of the child. In this edition, we provide information about the funding opportunity for the protection of children in migration, we present the 2018 Report on the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and share links to recently published reports. We strongly encourage you to have a look and contribute to the new tool - the database of promising practices on the protection of children in migration, that was launched last week. You may write to EC-CHILD-RIGHTS@ec.europa.eu with suggested content for us to consider including in a future newsletter (always providing the URL – we do not attach documents). With best greetings, Rights of the child team, DG JUST

DG Migration and Home Affairs published a call for proposal for transnational actions on asylum, migration and integration. A priority on the protection of children in migration focuses on alternative care systems and alternatives to detention (continuation from 2018).

On 24 October 2019, the European Commission’s rights of the child team will organise a Conference “Protecting and promoting the rights of the child through EU-funding (REC Programme)”. It will take place in Brussels.

The European Commission launched the database of good practices on the protection of children in migration. Read more in the special issue of the newsletter published on 9 September: https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/just/newsletter-specific-archive-issue.cfm?newsletter_service_id=529

The European Platform for Investing in Children (EPIC) presented a round-up of the latest developments in child and family policy in EU member states in May 2019. Each piece of news contains a link to the original source, which may be in a language other than English.

The Council adopted new rules (Brussels IIa Regulation - recast) that improve and clarify EU judicial cooperation in cross-border matrimonial matters, such as divorce, child custody and access rights, or child abduction.

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights has been regularly collecting data on migration since September 2015. This report focuses on the fundamental rights situation of people arriving in Member States and EU candidate countries particularly affected by migration movements. It addresses fundamental rights concerns between 1 April and 30 June 2019.

To support the practitioners in the development of reliable and rights-compliant age assessments, EASO produced a video underlining the importance of observing the best interests of the child while assessing the age. For more information please consult the EASO Practical Guide on age assessment available on EASO Website:https://www.easo.europa.eu/sites/default/files/easo-practical-guide-on-age-assesment-v3-2018.pdf

The Education Ministers at the Council meeting in Brussels on 22 May 2019 adopted a recommendation on “High-Quality Early Childhood Education and Care Systems”. Early childhood education and care lays the foundation for further learning and is an effective investment in education and training.

This platform developed by Child rights connect provides information on the OPIC (3rd Optional Protocol to the UNCRC on a communications procedure) both for children and for adults. It is also a platform gathering unique resources for anyone working on the OPIC (States, NHRIs, parliamentarians, academics, civil society including children).

A Horizon 2020-funded project that involves academic institutions from 13 European countries will develop the first pan-European cohort research study to monitor child well-being in Europe over a 25-year period.

The purpose of gathering evidence through this call is to understand the links between children's institutions and human trafficking in diverse contexts around the world. Lumos is collecting examples, information, knowledge and resources about trafficking into, out of or after leaving children's institutions as well as practice in tackling this serious problem.

This course is about the care and protection of unaccompanied and separated refugee and migrant children who are moving across and between countries. This course will provide an understanding of the risks and vulnerabilities these children face. It will inform the improvement of policy, practice and delivery of support services that uphold children’s rights and meet their best interests. The course will provide examples of promising practice. It will stimulate the exchange of ideas and experience between learners around the world and is available in English, French, Spanish and Arabic.

The report was produced by the new Joining Forces Alliance (Terre des Hommes, Save the children, SOS Children's Villages, World Vision, Plan International and Child Fund Alliance). The report gives a picture of children's rights across the globe, highlights key factors that contribute to the gaps in progress and calls on world leaders to fulfill the broken promises of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child also through the implementation of SDGs Commitments.

The Statement of Good Practice aims to provide a clear overview of the principles, policies and practices required to implement measures that will ensure the promotion and protection of the rights of separated children in Europe. The revised Statement of Good Practice is endorsed by UNHCR, UNICEF, Save the Children, ECRE, and ECPAT International. Since 2013, SCEP is coordinated by Defence for Children the Netherlands.

Child Helpline Day was celebrated on 17 May 2019. To mark it, Child Helpline International initiated a campaign on especially vulnerable groups of children: children on the move, children with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ children and youth.

Youth Advocacy Guide was created by African youth for young people. It is a tool for young people to access what is envisioned in the CRC, and seeks to support the efforts of young people to address concerns ranging from unemployment to child safety, the quality of education to climate emergencies. This initiative was led by UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office

Child Migrants Along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor (CORAL) – a Child Protection Programme in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria. Design and implementation by Terre des hommes- Lausanne, ENDA and the African Movement of Working Children and Youth CORAL’s core purpose is to strengthen child protection services for migrant children and children affected by migration, including increasing access to those services, reinforcing existing services, creating new ones, and stimulating synergies between the formal and the informal actors.

Department of Education in the UK offers a paid 12-month long internship for young people aged between 18 and 30 who are eligible for a leaving care support package when leaving care. There are several other requirements to fulfill. Check the Care leaver vlog to listen to what interns have to say: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrJCJDyH0CM&feature=youtu.be

The ECtHR ruled that Greece had subjected five unaccompanied children to inhuman and degrading treatment, and violated their right to liberty and security.

The European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been a violation of Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights and that the Spanish authorities breached the applicant’s right to respect for his family life by not allowing him to regain contact with his youngest child.

A child in the guardianship of a citizen of the EU under the Algerian kafala system cannot be regarded as a ‘direct descendant’ of that citizen. However, that citizen’s Member State of residence must facilitate, following an assessment, that child’s entry to and residence in its territory.

The case concerned the placement of nine migrants, unaccompanied children, in different police stations in Greece, for periods ranging between 21 and 33 days. The migrants were subsequently transferred to the Diavata reception centre and then to special facilities for children.