Regional Discussion Children’s Rights and Alternative Care, Council of Europe’s Contribution to the UNCRC Day of General Discussion 2021

COE held a regional discussion on 1 June where leading experts touched upon a number of issues, including the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights stressing the importance of family reunification and keeping the family together, which CHIP advocates for as upholding the child’s right to identity. Further Dr Maeve O’Rourke explored the State’s responsibility in responding to past abuse, difficulties related to secrecy of archives and necessity of full record keeping to prevent the denial of identity rights. Other helpful examples including from Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Ukraine as well as from the CRC Committee and HCCH on the 1996 Hague Convention were presented, as a way to prevent unnecessary separation and ensure suitable care.

Source: for presentations and recordings, see https://www.coe.int/en/web/children/regional-discussion-childrens-rights-in-alternative-care and https://maeveorourke.medium.com/childrens-rights-and-alternative-care-council-of-europe-s-contribution-to-the-uncrc-day-of-71abe3ab5176