1. csc.ceceurope.org

2. Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission csc.ceceurope.org TRAINING ON CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

3. Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission csc.ceceurope.org About the Human Rights Concept  History of development of Human Rights  Universal Declaration of Human Rights  Children’s Rights as fundamental Human Rights

4. Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission csc.ceceurope.org Sharing Session  Do you have personal experiences related to (limitations of) Children’s Rights?  Are you aware of events or cases of other persons or religious organisations related to this issue?  Which issues play a role in discussions in your society in which the wish to restrict or defend Children’s Rights is at stake?

5. Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission csc.ceceurope.org Theological Reflection on the issue of Children’s Rights Children as the “image of God”  Biblical and theological issues;  Children are also endowed by God with a unique dignity;  Children of God is a concept of Christian existence;  Jesus blesses the children: they give an example to adults how to receive the kingdom of God. (Marc 10:13-16).

6. Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission csc.ceceurope.org What are the Present Challenges related to Children’s Rights in Society?

7. Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission csc.ceceurope.org Content Article 8 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)  States Parties undertake to respect the right of the child to preserve his or her identity, including nationality, name and family relations as recognised by law without unlawful interference;  Where a child is illegally deprived of some or all of the elements of his or her identity, States Parties shall provide appropriate assistance and protection, with a view to re-establishing speedily his or her identity.

8. Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission csc.ceceurope.org Child Abuse  Physical  Emotional  Mental  Responsibility of the State for treatment and punishment in the private sphere

9. Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission csc.ceceurope.org Prohibition of Forced Labour  Children’s slavery  Children and work  Children and military service  Rights of children with immigration, asylum seekers and refugee status

10. Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission csc.ceceurope.org Rights to Education  Child and education  Access to (free) education  Rights to religious and philosophical education

11. Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission csc.ceceurope.org Legal Tools for Children’s Rights in the UN System  The United Nations  United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (1989)  World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children (1990)

12. Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission csc.ceceurope.org Legal Tools for Children’s Rights in the EU System I  The European Union  Communication “Towards an EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child” (2006)  EU Guidelines on the Rights of the Child (2007)  EU Guidelines on Children in Armed Conflicts  Communication “A Special Place for Children in EU External Action” (2008)  Council Conclusions on children in development and humanitarian settings (2008)

13. Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission csc.ceceurope.org Legal Tools for Children’s Rights in the EU System II  The European Union  Commission Staff Working Document on combating child labour (2010)  Council Conclusions on child labour (2010)  Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating the sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, repealing Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA (2010)

14. Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission csc.ceceurope.org Legal Tools for Children’s Rights in the Council of Europe System I  Council of Europe :  European Convention on the Exercise of Children’s Rights, Strasbourg, 25.1.1996  Recommendation Rec (2002)12 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on education for democratic citizenship  Resolution 1193 (1999) on Second-chance schools – or how to combat unemployment and exclusion by means of education and training

15. Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission csc.ceceurope.org Legal Tools for Children’s Rights in the Council of Europe System II  Council of Europe :  Recommendation 1346 (1997) on Human Rights education  Recommendation 1346 (1997) of the Parliamentary Assembly Human Rights Education  Recommendation 1849 (2008) for the promotion of a culture of democracy and Human Rights through teacher education

16. Conference of European Churches Church & Society Commission csc.ceceurope.org Proposal for Action to Strengthen Children’s Rights  Including children as full members and participants in the common life of the church;  Supporting the formation of loving and safe families;  Promoting quality of religious education within church;  Promoting physically and emotionally safe environments;  Enhancing research initiatives.