Strasbourg, 18 August 1998

Restricted

CM(98)140

15 September 1998, A level, item 6.1)

1. The Steering Committee on Social Policy (CDPS) held its 16^th meeting from the 5^th to the 7^th of May 1998 in Strasbourg, with Mr Volker BERGER (Germany) in the chair. The list of participants is in Appendix I and the agenda of the meeting is in Appendix II.

2. The CDPS was informed about decisions taken by the Committee of Ministers concerning it. In particular, Mr Robin GUTHRIE (Director of Social and Economic Affairs) informed the CDPS about the current state of discussion relating to the creation of a new European Committee on Social Cohesion. He very much hoped that a decision would be taken by the Committee of Ministers at its meeting on the Deputies level at the beginning of June 1998. In the meantime, he encouraged the CDPS to plan the continuation and completion of the activities for which it is responsible.

3. In connection with this, CDPS requested that the necessary financial appropriation be made available for the Bureau to hold a second full meeting in autumn 1998.

4. The CDPS was informed about the state of preparation of the Conference of the Project on Human Dignity and Social Exclusion (HDSE). Ms Maryvonne LYAZID (Project Manager) introduced the paper containing draft proposals for action. The CDPS congratulated her on the interesting proposals, and held a wide-ranging discussion of the paper. In the light of the discussion the document was amended prior to its distribution for further discussion at the Conference itself.

5. The Secretariat reported on work in progress on the Activity ‘Social Policies and the City’. It had not been made clear to the correspondents who had been nominated to take part in the work of the Group of Specialists on Innovatory Policies in the City (PS-S-INNO) that they should complete a number of project sheets and send them in to the Secretariat. The Secretariat undertook to write to those correspondents who had been nominated (18 so far) and explain the situation to them. Those member States who still wished to nominate correspondents should do so without further delay. The next meeting of the Group of Specialists on Innovatory Social Policies in the City (PS-S-INNO) would take place at the end of September 1998, and the project sheets should be received by the end of July. CDPS took note that the Activity should continue as had been planned, with the organisation of a Conference at the end of 1999.

6. On the basis of a proposal put forward by the Bureau, CDPS agreed on the membership of the new committee of experts on social workers as follows: Ms Aune TURPEINEN (Finland), Mr David KRAMER (Germany), Ms Lidia SHILNEVA (Latvia), Mr Francisco José do NASCIMENTO BRANCO (Portugal), Prof. Dr. Elena ZAMFIR (Romania). Substitute: M. Hans-Kaspar von MATT (Switzerland)

7. On the basis of a decision taken by the Ministers’ Deputies on 30 April 1998, CDPS held a discussion on a Secretariat paper concerning the Programme for Children, officially launched by the Committee of Ministers itself on 5 May 1998. The CDPS prepared the report requested by the Ministers’ Deputies.

8. The draft Recommendation on the participation of children in family and social life was approved by CDPS as it appears in Appendix III to these Conclusions.

9. Mr Joakim PALME (Sweden), Study Group Director, presented the final report of the Co-ordinated Research Programme of 1996/1997 on "The crisis of the Welfare State: how to respect and guarantee the social rights of individuals whilst controlling costs". The CDPS congratulated the study group for producing a stimulating report which presented a number of difficult questions with clarity and brevity, and which should provide a useful starting point for much of the work to be carried out in the future on social cohesion. The CDPS authorised the publication of the report under the responsibility of the members of the study group, once it had been revised in the light of any factual changes or corrections, which might be sent in by CDPS members by 31 July 1998 at the latest.

10.CDPS held short discussions of work in progress on the Co-ordinated Research Programmes for 1997/1998 and 1998/1999. It was agreed that both the Secretariat and members of CDPS should make it quite clear to candidates for the Co-ordinated Research Programmes that the Council of Europe only pays for the travel and subsistence expenses of the meetings in Strasbourg and the research visits to other countries.

11. CDPS confirmed the composition of the Study Group for the 1999/2000 programme as follows: Ms Mojca NOVAK (Slovenia), Mr Kai LEICHSENRING (Austria), Ms Hara TAPANIDOU (Cyprus), Mr Mikko Antero KAUTTO (Finland), Mr Konstantin KLADOURAS (Greece), Ms Biruta SLOKA (Latvia). Substitutes: Mr Teodoras MEDAISKIS (Lithuania), Ms Elena ZAMFIR (Romania). CDPS approved the nomination of Mme NOVAK as Director of Studies. Mr Mykola MELENEVSKY (Ukraine) was nominated by CDPS to represent the governmental committee at the first and third meetings of the Study Group, noting that the new Committee on Social Cohesion might need to modify this nomination.

