1. Working Group for Cooperation on Children at Risk Co-operation in The Baltic Sea Region Chairperson: Deputy Director General Björn Bredesen, Ministry of Children and Equality, Norway Head of Children’s Unit Lars Lööf Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS)

2. Working Group for Cooperation on Children at Risk Priorities: 1.Sexual exploitation in all its forms 2.Unaccompanied and trafficked children 3.Children living in the street 4.Children in institutions 5.Young offenders and self destructive behaviour in children

3. Introductory points The latest ministerial meeting in Oslo, May 2005 gave –unanimous and full political support to the ongoing work, –emphasis to the priority area of the rights of children in institutions, –continued strong emphasis on children that have been trafficked and are unaccompanied. Prolongation of the “WGCC Plan of Action on Unaccompanied and Trafficked Children” Now running until the end of 2007 –the WGCC a recommendation to make good use of the Baltic Sea Regional Study on Adolescent Sexuality. Regional study published in August and launched in Norway by the Minister for Children and Equality –support to the further development of the Childcentre website.

4. Introductory points Good experiences of the cooperation so far: –Unaccompanied and trafficked children NCP – National Contact Points established Expert meetings Identification of children’s rights when trafficked Training programme in place with funding from the EU, Save the Children Sweden and Oak Foundation Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus included in the technical cooperation on Unaccompanied and trafficked children –Baltic Sea Regional Study on Adolescent Sexuality Unique regional cooperation with researchers from seven different academic institutions in seven countries Unique knowledge on young persons’ views: 20 000 respondents

5. Methods used 1.Expert meetings a.Defining common areas of concern b.Identifying gaps c.Outlining areas for action d.Expert input to the WGCC 2.Conferences a.Political support b.State commitments and joint funding c.Unique networking 3.Web site a.Regional information on children at risk b.Networking possibilities online c.Calendar

6. Expert meetings 05- 07 1.Expert meeting on Care, protection, rehabilitation and reintegration for unaccompanied and trafficked children ( Kiev April 05) 2.Expert meeting on supporting boys and girls leaving institutions (Yaroslavl September 05) 3.Expert meeting on Child friendly forensic investigations (Reykjavik May 06) 4.Expert meeting on support to children abused in Internet settings (Sätra Bruk, Sweden, May 06) 5.Expert meeting on monitoring the rights of children in institutions. (Oslo September 06) 6.Expert meeting on Children committing crimes and with a self destructive behaviour. (Moscow, autumn of 2007

7. Content of the training 1.Protective care (Vilnius, 14 th to 15 th of September 2006) 2.Psychological and social rehabilitation (Warsaw, 9 th – 10 th of November 2006) 3.Children’s participation in shaping their own healing context ( St Petersburg, 16 th – 17 th of February 2007 4.Family therapy and work with broader social network. ( Tallinn, 24 th – 25 th of May 2007) 5.Reintegration in old environment or integration in a new context. (Stockholm, 13 th – 14 th of September 2007)

8. Research in the region  Documentation of all cases of children trafficked in the region  Documentation of what works and what doesn’t  Identification of gaps in capacity and competence  Identification of obstacles in regional cooperation  Identification of obstacles in national cooperation  Interviews with affected young persons themselves

9. WGCC Plan of Action on the Rights of Children in Institutions i.Support to young persons leaving institutions i.Mapping programmes and resources specifically emphisising the young persons themselves ii.Network support and if needed network creation ii.Developing the monitoring of institutions to include international Council of Europe Recommendation (2005)5 i.Develop a plan for a training in (a) cooperation with young persons and (b) including children with disabilities. ii.Implement a pilot training

10. WGCC Plan of Activities  Draft version Draft version  After adoption published on the www.childcentre.info and on NDPHS website resources

11. Important partners NGO cooperation –ECPAT Europe – Developing training manual for law enforcement and social workers on children and trafficking and adapting the manual to national needs –Save the Children Alliance – Unaccompanied children, children without documentation –Separated Children in Europe Programme Nordic Council of Ministers –Trafficking coordination – transparency new NCM project on prevention of trafficking presented at NCP meeting in Warsaw in early May –Nordic Cooperation on Disability – Using the two programmes to complement and using each others’ resources The Council of Europe –Rec (2005)5 on the Rights of Children in Institutions –Europe wide work on follow up of World conferences on sexual exploitation EU –Violence against children on the Internet –Coordination of the fight against trafficking –European Forum for the Rights of the Child – Berlin 4 th of June Foundations and partners –Oak Foundation –World Childhood Foundation –Save the Children

12. WGCC – An associated EG to the NDPHS  Partners to the partnership to link to the WGCC work where adequate  Plans of activity and plans of actions published on the website  Sharing networks and avoiding all duplication  Joining resources where the different EGs can: (a) NCM project prevention of trafficking, (b) WGCC Expert meeting on Young offenders, (c) NCM and WGCC cooperation on youth counselling services tied to assisting young persons leaving institutions, and others.

13. There is always something to learn - - and always something to teach