21/06/2007: The Intergroup Family and Protection of Childhood met today in the EP in Strasbourg, under the Presidency of Mrs Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, to discuss the follow-up of the Commission Communication on a Future Strategy on the Rights of the Child. The meeting aimed in particular at exchanging views with the draftsperson, Mrs Angelilli, in view of the preparation of the Parliament report. The meeting, during which rapporteurs from different parliamentary Commissions expressed their views, reunited many interested parliamentarians, as well as representatives from the Council of Europe and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou underlined that a number of initiatives have been undertaken after the adoption of the Commission Communication and especially the nomination of a coordinator in the European Commission for the rights of the child, the establishment of a telephone line for missing children and the organisation of the first forum on the rights of the child which took place in Berlin on 4 June. She regretted that both the hearing organised in the European Parliament in April as well as the Commission Communication essentially focused on the child as a victim and not as a holder of rights and obligations, and insisted on the importance to recognise and promote the role of the family as the fundamental cell for the better development and protection of the child.
The rapporteur of the DROI Committee, Mrs Belohorska, drew the attention of the participants to specific problems which should be addressed in the Parliament's report and the Commission's works. Among these priorities, she mentioned the registration of births that is still lacking in certain regions of the world, the protection of children's health, including mental health, the treatment of refugee children, as well as the involvement of children in military conflicts. She finally indicated that a better control of arms sales could put an end to these situations, where children are both participants and victims.
Mrs Angelilli underlined that the target of the strategy was not only to prevent the abuse towards children, but also to promote their rights as independent legal personalities and as citizens. To this effect, the participation of children in the decision-making process should be evaluated. Furthermore, Mrs Angelilli expressed her concern on the increasing phenomenon of child pornography, especially through the internet, and mentioned in this regard that an internet site is organising a 'love boy day'. She recalled that the EU should combat these crimes, especially through the exchange of information between Member States on convictions, a better coordination of actions at national level and insisted on an increased use of Community programmes, such as DAPHNE. Finally, Mrs Angelilli indicated that in order to cope with the absence of a specific legal base at Community level on the issue of the rights of the child, Commissioner Frattini proposed that the Member States should establish a coordinator at national level and that they should establish a network of exchange of good practices.
In the debate that followed, the participants expressed their concerns over the effectiveness of community actions, given the absence of a legal base for the rights of the child.
At the end of the meeting, Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou expressed her hope that the strategy will be implemented through a programme of global actions, in which the civil society will have an active role.
Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou underlined that a number of initiatives have been undertaken after the adoption of the Commission Communication and especially the nomination of a coordinator in the European Commission for the rights of the child, the establishment of a telephone line for missing children and the organisation of the first forum on the rights of the child which took place in Berlin on 4 June. She regretted that both the hearing organised in the European Parliament in April as well as the Commission Communication essentially focused on the child as a victim and not as a holder of rights and obligations, and insisted on the importance to recognise and promote the role of the family as the fundamental cell for the better development and protection of the child.
The rapporteur of the DROI Committee, Mrs Belohorska, drew the attention of the participants to specific problems which should be addressed in the Parliament's report and the Commission's works. Among these priorities, she mentioned the registration of births that is still lacking in certain regions of the world, the protection of children's health, including mental health, the treatment of refugee children, as well as the involvement of children in military conflicts. She finally indicated that a better control of arms sales could put an end to these situations, where children are both participants and victims.
Mrs Angelilli underlined that the target of the strategy was not only to prevent the abuse towards children, but also to promote their rights as independent legal personalities and as citizens. To this effect, the participation of children in the decision-making process should be evaluated. Furthermore, Mrs Angelilli expressed her concern on the increasing phenomenon of child pornography, especially through the internet, and mentioned in this regard that an internet site is organising a 'love boy day'. She recalled that the EU should combat these crimes, especially through the exchange of information between Member States on convictions, a better coordination of actions at national level and insisted on an increased use of Community programmes, such as DAPHNE. Finally, Mrs Angelilli indicated that in order to cope with the absence of a specific legal base at Community level on the issue of the rights of the child, Commissioner Frattini proposed that the Member States should establish a coordinator at national level and that they should establish a network of exchange of good practices.
In the debate that followed, the participants expressed their concerns over the effectiveness of community actions, given the absence of a legal base for the rights of the child.
At the end of the meeting, Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou expressed her hope that the strategy will be implemented through a programme of global actions, in which the civil society will have an active role.
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