18/02/2009: Parliament expressed its support for the Commission Communication "Towards an EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child" and called on the Commission to take specific measures. The need to take concrete measures in order to answer to the needs of children and families is a position that the EP has defended on two notable occasions, through its resolution on "promoting social inclusion and combating poverty, including child poverty, in the EU" and its decision establishing 2010 as the European Year for combating poverty and social exclusion.

In this context, Marie Panayotopoulos - Cassiotou MEP (EPP-ED, Greece), Chairwoman of the Intergroup on 'Family and Protection of Childhood', asked the European Commission what is the recent state of play in this field and what other matters of crucial importance to children the Commission will promote in the near future.

The representative of the European Commission, Vice-President Jacques Barrot, gave the following answer to Mrs Panayotopoulos - Cassiotou: "The Commission Communication proposes the establishment of a Strategy aiming at efficiently promoting the rights of the child in the framework of the EU internal and external policies, supporting the efforts made by the Member States in this field (...) [ and finally] launching a consultation before the presentation of a European Strategy for the period 2010-2014. This consultation is ongoing: (...) in the fields of Justice, Liberty and Security prior to the Stockholm programme, the European forum for the rights of the child, the experts' reunion and the consultation of children to be launched in 2009. The new Strategy on the rights of the child will particularly be focused on the new priorities identifies by the EP resolution. Since the adoption of its Communication the Commission has committed itself to taken concrete measures such as legislative measures, measures of police and judicial cooperation, measures of cooperation between Member States, exchange of good practices, in view of combating any violation of children's rights. To this end, a Forum was created (...) [in order to] advice and support the Commission and other European Institutions, (...) to exchange information and good practices in matters related to the rights of the child (...) to promote the children's point of view on policies and matters which are of an interest to them. The conditions of such participation are to be determined. The Forum held on the 9th of December 2008 mainly dealt with the theme of violence and of the participation and consultation of children.

Regarding children's poverty, national action plans for social inclusion 2008-2010 have confirmed that poverty and social exclusion of children constitute more than never a concern to the great majority of Member States, but also an essential element in the framework of the Open Method of Coordination on poverty and social exclusion. Progress has been made in the field of the analysis and the statistical treatment of these questions; nevertheless, it is hard to find the necessary efforts and political engagement without which it will be very difficult to have a decisive influence on the phenomenon of poverty and social exclusion of children. (...) In this respect, the Commission wishes to reinforce the process of definition of reasonable objectives but also the establishment of monitoring and evaluation tools both at European and National level. It also considers a better way to coordinate the European process in the field of the rights of the child, but also the social inclusion process and the encouragement of the improvement of synergies at a National level between the establishment of reports on the UN Convention on the rights of the Child and the development of national action plans for social inclusion".

"In this context of generalised financial crisis which influences the daily lives of families, what matters is the rapid execution of preventive measures in order to control an unexpected extension of the multidimensional phenomenon of child poverty, and notably in the regions affected by unemployment", commented Marie Panayotopoulos - Cassiotou.

For further information:
Tel: +32-2-2847447 - Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos-cassiotou@europarl.europa.eu

2010 - 2014: NEW EUROPEAN STRATEGY ON THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN'S RIGHTS

13/02/2009: The EU establishes a strategy for the protection of the rights of children on its territory, through its internal and external policies. In that respect, MEP Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP (EPP-ED,GR), Chairwoman of the Intergroup on 'Family and Protection of Childhood', asked the Commission what its efforts have achieved so far, whether there is recognition at European level of the rights of the unborn child - healthy or disabled, and how they are implemented.

In a written answer, the Commission declared that "since the adoption of the 2006 Communication 'Towards a Strategy on the rights of the child', the Commission has committed itself to undertake concrete actions in view of combating any form of violation of children's rights. The Commission foresees to present a new strategy on the rights of the child for the period 2010 - 2014. To this end, a public consultation is ongoing.
European action is focused on the inclusion of children's rights in all policies, but also on the consideration of these same rights when undertaking concrete actions, within the framework of EU's competences.
The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights guarantees the principle of inviolability of Human dignity. It is up to each Member to determine the pertinence of the application of this principle to the unborn child.The determination of whether the principle of inviolability of human dignity comprises the embryo or not as well as the determination of the legal personality of the embryo lies within the competences of the Member States.
The EU has no competence on this issue" concluded the European Commission.

For further information:
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E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos-cassiotou@europarl.europa.eu

THE PROMOTION OF TOY SAFETY BY THE EUROPEAN UNION

05/09/2008: The Intergroup on Family and Protection of Childhood of the European Parliament, under the Presidency of Greek MEP Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, with the active collaboration of the Vice-Chairman José Ribeiro e Castro MEP, and the friendly support of the Intergroup on SMEs, convened during the plenary session in Brussels, on Thursday 4 September 2008, in order to discuss the revision of the Directive 88/378/CEE concerning bringing together Member States' laws relating to the safety of toys.

Among the speakers, Mrs Van Rijn, General-Secretary of ORNES (the Dutch Toys Supplier Organisation) and the Foundation 'SpeelGoed' (Netherlands) underlined the importance of play in the education of the child, offering a pedagogical vision to the meeting. Playing allows the child to develop its behaviour, its skills and to forge its personality. It is thus essential that toys are safe and well secure so that the child uses them with a maximum of protection.

Maureen Logghe, Policy Officer for 'Toys Safety Legislation' within the DG Entreprise of the European Commission, presented the Commission's proposal which reinforces not only the safety requirements of the toys but also the obligation to monitor the markets, the manufacturers and the suppliers. It is thus within this framework that a draft report was tabled by the Belgian MEP Marianne Thyssen within the Interior Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) of the EP.
From his side, Daryl Srivens, member of the 'Toys Industries of Europe', presented the view of the industry relating to toy safety, approving the Commission's approach with regards to dangerous substances, while explaining the increasing constraints which this sector faces.

