Separated children and guardians speak up

The recommendations in the national reports and the core standards for guardians will provide an instrument to strengthen the qualifications of a guardian to take the special needs and rights of separated children into account. The current differences in the level of protection separated children receive in European countries is not acceptable. All European countries have signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child and have the obligation to take into account the special needs of separated children. Proper guardianship systems are essential to assist in finding a durable solution for separated children, whether that be return to their country of origin, transfer to another country (for example for family reunification) or integration into the host country.
When all guardians have sufficient qualifications to work in the best interest of the child the level of protection children receive in the different European countries will harmonize.

Click here for the eight national reports:

The Netherlands /   Belgium /   Denmark /   Germany /   Ireland /   Italy /   Slovenia /   Sweden

The brochure 'The right to have a home' has been written to illustrate the collective complaint filed with the European Committee of Social Rights by Defence for Children International, also on behalf of UNICEF- the Netherlands, Foundation LOS (National Support Organization for Undocumented People and the Dutch Section of the International Commission of Jurists. 

A major study of four European countries published  on Wednesday, 5 March 2008 is alarmed by the increasingly repressive policies towards children in conflict with the law, the rising numbers of children in detention, and the prevalence of violence in youth custodial institutions. The report emphasizes that the detention of children is in violation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child when not used as a measure of last resort.

A study on children in conflict with the law: towards investing in prevention, stopping incarceration and meeting international standards. Stan Meuwese, director Defence for Children International.