Justice and Consumers

EU Children’s Participation Platform is one of key achievements of the current Commission: “The Commission fully recognises children and young people as active citizens and agents of change in our European democracy. For this reason, we are setting up a permanent on- and offline EU Child Participation Platform to enable children across the EU to participate in EU decision-making in a systematic and meaningful way. This platform is being built together with children, civil society organisations and the European Parliament.” The Commission Recommendation on integrated child protection systems is included on the list of priorities for 2024. Last week President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen talked about the state of the Union. You can re-watch it online with subtitles in all languages and in international sign language.

In the EU Strategy on the rights of the child, we promised to propose how to better protect children and bring all relevant authorities and services to work together in a system that puts the child at the centre. The open public consultation and a call for evidence for adults on the initiative on the Integrated child protection systems are now available on line. Please respond before 20 October 2023.

It was not easy to summarise all that happened and all conversations that took place during the general assembly! Have a look at the report and spend some moments diving into the atmosphere of the meeting recoded in videos and photos.

On 10 October, join Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, representatives from the EU institutions, national governments, international organisations and other interested partners. At the conference you will hear from experts and those with lived experience, exchange on good practices and new approaches. The conference will cover the topics: Mental health across all policies; Promotion & Prevention; Equal access for all

You can find many useful tools on the website, for example: the Child Participation Assessment Tool (CPAT) and its child friendly version, the Handbook on children’s participation for professionals working for and with children; a child-friendly campaign package a to raise the awareness of national and local authorities on the importance of child participation. Also a Moodle/online training course for professionals working for and with children.

An official launch event of the General Comment no 26 happens today. 16,333 children from 121 countries contributed to the text. The launch event will be live broadcasted and archived at: https://media.un.org/en/webtv A virtual celebration hosted by children and young people together with Terre des Hommes will take place from 15:00 – 16:30 CEST. Click on to see more about this online meeting. In this general comment, the Committee emphasises the urgent need to address the adverse effects of environmental degradation, with a special focus on climate change. The document clarifies the obligations of States to address environmental harm and climate change. The Committee also explains how children’s rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child apply to environmental protection, and confirms that children have a right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

During this meeting you will hear from child and youth delegates about their recommendations for child participation. EU Commissioner Suica will open the event and present the EU Children’s Participation Platform as key initiative to recognise children as agents of change. The meeting is organised by Joining Forces Call to Action and co-hosted by the European Union.

The Council of Europe Raoul Wallenberg Prize was set up in 2014. It rewards individuals, groups or organisations for their extraordinary humanitarian achievements. The sum awarded is €10 000 and the award ceremony will take place at the Council of Europe on 17 January 2024.