13. On the basis of the discussions, which had taken place during the meeting, CDPS agreed on the contents of Appendix V as being the activities for 1999, which CDPS would have wished to carry out if it had continued as a committee.

14. CDPS was informed about work in progress on various multi-sectoral activities in which it was involved (see agenda item 15).

15. The Bureau of the CDPS, at its meeting in September 1998, would complete opinions on Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1340 (1997) on the social and family effects of detention, and Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1325 (1997) on traffic in women and forced prostitution in Council of Europe member States.

ALBANIA : Mme Filloreta KODRA, Humanitarian Aid and Co-ordination with NGOs, Ministry of Work, Social & Women's Affairs, Tirana

ANDORRA

AUSTRIA : Ms Eva FEHRINGER, Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs, Wien

Dr. Sigrid PILZ, Ministry of the Environment, Youth and Family- Wien

BELGIUM : Monsieur DONIS, Ministère des Affaires sociales et de la Santé publique -BRUXELLES

Monsieur Jef MOSTINCKX, Ministère de la Communauté flamande, Département de l'Aide sociale, de la Santé publique et de la Culture - Brussel

Monsieur Michel VILLAN, Ministère de la région Wallonne - Jambes

BULGARIA : Mr Raymond Nikolov SAPAREV, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy - Sofia

CROATIA Ms Zvjezdana JANICAR, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare - Zagreb

CYPRUS : Ms Loulla THEODOROU, Department of Social Welfare Services - Nicosia

CZECH REPUBLIC : Mme Dagmar TOMKOVÁ, Ministère du Travail et des Affaires sociales - Prague

DENMARK : Ms Grethe FENGER MØLLER, Ministry of Social Affairs- Copenhagen

ESTONIA : Ms Helle NIIT, Ministry of Social Affairs - Tallinn

FINLAND : Ms Riitta VIITALA, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health - Helsinki

Mr Ralf EKEBOM, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health - Helsinki

FRANCE : Mme Martine COURTOIS, Ministère du Travail et de la Solidarité - Paris

M. Denis SIBONY, Ministère du travail et des affaires sociales - Paris

GERMANY : Mr Volker BERGER, Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth - Bonn (CHAIRMAN)

Mr Jörg GOECK, Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth - Bonn

GREECE : M. Konstantinos KLADOURAS, Ministry of Health and Welfare – ATHENES

HUNGARY : Mr János MÁTÉ, Ministry of Welfare - Budapest

ICELAND : Ms Ingibjörg BRODDADÓTTIR, Ministry of Social Affairs - Reykjavik

IRELAND : Mr Tony FALLON, Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union - Brussels

ITALY : Mme Patrizia TORCHIA, Ministère du Travail - Rome

LATVIA: Ms Agrita GROZA, Ministry of Welfare - Riga

LIECHTENSTEIN: (apologised)

LITHUANIA Ms Vita SAFJAN, Ministry of Social Security and Labour - Vilnius

LUXEMBOURG : M. Michel NEYENS, Ministère de la Famille - Luxembourg

M. Jacques KÜNTZIGER, Ministère de la Famille - Luxembourg

MALTA Dr Victor ZAMMIT, Ministry for Health Department of Family Welfare - St. Venera

REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA (apologised)

NETHERLANDS : Ms Hannie TYBOUT,Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport - Rijswijk

NORWAY : Ms Karin ZETLITZ, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs - Oslo

Ms Inger Johanne WREMER, The Royal Ministry of Children and Family Affairs - Oslo

POLAND : Mme Victoria BIEDERMAN, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy - Warsaw

PORTUGAL : Mme Esmeralda CARVALHO, Ministère du Travail et de la Solidarité - Lisboa

ROMANIA Mme Adina DRAGOTOIU, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, , Bucharest

RUSSIAN FEDERATION Mr Sviatoslav LUKIANENKO, Ministère du travail et du Développement social - Moscow

SAN MARINO : M. Domenico CECCHETTI, Dipartimento Settori Produttivi e Lavoro, - République de Saint Marin

SLOVAK REPUBLIC : (apologised)

SLOVENIA : Ms Jadranka VOUK-ZELEZNIK, Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Welfare – Ljubljana

SPAIN : Ms Cristina FERNÁNDEZ ORDÁS, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs - Madrid

SWEDEN : Mr Sören KINDLUND, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs - Stockholm

