Brussels, 18/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - Further to the European Commission's communication entitled “Towards an EU strategy on the rights of the child” presented in July 2006 (see EUROPE 9225), the parliamentary committees concerned by the report organised a joint hearing on Tuesday 17 April under the aegis of the civil liberties' committee, attended by the vice-president of the European Commission, Franco Frattini, and many experts from the Council of Europe, UNICEF and NGOs such as Save the Children, Plan Europe, Terre des Femmes or Eurochild. Participants discussed the following themes: protection of the rights of the child, the situation of children in the EU, the legal framework on the kidnapping of children by a parent, violence against children, refugees and asylum seekers who are minors, childhood poverty and social insertion.
After pointing out that 17 million children in Europe live in a situation of instability, and that around 15% of minors have already undergone sexual abuse, Roberta Angelilli (GUE, Italy), who is rapporteur for the European Parliament on this issue, suggested directing work along the following guidelines: respect for children, promotion of their rights, participation of minors in decisions that concern them, right to health and to education, and the fight against poverty. “Often, minors' rights are ignored or even considered as taking second place compared to adults' rights. The time has come to set a European strategy in place: we must make the political agenda of the rights of the child a priority”, she said. Mr Frattini took the view that, when speaking of the rights of the child, one should not forget the main thing is to have a European strategy for the family. He gave his assurance that there would very soon be a single phone number for emergency calls to provide assistance to children. Finally, he announced that a European forum on the rights of the child would be held in Berlin early June.
Speaking at a press conference, Antonio Lopez-Isturiz White (EPP-ED, Spain) welcomed the way the hearing had taken place. As he put it, the initiative does not aim to establish a “strategy” but rather a “practical programme for children”. Irena Belohorska (NA, Slovakia) drew journalists' attention to the need to register births. She said she hoped to see the European Union make it an obligation for third countries, with which it has trade agreements, to carry out such registration. Ms Belohorska considers such an obligation is a preliminary stage to recognition of the status of the child by the state of origin. Lissy Gröner (PES, Germany) announced the resolve of the EP culture and education committee to revise the directive being drafted on media services. She called for a general ban on violent videos and games for children and minors. “Alcohol and tobacco are banned for minors, so why should violent video games not be banned also?” she asked. “We are preparing the future of our children. We must ensure they have full rights (…) in a Europe that is worthy of its culture and history”, concluded Maria Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou (EPP-ED, Greece). (gc)