Doc. 8123

22 May 1998

Appointment of a European ombudsman for children

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Ms Pozza Tasca and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       Considering that Recommendation 1286 (1996) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on a European strategy for children recommended that the Committee of Ministers set up a permanent intergovernmental structure able to deal with all issues relating to children (paragraph 10.i);

2.       Recalling that European Union Resolution A3-314/91 on the problems of children in the European Community called for member states to introduce an official children's legal officer (paragraph 22);

3.       Recalling that, in their Final Declaration signed in Strasbourg on
10 and 11 October 1997, the heads of state and government of the member states of the Council of Europe agreed to extend co-operation between the member states to promote the legal protection of children (paragraph III.4),

4.       The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers appoint a European ombudsman for children, who should carry out the following tasks:

      a.       provide guidelines for and monitor the implementation of international agreements and the introduction of legislation concerning the rights and development of minors;

      b.       encourage the forty member states to apply in full the New York Convention and the European Strategy for Children and pursue national policies which promote children's rights;

      c.       ensure that the practical application of the New York Convention is regularly monitored by setting up a supervisory board in each member state;

      d.       spread a better understanding of the rights and duties of minors by encouraging a detailed discussion of the UN convention in families, schools and the various authorities, associations, etc. in the member states, particularly through the distribution in schools of leaflets on children's rights;

      e.       support the bodies and individuals working for children's rights within the framework of the Council of Europe and that of the Committee for the Rights of the Child;

      f.       adopt methods of assessment, such as the "child impact statement", in order to evaluate any impact on minors of any proposed legislative, regulatory or other measures adopted in the member states;

      g.       devise monitoring mechanisms to prevent the abuse of children and their exploitation through child labour, pornography and prostitution;

      h.       draw up strategies to wipe out all forms of discrimination against immigrant children and those from ethnic minorities;

Signed1:

Pozza Tasca, Italy, LDR       Hegyi, Hungary, SOC

Alis Font, Andorra, NR       Kalos, Greece, EPP/CD

Biga-Friganovic, Croatia, SOC       Koucky, Czech Republic, EDG

Birraux, France, EPP/CD       Lupu, Romania, EPP/CD

Evin, France, SOC       Maximus, Belgium, SOC

Fleetwood, Sweden, EDG       Pocas Santos, Portugal, EPP/CD

Flynn, United Kingdom, SOC       Pulgar, Spain, EPP/CD

Gatterer, Austria, EPP/CD       Ragnarsdóttir, Iceland, EDG

Gibula, Poland, SOC       Regenwetter, Luxembourg, SOC

Gregory, Ireland, SOC       Sincai, Romania, SOC

Gross, Switzerland, SOC       Vella, Malta, EPP/CD

Hadjidemetriou, Cyprus, SOC       Weyts, Belgium, EPP/CD

Hancock, United Kingdom, LDR

1        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic and Reformers Group

LDR: Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group