Emilie White

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• Emilie White
• Public Affairs Project Manager
• European Childrens Network ? Avenue des Arts,
  1-2 ? First Floor ? B-1210 Brussels
• Tel [phone] ? Fax [phone]
• europeanchildrenetwork_at_skynet.be ?
  www.europeanchildrensnetwork.eu

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Who are we?

• Network of national and transnational NGOs
  sharing a common concern that childrens rights,
  based on the UNCRC, are taken into account in all
  EU legislation, policies and programmes which
  have an impact on childrens rights.

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The network

• Member organisations
• Austrian Coalition of Child Rights NGOs,
  represented by Die Kinderfreunde (Austria)
• BICE, Bureau International Catholique de
  l'Enfance (EU Office)
• Coordination des ONG pour les Droits de lEnfant
  CODE (Belgium)
• EFSCW, European Foundation on Street Children
  Worldwide (Belgium)
• International Save the Children Alliance (EU
  Office)
• Kinderrechtencoalitie Vlaanderen vzw (Belgium)
• SOS Kinderdorf International (EU Office)
• Friends of Europe Varna (Bulgaria)
• Center for the Study of Childhood Adolescence
  (Cyprus)
• Our Child Foundation (Czech Republic)
• Red Barnet (Save the Children Denmark)
• Pelastakaa Lapset (Save the Children Finland)
• COFRADE (French coalition of childrens NGOs)
  (France)
• European Network of Masters in Children Rights
  (Germany)
• German National Coalition (Germany)
• ISPCC, Irish Society for the Prevention of
  Cruelty to Children (Ireland)
• Save the Children Italia (Italy)
• Save the Children Lithuania (Lithuania)

• CHI, Child Helpline International
• DCI, Defence for Children International
  (Netherlands) (on behalf of Dutch Childrens
  Rights Coalition)
• Polish Forum for Childrens Rights (Poland)
• Nobodys Children Foundation (Poland)
• Our Home Association (Poland)
• Salvati Copii ( Save the Children Romania)
• Plataforma de Organizaciones de Infancia (Spain)
• Rädda Barnen (Save the Children Sweden) (on
  behalf of Swedish Childrens Rights Coalition)
• EACH, European Association for Children in
  Hospital
• NSPCC, National Society for the Prevention of
  Cruelty to Children (United Kingdom)
• Save the Children Fund (United Kingdom)
• Estonian Union for Child Welfare (Estonia)
• Associated Organisations
• Media Literacy Network (Greece)
• ARSIS, Association for the Social Support of
  Youth (Greece)
• Save the Children (Iceland)
• First Childrens Embassy in the World (Macedonia)
  
• Save the Children (Norway)

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• Child Participation
• at the EU

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• Child Participation
• at the EU

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Child Participation is a right

• Children have the right to be heard at the EU
  level
• The EU makes laws, programmes and policies which
  have both direct and indirect affects on the
  lives of children children have a right to be
  heard on these issues
• Children are European citizens too
• Of the 100 million children in Europe not one
  child has been consulted by the EU on policies
  which have an effect on their lives
• The future EU Strategy on the rights of the child
  must be developed for and by children
• The Strategy is based on the UNCRC and the
  Commission has committed to involve children in
  decision-making on EU matters that concern them
• Effective, and safe methods must be developed to
  ensure that children are consulted in a
  meaningful way
• As key stakeholders children should be included
  in a safe and meaningful way in all future
  European Fora

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Child Participation the law

• Article 12 of the UNCRC
• 1. States Parties shall assure to the child who
  is capable of forming his or her own views the
  right to express those views freely in all
  matters affecting the child, the views of the
  child being given due weight in accordance with
  the age and maturity of the child.
• 2. For this purpose, the child shall in
  particular be provided the opportunity to be
  heard in any judicial and administrative
  proceedings affecting the child, either directly,
  or through a representative or an appropriate
  body, in a manner consistent with the procedural
  rules of national law.

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Lisbon Treaty

• The Union shall combat social exclusion and
  discrimination, and shall promote social justice
  and protection, equality between women and men,
  solidarity between generations and protection of
  the rights of the child.