The debate which followed emphasised the position of the Members of the IMCO Committee as well as the vision of the family and consumer protection organisations. Critics arose against the CE marking, which is obligatory and must be visible on packing but often leads to confusion because it is not provided by an independent organisation but by the manufacturers themselves. Moreover, the question of the manufacturer's responsibility was raised in case of accident caused by a toy, thus leaving the problem of census of children's accidents within the European Union outstanding.

In conclusion, Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou declared: "Considering the fact that toys represent an important part of the child's education and contribute to a smooth evolution of their behaviour and character, it is essential that the existing security standards are respected in order to guarantee children's protection". The deputy wished that the European Toy Market, including imported toys, will give an example of security standards on a worldwide scale.

REDUCED VAT RATES ON BABY DIAPERS. JOSÉ RIBEIRO E CASTRO MEP AND MARIE PANAYOTOPOULOS-CASSIOUTOU MEP

10/07/2008: "The Commission has fulfilled what it had promised us, but it is important to go further in helping families."

"It is good to see a happy ending to three years of work and continuous pressure on the responsible persons." This was the message today from José Ribeiro e Castro MEP and Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassioutou MEP, after receiving the Commission's official information on its proposal to change the Directive 2006/112/EC of the Council which will, among other things, solve the dispute on VAT rates for children's nappies.

The Intergroup of Family and Protection of Childhood, Presided by Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou and Mr Ribeiro e Castro, Vice-Chairman, has undertaken several initiatives aiming to show the public and the European Commission the unfairness of the different VAT rates on children's nappies.

"It is an absurd situation in that the Commission believes that adult incontinence protection can be subject to lower VAT rates but not children's nappies", reiterated Ribeiro e Castro and Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou. "This new proposal aims to correct this obvious anomaly."

Both parliamentarians agree that it is necessary to go further in the efforts not to penalise the inevitable expenditure made by families with children. "As we already proposed at European level a year ago, when celebrating the International Day of Family (15 May 2007), we believe that VAT rates should be lowered in child care products thus giving a positive sign to family and demography. The Commission's initiative is, in the Commission's own words, 'just a first step' addressing the 'urgent cases' and limited to 'technical drafting adaptations'", said the MEPs. "So, we are going to struggle for a more global review of this Directive. The Council has regrettably been quite late in giving the necessary guidance to this process of getting governments to treat families in a non-hostile way, especially where basic care for children is concerned. Governments should be accountable for this matter."

"We understand that the Commission cannot go further right now and it is crucially important that it can have the support of the 27 Member States for, at least, this limited package of technical adjustments. It would be positive that, within the legislative programme announced in 2008, the European Union, through the European Commission, might be able to effectively fulfil what it had publicly promised and announced on July 19 2006, in the framework of the requests for information to the European Commission sent to Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Portugal in the form of letters of formal notice to several Member States about their application of reduced VAT rates for children's nappies.

"It should also be taken into account the need to dissipate the doubts about reduced VAT rates on child car seats", as Ribeiro e Castro called to the Commission's attention some months ago.

"But it is incomprehensible that there is discrimination between the Member States in items such as children's clothing and shoes where the States apply different VAT rates. If the European Commission is about to solve the discrepancy between other areas (such as housing) it is incomprehensible that the difference is kept in Member States in such relevant products as children's clothing and shoes.

MOBILISATION BY THE EP FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN. ADJUSTMENT OF EUROPEAN STRATEGY FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS

16/01/2008: Following the vote in the European Parliament on the Strategy for the Protection of Children's Rights in Europe and the world, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP said that the European Parliament's proposals have an active, complete and coordinating role in this political theme. The reformed Treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights will provide more possibilities to implement European activities to protect children and their rights and welfare in Europe and the world.

The strategy sees children as independent personalities, not as victims, with rights and responsibilities, as measured by their maturity, who actively participate in the social decision-making process.

The unobstructed social development of children is based on family care and tenderness and also the securing of material and spiritual needs in a healthy and natural environment. Maternity protection is the postulate for children to enjoy their rights, until they reach maturity. The combination of parental career and family care is an undisputed right of children that contributes to the creation of a valuabe capital and an investment for the society of tomorrow.

"In spite of repeated violations on children's rights in many countries, the anti-poverty programme, the anti-racism programme, the promotion of education and sensibility of the family all contribute to closing the circle of violence and the abolition of abuse in all its forms. Great progress has been made in the European Union to protect children from paedophilia, child pornography and sexual abuse", said Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou.

The latest analysis by the European Commission (November 2007) testifies that almost all the Member States have modulated their national legislation in support of the European Council's ruling (2003). The 3rd DAPHNE Programme (June 2007) combats violence against women, children and young persons, finances NGOs and emphasises the exchange of courses of action. The nomination of intermediates and experts from all the Member States and their cooperation on a European scale will remarkably contribute to the protection of children in Europe.

Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou noted that European actions, in combination with political will and civil participation, allow the possibility of the application of current legislation and the combat against child abuse, which is necessary in all political actions. Despite the increase of dangers, Greek legislation and the coordinated acts of the political bodies has demonstrated their effectiveness in the protection of children's rights in our country. This effort must be adopted for children in sensitive social groups in particular.

For further information:
Tel: +32-2-2847447, Fax: +32-2-2849447
Email: marie.panayotopoulos-cassiotou@europarl.europa.eu

EUROPEAN PROTECTION OF CHILDREN'S RIGHTS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT

14/12/2007: Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou (EPP-ED, GR) drew the European Commission's attention to a statement about the protection of children’s rights to live in a healthy environment and about the implementation of guidelines on this subject. Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou also addressed the issue of the pollution of closed rooms, air pollution and the use of toxic contaminant substances. The Greek Member wanted to be informed about possibilities for cooperation between the European Commission, UNICEF and the WHO, as well as potential joint future actions to scale down dangers and risks in children’s environment.

