Brussels, 12/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Brussels on 9 November, under the chairmanship of Jean-Marc Nollet (see EUROPE of 9 November, p.9). the European Ministers for Childhood took four decisions unanimously, essentially to make of childhood a major political concern.
Ministers were also able to uncover the "European Charter for Democracy in the City for the Use of Children", which, notably, proclaims the rights of children to greater independent mobility and better accessibility to their activities, to play areas, expression, leisure and meetings where dialogue and discovery of others develop, to the understanding and knowledge of the city, to learn the rights and duties of citizens in the city, to questioning and differences. This charter has been the subject of two years of work by professionals of education and the city organised through networking in the framework of the CONNECT initiative (for innovation and the strengthening of the Europe of knowledge) of the European Commission.
1. Preparing the World Summit on Childhood (9/10 May 2002 in New York): Ministers reiterated their appeal for all countries participating in the Extraordinary Summit of the United Nations' General Assembly to ratify and implement without delay the Convention relating to Children's Rights and its optional protocols concerning, on the one hand, children's participation in armed conflicts, and, on the other, trafficking in children, child prostitution and pornography and asking them to pay special attention to pre- and post-natal health care, access to education for girls as well as women and children from deprived populations.
2. Transversal European approach for children's rights: ministers urge the European Union to pay special attention to the situation of children, their future and the respect of their rights as defined by the Convention. They also stressed the validity of taking specific account of Childhood in national action plans implemented in Member States, notably those on employment and the fight against social exclusion. They urge the EU's Employment and Social Affairs Council to be attentive regarding the question of quality indicators concerning the reconciliation of family and professional life, and on the Justice/Home Affairs Council for what comes within its remit (immigration,, etc.).
3. The network of places of observation of the political rights of childhood: the question of the steering (Who? How?, etc.) of this network was raised at the meeting. While awaiting the next ministerial meeting, where they will try to make headway on a "rotating steering that need not necessarily be the EU Presidency", it was decided that the Belgian Presidency, then the Spanish one would steer the network for now.
4. Effective participation of children in decisions and debates of concern to them: given the good practices exchanged at national and international levels, ministers launched an appeal to European authorities (Council, Commission, Parliament) to study arrangements for a possible participation of children in the decision-making process at EU level.