On Wednesday 28 May, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe announced the adoption of two Recommendations to Member States aimed at strengthening the protection of children’s rights and best interests in parental separation and care proceedings.
Accompanied by detailed explanatory memoranda, these Recommendations provide guidance for national authorities to take into account all circumstances that may be relevant when assessing the best interests of the child.
They also guarantee the right of the child to be informed and consulted, as well as respect for the principles of the rule of law, non-discrimination and accelerated procedures.
Children and young people were consulted during the preparation of these texts, which were drawn up jointly by the Steering Committee for the Rights of the Child and the European Committee on Legal Co-operation.
They are part of the Council of Europe’s ‘Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027)’.
Link to the Recommendation on parental separation proceedings: https://aeur.eu/f/h3n
Link to the Recommendation on care proceedings: https://aeur.eu/f/h3q (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)