According to WHO statistics, 3 million children die every year through factors linked to bad quality of environment. More than 80% of children’s diseases are being influenced from environmental factors.

The European Strategy for the Rights of Children, that still has to be approved, recognised that climate and environmental changes negatively affect the health and welfare of children.

In the answer to Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou the European Commission referred to Article 24 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and the United Nation Agreement of Children Rights. At the same time, the Commission underlined the important role of the European Union worldwide, to protect children's rights which also have been determined by Article 5 of the Treaty of Lisbon.

The European Strategy for the Environment and Health (June 2003) and the Provision Task List for the Environment and Health (June 2004) both constitute evidence: “of the assurance, that climate changes and the resultant dangers affect the health and welfare of children. The SCALE initiative (Science, Children, Awareness, EU Legislation, Evaluation) confirms the interests of the European Union in protecting children. A wider range of research programmes are concentrated on the effects of climate changes on the state of health of children and finance research about their sensitivity.

Of particular importance is also the air quality and the yet to be approved Reference of reduction of the PM2.5 aerial particles. As expected, positive results will contribute to improve the children’s state of health.

Children’s exposure in bordered or closed areas/environment is also an object of research. The European Commission assembled a group of experts which examines the quality of air in bordered and closed areas/environment. This group of experts will cooperate with the European Commission on potential decisions and the financing of environmental research.

For further information:
Tel: +32-2-2847447, Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos-cassiotou@europarl.europa.eu

EUROPEAN UNION CONCERNED ABOUT SEXUALLY-MISTREATED AND MISSING CHILDREN

06/12/2007: Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou (EPP-ED, GR) joined the conference on "sexually-mistreated and missing children" in Brussels in her role as President of the Intergroup "Family and Child Protection". The conference was organised by the Missing Children Europe Group, which works with more than 27 national NGOs, among them the Greek organisation "Hamogelo tou Paidiou". The group's goals are being supported by many well-known people such as Bernadette Chirac and Her Majesty the Queen of Sweden, Silvia. The opening speech of the conference was delivered by the European Commission President's spouse, Margarida Sousa Uva Barroso.

In her report, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou presented a European Community framework and Directive to protect under-aged and children from child pornography and sexual abuse. She also announced the planning of a new Strategy for the Rights of Children, with goals such as the comprehension of Children's Rights in the European Union. This strategy strengthens children's position in domestic and foreign policy, in education, in social security and medical prevention.

Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou emphasised: “The legislation exists, but there is a lack of obligatory support from Member States, public and private sectors to combat the violence, the crime and the sexual mistreatment of children and wards. The Member States have to make sure, by law, that sexual predators are not allowed to work with or to take care of children."

The rapporteur, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, presented the Daphne III Programme which was adopted by the European Union on May 2007, for the period 2007-2013. The programme's aims are to battle criminality and violence (of a physical, psychological and sexual nature) against women, the under-aged, children, and the adequate support and treatment of the victims.

Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou also emphasised the importance of cooperation between international organisations and the European Commission to plan a common policy on this subject: "The cooperation in targeted systems like AMBER ALERT, the European Hotline 116 000, the support of NGOs and the cooperation of parents and citizens are necessary instruments to support and protect under-aged and children."

In conclusion, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou gave a favourable opinion to the creation of a Hotline by the Greek Government for the protection of missing children. At the same time, she supports the amendment in the legislation to rescind the privacy of correspondence, both written and electronic, of defendants in cases of sexual abuse of children and under-aged and the tightening of the legislation to protect wards and children.

For further information:
Tel: +32-2-2847447
Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos-cassiotou@europarl.europa.eu

DISCRIMINATION AND EXCLUSION OF CHILDREN WITH 'DYS'ABILITIES

29/10/2007: Following the adoption of Written Declaration 64/2007, the Intergroup on Family and Protection of Childhood met on the 24th of October under the presidency of Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP (EPP-ED, GR) in order to exchange views on the better recognition of learning disorders with the purpose of improving the living conditions of children with "dys"abilities and their families.

The meeting, which gathered MEPs, representatives of DG Employment and DG Education of the European Commission, doctors, parental and educational organisations as well as youth associations, highlighted the necessity to provide early and multidisciplinary treatment for learning disorders at medical, educational and social level with the view to eliminating the existing discriminations and enable the full and equal participation of "dys"-children in society and later on in the labour market.

The representative of DG employment recalled that the European Commission has committed to ensure the promotion of equal opportunities for all and has recently launched an impact assessment on the different kinds of discrimination in the labour market. He underlined that despite the fact that there are no specific actions relating to "dys"-children, the PROGRESS Programme for social inclusion can finance actions of Non-Governmental Organisations in favour of those children and their families as well as promote lifelong learning measures adapted to the specific needs of people suffering from learning disorders. The representative of DG Education insisted on the importance of intensifying the collection of statistics and the establishment of common indicators on "dys"abilities in order to better target the actions and policies. He recalled the fundamental role of trans-national cooperation among different organisations for the exchange of good practices and the setting-up of projects at European level.

In the framework of the discussions on the relevance of recognising "dys"abilities as a handicap, Professor Dattke from the Theodor-Hellbrügge Stiftung in Germany, stated that children with "dys"abilities constitute a very diversified group and thus require a distinctive and personal treatment. He underlined the need for close collaboration between the medical team and the parents in order to identify and treat as early as possible the learning disorders. Commissioner Kyprianou, who could not be present at the meeting, had sent a letter presenting DG SANCO's planned actions, thus enriching the debate on the medical treatment of "dys"children.

Following the testimony of the President of the Association Groupe d'Ados Dys, which is present in various French cities, Mrs Panayotopoulos pointed out that "the coordination and increased use of European programmes for social inclusion and lifelong learning, the Health Strategy for 2008-2013 and new technologies, offer new perspectives for the better exploitation of the potential of people suffering from learning disorders and the achievement of their personal and professional expectations."