SWITZERLAND : M. Jost HERZOG, Office fédérale des assurances sociales - Berne

Mme Elisabeth IMESCH, Office fédérale des assurances sociales, Département Fédéral de l'Intérieur - Berne

Mme Maria Gloria PEYRO, Département fédéral de l'économie publique - Berne

THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA" Ms Vesna PETKOVIC, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy - Skopje

TURKEY : Mr Amil Riza BERKSÜ, Ministry of Labour and Social Security - Ankara

UKRAINE : Mr Mykola MELENEVSKY, Ministry for Foreign Affairs - Kyiv

UNITED KINGDOM :Mr Anthony Robert KINGHAM, Department of Health - London

Mr Kieran POWER, Department of Health - London

Mr Joakim PALME, Sweden

Mr ROPPE, Belgique

/EUROPEAN UNION

- Commission :

CANADA

*

* *

HOLY SEE : Prof. Dr. Manfred SPIEKER, Institute for the Church and Community of Osnabrück University, Germany

*

* *

REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Mr Vladimir I. KREMYANKO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Minsk

apologised/excusé

ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (OECD)

apologised/excusé

Mr Robin GUTHRIE, Director of Social and Economic Affairs

Mr Henry SCICLUNA, Head of Division

Ms Anna M. GILLETT, Principal Administrator, Secretary to the Committee

Mr Thomas KATTAU, Administrator

Mme Annie GUEROLD, Administrative Assistant

Ms Sheila PIDL, Secretary

Mme Florence MANSONS, Secretary

* * *

Mme Maryvonne LYAZID, Manager, Human Dignity and Social Exclusion Project

1.    Opening of the meeting.

2.    Adoption of the agenda.

3.    Statement by the Secretariat on decisions taken by the Committee of Ministers of interest to the CDPS.

4. Report on preparation for the Conference of the Project on Human Dignity and Social Exclusion (Helsinki, 18-20 May 1998).

5. Social Policies and the City

Report on the 2nd meeting of the Group of Specialists on Innovatory Social Policies in the City (PS-S-INNO) (Strasbourg, 24-26 November 1997 )

6. Setting up of a Group of Specialists on Social Workers .

Report on the work concerning children.

8. Examination of the draft Recommendation on the participation of children in family and social life.

COORDINATED RESEARCH PROGRAMMES IN THE SOCIAL FIELD

9. 1996/1997 Programme

(i) Examination of Study Group report on "the crisis of the Welfare State : how to respect and guarantee the social rights of individuals whilst controlling costs" (presentation).

10. 1997/1998 Programme

(ii) Oral report on work in progress on the theme "Parenting, Support for Parents".

11. 1998/1999 Programme

(iii) Oral report on the first meeting of the Study Group on the theme "Elderly People within their family - legal and social responsibilities" (9-11 February 1998).

12. 1999/2000 Programme

(iv) Confirmation of the composition of the Study Group for the 1999/2000 Programme (and approving the nomination of the Director of Studies).

13. DISCUSSION ON PRIORITIES FOR WORK IN THE SOCIAL FIELD

14. 2000/2001 Programme (Co-ordinated Research Programmes continued)

(v) choice of the study subject for the 2000/2001 programme.

15. Multi-sectoral activities in which CDPS is involved.

(i) Multi-Disciplinary Group on Dependence (SS-DPS).

(ii) Group of Specialists on the right to free choice in matters of reproduction and life styles

(EG-S-RP).

(iii) Multi-sectoral Group on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings for the Purpose of Sexual Exploitation (EG-S-TS).

(iv) any other items on which CDPS is asked to give an opinion.

16. Items for information :

a. State of ratification and signatures of the European Social Charter and its Protocols, and other conventions in the social field;

b. Work of other Council of Europe Committees of interest to the CDPS;

c. Report on relevant activities within the Demosthenes Programme;

d. Recent activities of the European Union in the social welfare field;

e. Recent activities of other international organisations in the social welfare field;

f. Recent developments in the social welfare field in member States.

