European Commission sets out EU agenda to protect children's rights

European Commission sets out EU agenda to protect children's rights

2011-02-16 05:53:07 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The European Commission on Tuesday set out the European Union agenda for the protection of children's rights by putting the principles of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights into practice.

The EU agenda includes a series of concrete actions where the EU can provide added value to policies for children's well-being and safety, including promoting child-friendly justice, better informing children about their rights, and making the internet safer for kids.

"Children’s rights are fundamental rights. The EU and its 27 Member States need to make sure they are protected and that the best interests of the child are our guiding principles," said Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU's Justice Commissioner.

The agenda lists 11 actions that the Commission will take over the next years to contribute to making the justice systems in the EU more child-friendly and to improving children's well being.

The actions include establishing a hotline for missing children as well as child alert mechanisms; adopting a Directive on victims' rights raising protection of vulnerable victims, including children; and continuing the implementation of the 2007 EU Guidelines on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of the Child.

The EU agenda intends to turn into concrete results the strong commitment of EU institutions and Member States to promoting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of the child in all relevant EU policies.

In addition, the Commission will establish a single entry point for children on the EUROPA portal with easily accessible information on children's rights and EU policies to raise awareness and promote active citizenship among children.

Vice-President Antonio Tajani emphasized the need to fight the sexual exploitation of children linked to tourism. He said that sexual exploitation was a gross violation of human dignity and of children’s physical and mental integrity.

The Treaty of Lisbon requires the EU to promote the protection of the rights of the child. The rights of the child also form part of the fundamental rights that the EU is committed to respect under Article 24 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

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