For further information:
Tel: +32-2-2847447 Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos@europarl.europa.eu

CHILDREN AND MEDIA: GROWING UP IN A DIGITALISED WORKD

05/09/2007: The Intergroup on Family and Protection of Childhood organised today in the EP in Strasbourg, under the presidency of MEPs Ruth Hieronymi and Maria Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, met with the Audiovisual Policy Intergroup in order to exchange views on the influence of media on the lives and development of children. The meeting, which focused on the topic 'Children and Media: growing up in a digitalised world', gathered representatives of the European Commission, Parliamentarians, industry, and NGOs.

Bartholomeus Pronk, Advisor to European Commissioner Viviane Reding, indicated that given the multiplication and diversification of the dangers, the Commission has adopted a number of initiatives, such as the Media Directive and the programme Safer Internet Plus, which aims at sensitising parents, educators and children, as well as creating a network of media professionals, in order to identify and eliminate illegal content on the net. The Commission focuses on examining the dangers resulting from the use of mobile phones by children in the framework of a public consultation, which was closed in October 2006. Mr Pronk underlined that e-literacy and e-learning proposals are currently being examined by Commission experts.

Dr J Brautmeier, a representative of the Media Authority of Northrhine-Westphalia (LfM) European Platform of Regulatory Authorities (EPRA), presented the initiative adopted by the region of Northrhine-Westphalia, including the assessment of self-regulation in order to protect children from harmful content. He mentioned the creation of a committee with extended investigational powers, as well as the development of systems of age verification. He also indicated that Germany has created a portal for the use of mobile phones (www.handysektor.de) and an online information portal (www.klicksafe.de) based on the European Safer Internet Programme. He explained that Germany has also adopted legislation enabling the prosecution of foreign broadcasts which violate German legislation.

Eirini Zafeiratou, Director of GSM Europe, recalled that mobile phone operators recognised their role in preventing and eliminating dangers associated with the use of mobile phones by children. However, she underlined that an effective response to the problem requires close cooperation between all interested actors, including parents, educators and civil society. To this end, she presented the initiative, which is placed under the patronage of the European Commission and GSM Europe, relating to the creation of a European framework for safer mobile use by younger teenagers and children. This partnership has adopted a series of recommendations on control mechanisms, raising awareness, classification of content and the fight against illegal material. Mrs Zafeiratou explained that the first assessment of the European framework will take place in 2008 and that national codes of conduct are currently being prepared in several European countries.

As far as the provision of products and technological services adapted to children is concerned, Mrs Anne Clarke from the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, underlined that the technological sector should take an increased interest in the need of young consumers by exchanging good practices and adopting guidelines and strategies in order to minimise the risk. She regrets the absence of data on the nature and frequency of the risk to which children are confronted, which complicated the work of prevention. Finally, Mrs Clarke insisted on the necessity to include courses on the safer use of media in educational programmes.

Tobjorn Ull from the Crime Against Persons unit of Europol, informed the participants of the Europol programmes to prosecute authors of sexual crimes on the internet, including joint initiatives with Member States, as well as procedures to identify providers and networks. He indicated that the major obstacle is the non-application of existing legislation. Finally, he recalled Europol's role in the retransmission of information to national and international agencies.

"Given the evolution of the media environment, it is necessary to sensitise children, parents and educators to a safer use of new technology, which would be respectful of the law. Prevention and increased parental control will always remain the best weapons against the danger of new technologies", stated Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou and Mrs Hieronymi.

For further information:
Tel: +32-2-2845447, Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos-cassiotou@europarl.europa.eu

Ruth Hieronymi MEP
Tel: +32-2-2845859, Fax: +32-2-2849859
E-mail: ruth.hieronymi@europarl.europa.eu

TOWARDS AN EU STRATEGY ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

17/04/2007: A hearing entitled "Towards an EU strategy on the rights of the child" will be jointly organised by seven parliamentary committees on Tuesday 17 April in the European Parliament.

Different panels of experts will debate judicial, economic and social aspects of children's rights with MEPs.

EPP-ED Rapporteurs Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP (Greece) and Antonio López-Istúriz MEP (Spain) will participate. Anna Záborská MEP (Slovakia), Chair of the Committee on Women's Rights, will also make one of the introductory statements.

Programme:

9:00 - 10:30 OPENING

Introductory statements by:

Mr Jean-Marie Cavada, Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Ms Anna Záborská, Chair of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

Ms Roberta Angelilli, Rapporteur of the lead Committee (LIBE), European Parliament

Representative of the German Presidency (tbc)

Vice-President Franco Frattini, European Commission

Ms Verena Taylor, Representative of the Council of Europe, Presentation of the work of the Council of Europe in the field of Children's Rights

Ms Marta Santos Pais, Director of the UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre: The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): a Universal Child Rights Framework

Question time

10:30 - 12:30 Part I: CHILDREN'S RIGHTS: SOME KEY ISSUES

Chair: Ms Angelilli, Ms Kinnock, Ms Gröner, Mr López-Istúriz

10:30-10:40 Mainstreaming Children's Rights in the EU, Ms Mieke Schuurman, EURONET

10:40-10:50 An EU Strategy on children in External Relations, Ms Lieve Fransen, Head of Unit, DG Development, European Commission

10:50-11:10 Debate

With the participation of children:

11:10-11:30 Implementing Children's participation in the EU: Results of the consultation based on the child friendly version of the Communication on the Strategy on the Rights of the Child in EU Member States, Ms Olivia Lind Haldorsson, Save the Children

11:30-11:50 Implementing Children's participation outside the EU: Results of the external consultation based on the child friendly version of the Communication on the Strategy on the Rights of the Child, Ms Deepali Sood, Plan Europe

11:50-12:00 The European legal regime regarding parental abduction of children: the loopholes of the current system, Ms Anne-Marie Hutchinson, Head of the Children Department, Dawson & Cornwell, United Kingdom

