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Reports Archive of Annual Meetings Russian Federation establishes 5 Commissioners for Children The Russian Ministry of Labour and Social Development has initiated a pilot project, establishing Commissioners for Children in 5 "oblasts" (states). The Commissioners have all been established by decree and are mandated to enhance the protection and promotion of children's rights. The oblasts with Commissioners are: Kaluga, St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Volgograd, and Ekaterinburg. [Top] ENOC Meets with Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions On 20-21 April 1999, ENOC participated in the annual meeting of the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions (ICC). The ICC held a special session on children's rights to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the CRC. Issues raised during the debate included: the need for National Human Rights Institutions to establish focal points for children within their structures; the need to strengthen human rights education; exchange of best practices concerning the rights of the child; and the need to involve children themselves in the promotion and protection of their rights. ENOC, represented by the Danish Council for Children, explained the network and the work of independent offices for children. The representative encouraged greater cooperation between Ombudsmen for Children and National Human Rights Institutions. As a follow-up to this discussion, there will be a workshop on children's rights held in September in Manila with National Human Rights Institutions from the Asia-Pacific region and Ombudsmen for Children from Europe. [Top] The European Network of Ombudsmen for Children (ENOC) seeks an end to all corporal punishment of children in Europe (Statement released at the European Seminar on Ending all Physical Punishment of Children, Barcelona, Sunday October 19, and at the European Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect, Barcelona, October 19 - 22) The European Network of Ombudsmen for Children (ENOC) urges the governments of all European countries, the European Union, the Council of Europe and other European institutions and non-governmental organisations concerned with children to work collectively and individually towards ending all corporal punishment of children. As spokespeople for the children of Europe, we believe that eliminating violent and humiliating forms of discipline is a vital strategy for improving children’s status as people, and reducing child abuse and all other forms of violence in European societies. This is a long overdue reform, with huge potential for improving the quality of lives and family relationships. Hitting children is disrespectful and dangerous. Children deserve at least the same protection from violence that we as adults take for granted for ourselves. While almost all European countries have eliminated corporal punishment from their schools and other institutions for children, it remains common and legally and socially accepted in the family home in most countries. Many States have laws which explicitly defend the rights of parents and other carers to use "reasonable" or "moderate" corporal punishment. Where the law is silent, corporal punishment tends to be accepted in practice. In a growing minority of countries across Europe, all corporal punishment has been prohibited, often as part of a statement of parents’ responsibilities. The purpose of these reforms is not to prosecute more parents, but to send out a clear signal that hitting children is no more acceptable than hitting anyone else. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by all European states, requires legal, educational and other action to protect children from "all forms of physical or mental violence" while in the care of parents and others. The Committee on the Rights of the Child, the international committee of experts responsible for monitoring implementation, has stated that no level of corporal punishment is compatible with the Convention and has formally recommended prohibition, coupled with education programmes, to eliminate it. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, in a series of recommendations, has condemned corporal punishment and recommended legal reform (see in particular Recommendations R85/4; R90/2 and R93/2). [Top] We urge Governments without delay to introduce legislation prohibiting all corporal punishment, and initiate/support education programmes in positive, non-violent forms of discipline. We commit ourselves, as offices committed to improving the lives of all children in Europe, to work actively on this fundamental human rights issue. signed by - Austria: Mr Franz Preishuber, Kinder & JugendAnwalt für Tirol Belgium: Mr Claude Lelièvre, Délégué général aux droits de l’enfant et à l’aide à la jeunesse pour la communauté Française de Belgique Denmark: Mr Frode Muldkjaer, Chairman, Borneradet, the Danish National Council for Children’s Rights Finland: Ms Helena Molander, Children’s Ombudsman, The Mannerheim League for Children’s Welfare Germany: Ms Dorle Marx, Kinderkommission of the German Bundestag Hungary: Dr Peter Polt, Deputy Ombudsman Iceland: Ms Thorhildur Lindal, Ombudsman for Children Norway: Mr Trond Waage, Ombudsman for Children and Chair, European Network of Children’s Ombudsmen Spain: Mr Javier Urra Portillo, Ombudsman for Children in Madrid Sweden: Ms Louise Sylwander, Swedish Ombudsman for Children and Young People ENOC, formed in June 1997, is a new voice for children in Europe. Through the Network, independent offices set up to promote children’s rights and interests aim to work together, sharing strategies and collective approaches, and encouraging the fullest possible implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF serves as the Secretariat to the Network. ENOC Secretariat, UNICEF, Regional Office for Europe, Palais des Nations, CH-1211, Geneve 10, Switzerland
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Last edited by Barneombudet September 02, 2003 |