17. Any other business.

18. Adoption of the decisions.

DRAFT RECOMMENDATION N° R (98) …

The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of Article 15.b of the Statute of the Council of Europe,

i Considering that the aim of the Council of Europe is the achievement of greater unity among its members, for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage;

ii Having regard to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and its system of effective international protection of fundamental rights and freedoms

iii Bearing in mind the European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights;

iv Bearing in mind the Vienna Declaration and Plan of Action on combating racism, xenophobia, anti-semitism and intolerance of the Council of Europe Heads of State Summit 1993;

v Having regard to the following Recommendations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe : Recommendation 874 (1979) on a European Charter on the Rights of the Child; Recommendation 1019 (1985) on the participation of young people in political and institutional life; Recommendation 1121 (1990) on the rights of children; and Recommendation 902 (1980) on youth co-operation in Europe;

vi Bearing in mind its own Recommendation R (84) 4 on parental responsibilities, Recommendation R (78) 6 on foster families, Recommendation R (83) 13 on the role of secondary school in preparing young people for life; Recommendation R (94) 14 on coherent and integrated family policies; and Recommendation R (97) 3 on youth participation and the future of civil society;

vii Bearing in mind Resolution 237 (1192) of the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe on the Charter on the Participation of Young People in Municipal and Regional Life;

viii Taking into account the great importance of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, reflected by the fact that all Council of Europe member States have now ratified it ;

ix Bearing in mind the diversity and richness of work already undertaken by the Council of Europe relating to children's participation in family and social life;

x Conscious of the increasing importance of children's participation in Council of Europe member States and the growing and varied experience of such participation;

xi Recalling Article 5 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, whereby 'States Parties shall respect the responsibilities, rights and duties of parents',

xii Bearing in mind that children are full members of both today’s and tomorrow’s society,

xiii Recognising the importance of the parent-child relationship and of an adequate family and social environment for the wellbeing of children;

xiv Noting the need to promote from early childhood onwards a policy of equality between girls and boys, and women and men;

xv On the one hand being aware that the child’s participation, in his or her own interest, also involves tasks and responsibilities that are appropriate to his or her age and capacities, and on the other hand being convinced that children should not be overburdened by duties which are beyond them and/or which upset them.

Affirms the following principles relating to the participation of children in family and social life:

I Every child should have the opportunity to participate without any kind of discrimination;

II Participation is essential for bringing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into life;

III Peace and friendship within and between families, societies and nations, including the concepts of non-discrimination, non-violence and tolerance are essential for ensuring respect for the individuality and dignity of the child, and for enabling the realisation of the child's best interests ;

IV Participation is a decisive factor for securing social cohesion and for living in a democracy in accordance with the values of a multicultural society and the principles of tolerance;

V Participation of children is crucial in influencing the conditions of their own lives, in that participation is not only involvement in institutions and decision making but above all a general pattern of democracy relevant to all areas of family and social life;

VI Participation is a necessary process in the development of the child;

VII Participation in family life of various forms and degrees is possible and desirable in all stages of childhood;

VIII Participation in family life is a form of dialogue leading to the ability for negotiation and peaceful conflict resolution;

IX Participation in social life as a form of practising citizenship provides the opportunity for learning individual and collective responsibilities;

X Children from socially excluded families should have the possibility of participating sufficiently in the economic resources of society;

XI The participation of the child should not serve as a pretext for crushing the child with burdens and responsibilities it cannot assume because of its age.

 

to promote and support children's participation in family and social, particularly school, life and to identify and to remove barriers to this participation according to the principles and recommended measures appearing in the Appendix.

Appendix to Recommendation No R ..

1. Make information on participation available and accessible, in particular information on different forms of participation and related legal instruments.

2. Relate such information on children's participation to the possibilities of different types of participation.

3. Make information available in a form, which is related to the children's age and capacity to understand.

4. Make information available to parents, as well as to all bodies and institutions working with children, concerning the implementation of different forms of participation.

5. Disseminate information concerning the experiences of children and families in exercising participation.

6. Enable schools, residential and day care centres, youth organisations, family associations and the media to play their role in developing concepts and in helping children to gain access to information.

7. Ensure that public authorities, municipalities, educational institutions, children's associations and institutions for children living in residential care provide information on participation both by traditional means and through new information technologies. Such information should illustrate how to participate in practical ways, and it should be made regularly available to the children concerned.

8. Ensure that school curricula at all levels promote the acquisition of the skills and knowledge which children need to participate fully in family and social life.

9. Encourage educational, day care and residential care institutions for children to create possibilities for children to make their opinions be heard on matters concerning them, and ensure that their views are taken into account in the decision-making processes in these institutions.

10. Offer the possibility to all children to be involved in out-of-school activities that allow them to experience participation, such as appropriate recreational , sporting and cultural activities.

11. Support children's associations by providing the legal framework and resources where possible for the establishment and membership of children's associations, thus recognising the child's right to associate in organisations promoting his or her interests. Within these organisations children should have the possibility of experiencing participation.