12:00-12:30 Debate

15:00 - 16:30 Part II: CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE

Chair: Ms Angelilli, Ms Panayotopoulos

15:00-15:20 Presentation of the UN Study on Violence against children, Professor Paulo Pinheiro, UN independent expert

15:20-15:35 Presentation of the Thematic Report on the Rights of the child, Professor Maja Eriksson, Member of the former Network of Experts on Fundamental Rights

15:35-15:50 Special needs and vulnerabilities of a female child, Ms Christa Stolle, Secretary General for the NGO "Terre des Femmes"

15:50-16:00 Prevention of infanticide and assistance to mothers at risk, Ms Erminia Cozza, Legal advisor of "Civil rights in 2000 - Saving babies and mothers"

16:00-16:30 Debate

16:30 - 17:30 Part III: CHILDREN AT RISK

Chair: Ms Angelilli, Ms Belohorská, Ms Panayatopoulos, M. López-Istúriz

16:30-16:40 Children refugees and asylum seeking children, Ms Judith Kumin, UNHCR

16:40-16:50 The problem of birth registration, Ms Marta Santos Pais, Director of the UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre

16:50-17:00 Abandoned children, Mr Jozef Miklosko, President of the Society of Friends of Children from Children's Homes

17:00-17:10 The example of the hotline for children at risk in Spain, Mr Luis Estebaranz Prieto, Anar Foundation (Ayuda a Niños y Adolescentes en Riesgo)

17:10-17:30 Debate

17:30 - 18:30 Part IV: CHILDREN AND POVERTY

Chair: Ms Angelilli, Mr Papadimoulis, Ms Gröner

17:30-17:45 Child poverty and social inclusion: Presentation of a review of 23 national reports on social inclusion, Jana Hainsworth, Eurochild

17:45-18:00 Children's Economic Rights, Ms Jeroo Billimoria, Executive Director of Aflatoun, Child Savings International

18:00-18:30 Debate and concluding remarks

'WHICH FUTURE FOR FAMILIES IN EUROPE?': SEMINAR CHAIRED BY MARIE PANAYOTOPOULOS-CASSIOTOU MEP IN VIEW OF THE 4TH WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES

The MEP and Chairwoman of the Intergroup on Family and Protection of Childhood, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, chaired a seminar on "The Future of Families in Europe" on Wednesday 28 March at the European Parliament in Brussels. This seminar, which gathered a large number of MEPs and NGOs included the participation of the President of the Organising Committee of the World Congress for Family, Katarzyna Mazela, as well as the ECOSOC rapporteur for the family, Stephane Buffetaut.

The meeting focused initially on the presentation of the 4th World Congress for Family which will take place in Warsaw on 11-13 May 2007 on the topic "The natural Family - Spring for Europe and for the World".

"To the demographic winter of Europe, we propose the spring of the natural family. Within the framework of the Congress, a series of initiatives will enable each participant to put his individual faculties to the service of the promotion of the natural family, in respect of our respective competences" underlined the President of the Congress' Organising Committee. The Parliamentary forum, which will be organised on the 11th of May 2007 under the Presidency of the Sejm, assisted by the European Forum for Human Rights and the Family, and with the participation of Panayotopoulos MEP, Zaborska MEP and Carlo Casini MEP, will be the highlight of the Congress.

The seminar, during which Mario Mauro, Ingo Friedrich, Carlo Casini, Anna Zaborska and Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou intervened, enabled Buffetaut, the EESC's rapporteur, to present his opinion on "family and demographic changes". The text, which was elaborated on the request of the German Presidency of the EU, emphasizes that the fight against the damaging effects of climate change requires a broad political coordination on different levels (family, social, economic, environmental policies as well as gender equality policies) which could be implemented by the adoption of a European action plan. In addition, Buffetaut recommended the creation of a "European Family Pact" by the Council, the Parliament and the Commission which would reaffirm the Member States' will to implement family-friendly policies, allowing Europeans to have as many children as they desire. These policies should foster a family-friendly environment by setting a minimum base of public budgets for children and families, direct financial aid, tax adjustments and a sufficient child care facilities. Finally, Buffetaut stressed the necessity to establish a European register of good practices regarding family policies and he insisted on the need for assuring a constant and stable family policy by maintaining financial aid for children.

The resolution, which was adopted at the end of the seminar, recalls the importance of recognising and promoting the role of the family as the founding structure of society through which moral, cultural, spiritual and material values that are vital for intergenerational solidarity and economic and social cohesion are transmitted. The resolution also underlines the importance of family structures for the healthy development of children and underlines that the complementarities between men and women must also be a reality in family life. Finally the text stresses the socio-economic importance of services that are provided for children and the elderly within the family and asks for a better recognition of the qualifications acquired as well as for the provision of social rights, including pensions, for people who take up such responsibilities. It was reminded that in the absence of a binding legal instrument at EU level, article 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights should be respected in the implementation of EU policies.

The debate was followed by a joint press conference with Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Anna Zaborska, Stephane Buffetaut (European Economic and Social Committee), Katarzyna Mazela (President of the Organising Committee of the World Congress for Family), the European Foundation and Femina Europa.

For further information:
Maria Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847447, Fax: +32-2-2849447
E-mail: marie.panayotopoulos-cassiotou@europarl.europa.eu

QUALITY ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH FOR CHILDREN: MEETING OF THE INTERGROUP ON FAMILY AND PROTECTION OF CHILDHOOD

15/03/2007: The Intergroup on Family and Protection of Childhood met yesterday in the European Parliament in Strasbourg to discuss 'Quality Environment and Health for Children: Essential Components of the future EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child.' The meeting, which aimed at highlighting the impact of environmental change on children's health as well as the medical problems that children face, gathered together MEPs, representatives of the European Commission, the World Health Organisation and NGOs.

Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou indicated that the Commission's Communication on a Strategy on the Rights of the Child points out that over 10 million children under the age of five die each year of illnesses that could have been easily treated or prevented. A third of the world's children suffer from malnutrition, live in desperate circumstances (no access to drinkable water, bad hygiene, environmental pollution) and do not have access to healthcare prevention and treatment. However, Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises the right of children to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health and have facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health.