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Fundamental Rights Article 24 The Rights of the
Child

• 1. Children shall have the right to such
  protection and care as is necessary for their
  well-being. They may express their views freely.
  Such views shall be taken into consideration on
  matters which concern them in accordance with
  their age and maturity.
• 2. In all actions relating to children, whether
  taken by public authorities or private
  institutions, the child's best interests must be
  a primary consideration.
• 3. Every child shall have the right to maintain
  on a regular basis a personal relationship and
  direct contact with both his or her parents,
  unless that is contrary to his or her interests.

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How can children be heard at the EU?

• EURONET child participation projects
• Agenda 2000
• Consultations on discrimination, social exclusion
  and poverty
• Consultations on European Constitution 2003
• Save the Children childrens participation
  initiative in Europe focused on EU decision
  making
• - Europe wide consultation with children and
  young people on the EC Communication (Towards an
  EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child) 2007

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What do children think of Europe?
Include in the Convention, rights for children
To see equality in all the countries in the EU
Unity
Equality for boys and girls

• Child health care

Unity Common policy Common European Conscience
At the end of the day to have no racism!
There is no other future for Europe but to be
united. First step is European Union and the
second is the full World Union with peace and
cooperation all over it
To be politically and socially independent we
want a strong and independent Europe
More child friendly information and access to
that information!
All children have common political, cultural, and
social conscience
For all young people to be heard
Europe where child rights are equally respected
Equal rights in third world countries
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Consultation on the European Constitution,
2002-2003
On the last night everyone gathered together to
relax and talk, we like to think it was more of a
celebration. The atmosphere was smitten with
cheer and achievement but with a mix of sadness
as everyone was leaving the next day. We had
gathered together as one to try to make Europe a
better place for children and young people to
live in and we, personally, think that we are
well on our way to making it happen
Words from Kerri, Teri, Mhairi and Wendy
Children from Scotland
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What do children think about an EU Strategy on
Childrens Rights?
Children grow up in fear. I think that children
are afraid. So they dont tell anyone about the
violence used against them. There should be
places where a child can come and tess about
his/her problems.
They adults should give hope to children, not
discriminate against them
Teach children to see other things besides
alcohol and cigarettes. They have to learn that
there are more fun things in life than drugs
Child trafficking is one of the most severe
problems in the country because it is very
frequent. The authorities should be more
efficient in trying to eliminate this problem and
the guilty ones should be punished
If nature collapses the places for children to
play will be less
We need to be told about grown up issues
All children should have enough food and money
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Participating in the European Forum

• Purpose of the Forum
• Strengthen communication among stakeholders
• Contribute to the design and monitoring of EU
  actions and act as an arena for exchange of good
  practice
• Promote and strengthen networking and childrens
  representation in the EU and globally, with a
  view to formally involving them in all
  consultation and actions related to their rights
  and needs

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• Principles
• Meaningful participation
• Ethical, non-discriminatory, child friendly
• Safe participation
• Child protection is critical and requires
  training (resources already exist, adapt Violence
  against Children consultation in Bangkok)
• Selection of child representatives based on
  agreed criteria (representativeness,
  inclusiveness)
• Child experts are recognised as key partners
  throughout
• Representatives from countries outside Europe
• Well-prepared thorough organisation
• Child friendly documents, logistics, facilitation
  methods, evaluation, follow-up, adequate human,
  financial resources, timing

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What children have to say about it

• We need..
• Enough funding to do this work properly and have
  enough (qualified) staff
• Settings that allow equality, and for us to learn
  from each other
• Enough time to get involved and share our ideas
  with others
• Literature that we can read and understand
• Adults and staff that are welcoming

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• www.europeanchildrensnetwork.eu
• Emilie White
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• europeanchildrenetwork_at_skynet.be

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• Informal grouping of NGOs committed to working
  together on the follow up and implementation of
  the European Commission Communication - Towards
  an EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child and for
  the purpose of information sharing.
• Regular meetings web-based document sharing and
  email exchange system
• Members
• Eurochild
• European Childrens Network (EURONET)
• European Foundation for Street Children
• International Federation Terre des Hommes
• Plan International
• SOS Kinderdorf International
• Save the Children Brussels
• World Vision International
• UNICEF (associate)