The Council of Europe, in co-operation with EuroChild and ChildPact, held a seminar on 15 and 16 December 2016 in Strasbourg on social rights, protection of children from violence, effective advocacy at the national level, and the available instruments offered by the Council of Europe to protect children’s rights. The meeting gathered 46 participants from national, regional and European networks and coalitions, international organizations, CSOs and the Council of Europe. The Network of Organizations for Children of Serbia - MODS was represented by Jasmina Mikovic from Praxis, a member of the Steering Committee of MODS.

Regina Jensdottir, CoE Head of the Children’s Division, presented general overview and working methods of the Council of Europe, including the Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016-2021). The Strategy sets the following five priority areas to guarantee the rights of the child: equal opportunities for all children, participation of all children, a life free from violence for all children, child-friendly justice for all children and rights of the child in the digital environment.

The participants were encouraged to use CoE instruments, such as legal instruments, resolutions, reports and recommendations in order to hold their governments accountable. The representatives of the CoE emphasized that it is of great importance to encourage and facilitate the sustained provision of information to the CoE and to amplify the voice of the CSOs as to positively impact the work and the efficiency of the monitoring bodies of the CoE and enhance the implementation of the CoE standards.

For more information, see the related announcement here.