Referring to the fact that over 50% of medicines used in the EU for treating children have not been tested or authorised specifically for children, Peter Liese MEP underlined that the new Regulation on paediatric medicine requires Member States to verify that the medicines put on the market take into account the specificity of a child's organism. He insisted on the dangers arising from chemical substances which can affect children more than adults. Finally, Liese noted the crucial role of the family environment for the health and well-being of children.

The representative of DG SANCO, Charles Price, explained that the Commission was placing great importance on the protection of children as consumers and indicated that the new EU Strategy on Public Health, which should be adopted in the summer of 2007, will pay particular attention to the fight against tobacco use, the protection against the dangers of alcohol and to a responsible sexuality. Mr Price added that over 31% of young Europeans smoke and that tobacco use has become one of the greatest medical problems of our time. The new Health Strategy will thus launch an initiative for youth without tobacco as well as a strategy for the prevention of alcoholism. In addition, the New Strategy will contain provisions for medical problems arising from over-consumption (obesity) as well as provisions for mental health, young people being increasingly more at risk.

Lucianne Licari, on behalf of the World Health Organisation, mentioned that a joint report of UNICEF and the WHO revealed that 33% of the illnesses that affect children under the age of five are caused by environmental change (respiratory diseases, allergies, diabetes, cancer etc). She added that beyond the medical dangers linked to a sedentary life and accidents, the WHO has identified internal and external pollution, the absence of drinkable water and hygiene and lead contamination as major health risks. Mrs Licari finally underlined that the collaboration between all stakeholders at all levels, the implementation of specific actions and better synergies between environmental and health policies could substantially contribute to the improvement of the quality of children's health.

NOW ON TRACK: THE SINGLE EU HOTLINE NUMBER FOR MISSING CHILDREN

21/02 2007: Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP (EPP-ED, Greece), rapporteur of the "European Strategy on the Rights of the Child" which was launched on 4 July 2006, welcomes the Commission's draft Decision to reserve the use of the '116000' number specifically for missing children hotlines.

Providing a single number to report missing children represents a concrete example of how the EU, and in particular the European Commission, has made children's rights one of its priorities. As incidents of missing children have substantially increased (according to UK police estimates, approximately 70,000 missing children are reported missing annually), many European countries have already implemented different hotline telephone numbers for parents to report missing children.

Taking into consideration the trans-national character of cases for missing children, the 'same number - same service 116000' will greatly assist parents if they lose their child while travelling or on holiday in another European country, and will also ensure better cooperation among the police services so as to trace missing children and arrest perpetrators. Member States should adopt this initiative for the protection of children's rights by summer 2007.

The issue of the correct implementation of a single hotline number for missing children has already been addressed by a number of MEPs and members of the Intergroup on "Family and the Protection of Childhood" which Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou chairs. During the Intergroup meeting in September 2006, the Vice-President of the Commission, Franco Frattini, delivering his speech on the Strategy of the Rights of the Child, welcomed comments referring to the implementation of the "116 initiative". On 11 December 2006, Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Information Society and Media, at the Telecom Council, called upon all Ministers to support urgent progress on this Commission proposal. In the near future, a public call will be launched in order to identify other services that may benefit from 116 numbers.

The implementation of the '116 initiative' for reporting missing children is only a first step illustrating pan-European awareness of the protection of children's rights. Close cooperation among the Member States is necessary in order to establish a safe living space for all families in Europe. Such an initiative gives us hope to defend against criminal actions that threaten the safety of our children", said Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou.

IMMIGRATION AND POVERTY: THE IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION ON FAMILY AND CHILDREN

14/12/2006: The Intergroup on "Family and Protection of Childhood" in the European Parliament, chaired by Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou (EPP-ED, GR), organised this Wednesday 13 December, a joint meeting with the "Fourth World Committee" Intergroup presided over by Mr Mendez de Vigo (EPP-ED, ES), on the topic of immigration. The meeting attracted the participation of a great number of MEPs, representatives of the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the UNHCR and NGOs

The discussions addressed more specifically the link between immigration and poverty as well as the impact of immigration on family and children. NGO Caritas presented its third report on poverty in Europe which reveals that third country nationals, who represent around 20 million people in the EU, are usually in a less favourable position than EU nationals when it comes to employment, education, training, health, housing and participation in public life. The prevalence of atypical work contracts (part-time, temporary contracts or undeclared labour) for migrants tends to expose them to discrimination and exploitation, thus increasing the risk of social exclusion, marginalisation and poverty. PICUM (Platform for International Cooperation also presented its activities in various European countries for the improvement of living conditions of illegal migrants and ensuring respect of their rights.

Mrs Agnès Hubert, representative of the Bureau of European Policy Advisers of the European Commission (BEPA), indicated that the improvement of the public attitude towards migrants is an essential condition for the promotion of their economic and social integration and a better use of their potential. She underlined that the development of new possibilities for legal migration, family reunification, the reduction of illegal labour and support for youth are fundamental components of this approach. She also mentioned that the role of migrant women, who represent 54% of migrants in the EU, should be further promoted in national migration policies and their economic, social and cultural integration supported. An improved integration of migrant women contributes to a better integration of their children, thus giving them a good impetus for their full participation in society both as contributors and beneficiaries

Mrs Tax from the UNHCR mentioned the increase in child migration, including that of unaccompanied minors, as well as the fragile situation of these children. She insisted on the necessity for States to adopt, at all stages of migration procedures, measures protecting the child's best interests. These measures include the fight against trafficking and exploitation, the suppression of detention centres for minor migrants and their replacement by structures more appropriate to childhood, the appointment of a legal guardian for unaccompanied minors and the establishment of child-sensitive asylum procedures. The development of statistics on child migrants is also fundamental for the formulation of more targeted policies.

