Brussels, 23/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Fifteen Ministers responsible for childhood, who where gathered in an informal manner and for the first time, Monday 20 November in Paris under the Presidency of Segolene Royal (see EUROPE of 18 November, p.16), made common undertakings to achieve a Europe of the child that is seen in the long-term, according to the words of the President.
The Ministers demonstrated the common desire that was illustrated by a common action plan including ten undertakings for children's rights, and notably the establishment of tools for the operational follow-up of EU 15 national policies, with: a) the creation of a European monitoring centre for children and the family; b) the creation of a European emergency phone number for mistreated children; c) the drafting of a European code of ethics for audiovisual (against violent and degrading images); d) the development of promotional measures against paedophilia and incest and accompanying measures and aid to victims; e) a better understanding of the positions of isolated foreign minors (mainly from Eastern Europe); f) the fight against sex tourism.
The Ministers also decided to have, each 20 November, a "European day for children's rights" and to meet, each year around this date, to assess the actions which where undertaken the previous year and to decide upon others for the following year, their works will benefit from a follow-up by the permanent group.
Among others this meeting enabled to prepare the world summit for children (which will take place at the seat of the UN in New York in September 2001) so that Europe may express itself in a single voice. Mrs Royal underlined that the "EU's common position for this second world summit on children - a preparatory document will be presented as of January 2001, she added - could provide priorities to education, equality between boys and girls and the protection of the physical integrity of children (ban on sexual mutilations), in the allocation of European credits for international cooperation". Segolene Royal added that the "European Charter of Fundamental Rights" that the EU 15 must adopt in December in Palermo will "finally make explicitly the existence of children in European texts".