their specific needs and situation. These actions
aim to achieve the objectives set under three
pillars:
1) ensuring access to rights and child-friendly
procedures;
2) providing effective protection;
3) enhancing the integration of children who
would remain in Europe.
The actions support Council of Europe Member
States in the areas of guardianship, alternatives
to detention, and child-friendly information
and procedures.
Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights
of the Child (2016-2021)
The Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of
the Child 2016-2021 29 recognises that children
on the move, whether unaccompanied or with
their families, are one of the most vulnerable
groups in Europe today. In particular, disregard
for the best interests of the child, the use of
detention, family separation, shortcomings
in the guardianship system and “demeaning
age assessment procedures” are mentioned to
illustrate ways in which migrant and refugee
children “fall through loopholes in child protec-
tion frameworks”. The Strategy therefore sets
out to promote and protect the rights of migrant
and refugee children through various Council
of Europe bodies and by supporting Council
of Europe Member States in upholding their
obligations and adopting a child-rights based
approach.
29 _ “Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016-2021)”, Council of Europe, March 2016, https://rm.coe.int/168066cff8.
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