Underlining that the integration of children implies their access to education, Mr Attuil from the Cabinet of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe pointed out the bureaucratic difficulties in this field, in particular for undocumented minor migrants. He mentioned that specialised school programs for the integration of migrant children could be adopted in order to enable them to pursue a normal education and prevent the phenomenon of early school-leavers which is on the constant increase.

In the framework of a common European approach on immigration, the two Chairpersons, Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou and Mr Mendez de Vigo, expressed their satisfaction regarding the fruitful dialogue that followed the presentation of the various topics relating to poverty, family and children.

CHILDHOOD PROTECTION: MEMBER STATES NEED TO ADOPT DYNAMIC POLICIES

12/12/2006: The need for coordinated action to protect children against exploitation, ill-treatment or violence and to promote their rights in fundamental fields such as survival, health and education was underlined by Mrs Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, MEP (EPP-ED, GR) during her intervention in the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the occasion of World Children's day.

According to a recent UNICEF study, more than half of the children living in developing countries do not have access to elementary goods and services essential for children. These goods include housing, hygienic infrastructures, basic healthcare, access to education and information, food and drinkable water. The study also indicates that a huge number of children live in low-income households and are obliged to work, many abandon their homes because of armed conflicts, and many are contaminated by various illnesses or die during conflicts. In addition, it is estimated that 15 million children in the world have become orphans because of AIDS.

World Children's day (11th December), aims to raise the issue of rights of children and instances of their violations. The United Nations and more particularly UNICEF, which celebrates its 60th year of existence, have transformed the protection of children into a social necessity and have worked towards it in a responsible manner. In 1959, the UN adopted the Declaration on the Rights of the Child and established a legal framework for protection against any type of exploitation or negligence. The Convention on the Rights of the Child which was adopted in 1989 and is yet to be signed by several States, includes rights of survival, development, protection and participation.

The Council of Europe recently (April 2006) launched a program entitled "Building a Europe for and with the Children" which aims at recognising rights for children in order to protect their moral and physical integrity in the same way as for adults. In addition, through its recent Communication on "A European Strategy on the rights of the child", the European Commission adopted a horizontal approach and a global strategy for the protection of children both in the internal and external policies of the EU.

Hoping for a coordination of the actions in the external and internal policies of the EU, Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou asked each Member State separately to adopt measures in favour of the protection of the rights of children. She underlined that "children are not only threatened by poverty, illiteracy and conflicts outside the EU, but also by violence, committed within our developed countries.

FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR EUROPEAN FAMILIES: EU LEGISLATION IS CURRENTLY UNDER DISCUSSION FOR A REDUCED VAT RATE ON CHILDREN'S DIAPERS

15/09/2006: Following the efforts of MEPs Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou and Mr Ribeiro e Castro for the inclusion of children's diapers in the list of products which could benefit from a reduced VAT rate, the European Commission announced on 19 July, that it would take the necessary steps in order to create a legal basis for the application of reduced VAT to these products.

With this initiative, the Commission could add products to annex H of the 6th VAT Directive or modify its interpretation of the existing ones.

The Commission announcement was preceded by meetings between the two MEPs and Commissioners for taxation and social affairs, Mr Kovacs and Spidla, as well as by several oral questions underlining the necessity to apply the same reduced VAT rate to children's diapers as to adults'. The MEPs had expressed their dismay regarding the unequal taxation treatment of these products which constitute products of first necessity for families.

In its declaration, the Commission indicated that it had sent letters of formal notice to the member states which apply a reduced VAT rate to children's diapers (Malta, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, Czech Republic) in order to obtain additional explanations and information on the basis of which the Commission will examine the possibility to revise annex H of the 6th VAT Directive.

With this decision the Commission clearly shows its commitment to support pro-family policies as a part of the EU's response to demographic challenges and the constant ageing of the population.

Mrs Panayotopoulos and Mr Ribeiro e Castro welcomed the Commission's decision and expressed the hope that the Commission will continue to address favourably the concerns of European families and particularly those facing financial difficulties.

FOLLOW-UP OF THE EUROPEAN STRATEGY ON CHILDREN'S RIGHTS: MEETING OF THE INTERGROUP FAMILY AND PROTECTION OF CHILDHOOD

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.

CHILDREN WITH IMPRISONED PARENTS: EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVES

16/05/2006: Speech by Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou at a conference in Paris organised by the European Committee for Children of Imprisoned Parents (EUROCHIPS), the Fédération Relais Enfants-Parents and the Bernard Van Leer Foundation.

On the proposal of Roselyne Bachelot MEP, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, a Greek MEP and President of the Intergroup on Family and Protection of Childhood, was invited to open a conference on "Children with imprisoned parents: European perspectives", organised in Paris on 12 May by the European Committee for Children of Imprisoned Parents (EUROCHIPS), the Fédération Relais Enfants-Parents and the Bernard Van Leer Foundation.

The objective of the conference, which gathered together a great number of experts in the penitentiary field - lawyers, psychologists, representatives of family associations and journalists - was to highlight the difficulties encountered by children, both within and outside prisons, with imprisoned parents and to debate the measures that should be adopted in order to improve the emotional, psychological and educational aspects of the lives of these children.

Considering the fact that every year in Europe 700,000 children are separated from their imprisoned parent, Mrs Panayotopoulos underlined in her speech that the imprisonment of a parent should not affect the existence or the right to maintain personal relations with his/her child. Considering the fact that most of the time the emotional and psychological needs of children are not taken into account when their parents are imprisoned, and that they often undergo the weight of the latter's imprisonment, measures of support, including of a socio-educational nature, should be adopted in order to enable the reconstruction of harmony in the family as well as social and professional reinsertion after the period of detention.

Mrs Panayotopoulos stressed that a specific policy of maternal and child protection in the context of prisons should be adopted in the case that alternative sanctions to imprisonment are not possible. To this effect, the environment of the child in prison should be adapted to its needs and therefore imply the creation of play areas, adequate healthcare and nutrition, contacts with the outside world etc.

