Brussels, 15/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 15 February, the European Commission presented an EU agenda for reinforcing the rights of the child by putting the principles of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights into practice. It includes a series of concrete steps where the EU can provide added value to policies for children's well-being and safety, including promoting child-friendly justice, better informing children about their rights, and making the internet safer for youngsters. “The EU and its 27 member states need to make sure they are protected and that the best interests of the child are our guiding principles”, said Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding.
The EU Agenda lists 11 areas for action that the Commission will take over the coming years to protect children, underlining its commitment to promoting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of the child in all relevant EU policies and to turning them into concrete results. In the future, EU policies that affect children directly or indirectly will have to be designed, implemented, and monitored taking into account the principle of children's best interests. The Commission will work to give better protection to the rights of children, especially the most vulnerable, in the legal system. It will, therefore, take particular account of children in the proposals it will bring forward on protecting victims of crime, proposing safeguards for child suspects and revising existing rules in cross-border custody cases. The Commission will actively protect and empower children as users of online technologies and counter cyber-bullying, grooming, exposure to harmful content, and other uncomfortable experiences of using online technologies. For this, it will establish a single entry point for children on the EUROPA portal with easily accessible information on children's rights and EU policies.
The Commission's action on the rights of the child is part of its efforts to implement the Charter of Fundamental Rights. In October 2010, the Commission adopted a strategy for effectively implementing the provisions of the Charter (see EUROPE 10239). Next month, it will publish the first annual report on fundamental rights, which will also monitor progress on applying children's rights. (I.L./transl.rt)