Moreover, the MEP mentioned the Recommendation which was adopted in January 2006 by the Council of Europe on the revised European prison rules. The Recommendation invites Member States to establish, among others, visiting methods that would enable prisoners to maintain and develop family relations as normally as possible. According to Mrs Panayotopoulos, the vicinity of the place of detention with the family residence as well as the simplification of the visiting procedures are elements which could help maintain family relations.

Finally, one can hope that the future Communication of the European Commission on the rights of the child, which is expected for the month of June, will also cover the situation of children with imprisoned parents.

"THE EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN": MEETING OF THE INTERGROUP ON FAMILY AND PROTECTION OF CHILDHOOD

15/12/2005: The meeting of the Intergroup on Family and Protection of Childhood which focused on the "exploitation of children" took place in Strasbourg, on Wednesday the 14th of December under the chairmanship of Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou (EPP/ED). The meeting fostered interventions by Mrs Annachiara Cerri, Head of the Section "Children, Families and the Elderly" of the Council of Europe, Mrs Karin Johansson Administrator at the Department of Crime Problems of the Council of Europe and Mr. Eddy Laurijssen, Director of the Bureau of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Brussels.

During her intervention, Mrs Cerri reminded that 155 million children live in the 46 Members States of the Council of Europe, and that the Organization had taken therefore a strong commitment to promote their rights. Hence, she referred to the programme that was developed by the Council of Europe and which will be launched in Monaco in April 2006, entitled "Building a Europe for and with children" which aims at asserting children's status as rights holders who must be awarded the same respect for their human dignity and physical integrity as adults. In addition, she mentioned the recent recommendations and resolutions which were adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the rights of the child, such as the Recommendation on the " protection and assistance for separated children seeking asylum" and the Resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly (AP(2005)1 on "safeguarding adults and children with disabilities against abuse". Finally, Mrs Cerri presented the programme "Children and violence" which is currently being developed and which is focused on 4 priorities (4P): Protection of the children, Prevention of violence, Prosecution of criminal and Participation of children.

As far as Mrs Johanssen is concerned, she developed the actions undertaken by the Council of Europe regarding some criminal activities such as the Convention on Cybercrime which contains an article on child pornography. She reminded the adoption by the Council of Europe on the 3rd of May 2005, of the Convention on Action against trafficking in Human beings which is open to the signature of States. Finally, Mrs Johanssen explained that the conclusions of the conferences which were organised by the Council of Europe in July 2005 in Ljubljana in Slovenia on violence against children and sexual exploitation, would serve as a basis for the future work of the Council of Europe in the fight against sexual exploitation and abuse of children.

The meeting helped highlight the various types of exploitation of children among which, the worst are bad treatment, negligence, domestic or agricultural work and prostitution. On this regard, Mr Laurijssen mentioned more particularly slavery, the use of children by drug smugglers, forced recruitment of children in armed conflicts and commercial sexual exploitation of children as the worst forms of child labour. However, according to him, there is no need to prohibit all forms of labour but it is necessary to establish criteria on acceptable and unacceptable labour. He also reminded that one should pay particular attention to the contamination of children by infectious diseases such as AIDS. Finally, he addressed the interactions between the ILO standards on child labour and the commitments of States within the UN Convention on the Rights of Children as well as the development of common actions with the UE.

UNIVERSAL CHILDREN’S DAY

21/11/2005: Universal Children’s Day : let us protect our children from the dangers of the new information technologies – Written Declaration tabled by the Intergroup Family and Protection of Childhood in the EP.

The Universal Children’s Day, considered as a day of activities devoted to the promotion of the welfare of the children of the world, is organised every year on the 20th of November to mark the day of the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the UN General Assembly 16 years ago. This day gives the opportunity to sensitise public opinions to the cause, as mentioned in the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, of the protection of children, respected in their individuality as human beings, by their families and society as a whole.

The Intergroup on "Family and Protection of Childhood" in the European Parliament, chaired by MEP Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou (EPP/ED), wishing to contribute to the celebrations of the Universal Children’s Day, tabled a written Declaration on "the new information technologies and their impact on children".

This Declaration aims, on the one hand, at alerting the Members of the European Parliament-representatives of European citizens-, the Member States of the EU, the European Commission and the Council on the dangers children are confronted with when using the media and more particularly the internet and to remind that " internet governance" as debated in the World Summit on Information Society in Tunis, implies a fight against cybercrimes, in which the violations of the rights of children should specifically be included.

On the other hand, the written Declaration suggests the adoption of security, surveillance, reporting and information measures enabling children to fully benefit from the educational, entertainment, socialization and other aspects of new technologies whilst avoiding their falling victims of abuses of any kind on the web. Indeed, no matter how comfortable and autonomous new generations are with the use of the media and mainly the internet, they can, because of a frequent lack of parental control, involuntarily be confronted with illegal images or content which can provoke deep and eventually irreversible trauma.

Considering this problem, the members of the Intergroup stress the fact that public authorities, media professionals, educators and parents, must have a shared responsibility in the field of media content and consumption.

Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou and the other signatory Members also demand that national and EU actors be encouraged to coordinate the establishment of specific media training programmes for parents, educators and children and to launch information campaigns on the dangers of new technologies. As for internet access providers, they should deliver free parental control software and internet site suppliers should proceed with the automatic filtering of their internet sites.

Finally, the European Commission is invited to adopt measures, among others through the SAFER INTERNET plus programme, aiming at stimulating the exchange of best practices among Member States on new technologies and the protection of children and to promote the creation of means for reporting and lodging complaints.

With this Written Declaration, the Intergroup on "Family and the Protection of Childhood" wishes to remind that children represent our future and that all should work in favour of a healthy information environment, allowing children to develop their aptitudes and competences without dangers in order to be prepared to address the challenges of tomorrow's society, and invites all the Members of the European Parliament to support the Declaration.