12. Encourage local authorities and municipalities to promote children's participation, as well as parents and child participation, in as many areas as possible of municipal life, as a way to develop community responsibility, and make citizenship a real-life experience for children.

13. Encourage the development of forms of children's participation at the local, regional and national levels.

14. Ensure that any form of work authorised for children be so organised as to promote their effective participation in family and social life, and contribute to their training and development, it being understood that illegal work by children is unacceptable.

15. Develop interdisciplinary training models and programmes for professionals working or dealing with children and families. Target groups should include teachers, judges, social workers, nurses and medical practitioners.

16. Encourage the media to place greater emphasis on the production of information and educational programmes geared to promoting the participation of children in family and social life.

17. Encourage a more active role for children in participating in the programming of media products, both those addressed to them and those related to them, as well as in producing media themselves.

18. Promote the access and the familiarisation of children, without discrimination, to the new technologies and to the new communication services, and encourage the use of interactive means for the exchange of information on good practice in the field of child participation.

19. Take into account specific language and cultural needs of children when ensuring participation in family and social life.

20. Take into account the specific needs of children with disabilities when ensuring participation in family and social life.

21. Heighten public awareness about the importance of promoting social integration and participation of children at risk of social exclusion, such as children with behavioural problems, (P) juvenile offenders, drug addicts, and other children who are in difficult circumstances

22. Invite academic and research institutions as well as non-governmental organisations to develop research and programme evaluation to improve children's participation, and to produce, test, evaluate and distribute instruments illustrating how to develop and improve participation skills.

23. Provide for the appointment of an Ombudsperson for children (or another similar structure) to further safeguard the interests of children.

24. Exchange information between and within member States on models, skills and knowledge concerning children's participation. Governmental and non-governmental bodies should create pan-European networks and exchange schemes for children and adults with examples of good practice.

25. Promote and support initiatives that make it possible for children to participate in international meetings and other international programmes, both with other children and/or together with adults.

1. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child points to the key importance attached to the way the child is given the opportunity of expressing his or her views, and of participating in appropriate ways in decision-making processes affecting him or her. The child is to be seen as an active agent, or as a citizen, in the different levels concerning him or her (family, school, community, sport ..).

2. It will remain necessary in the future for adults to act as advocates for the interests of children. However, the participation of children is crucial for influencing the conditions of their own lives and for ensuring their harmonious development. Participation is more than involvement in institutions and decision making. Participation is a pattern of how one lives in a democracy; it is relevant to work, housing, leisure, education and social relations. The participation of children in family and social life is one important way towards democratic socialisation, and to prepare children for life in a free society. From this point of view, participation should not be seen primarily as an isolated event, but as an ongoing part of 'everyday life democracy'.

3. Unlike social life, family life is traditionally regarded as a private matter which governments should not regulate unless there are very strong reasons for doing so. The notion of encouraging certain types of positive behaviour in family life, such as participation, for the benefit of all children and parents, should nevertheless form the subject matter of a recommendation. It is neither aimed at questioning family structures nor at interfering with the rights and responsibilities of individual family members. Existing training programmes aimed at showing parents how to encourage participatory behaviour in their children have shown that such activities are not viewed as an undue interference in family life but rather as a contribution to the relationship between parents and children.

4. Listening to children, discussing issues with them, accepting their views, as well as explaining to them why their views are not always accepted are important initial forms of participation, which should begin during early childhood. In this context, ensuring a violence-free up-bringing and the full respect for the right of the child to physical and personal integrity includes the banning of corporal punishment and of any other form of degrading treatment as a means of child rearing. It is recalled here that already in Recommendation No. R (85) 4 on violence in the family, member States were invited to "review their legislation on the power to punish children in order to limit or indeed prohibit corporal punishment", and that at the present time seven member States of the Council of Europe do have laws which prohibit corporal punishment.

5. It is important to see the training and education of parents as an essential prerequisite for creating a situation in which children can actually exercise genuine participation, since the family environment in which a child is making its first experiences in life constitutes the nucleus of society.

6. In today's societies children encounter numerous barriers to participation:

- the opinion many adults have of children and their participation,

- intolerance against ethnic, religious, cultural and social minorities,

- decision making structures that reflect the thinking of older adults rather than the variety of age groups of a society,

- inequality between men and women and consequently inequality between boys and girls,

- and last but not least the lack of coherent and integrated childhood policies.

7. Overcoming these barriers will mean taking the necessary steps for creating the social and institutional framework for children's participation. Specific emphasis should be put on the interaction between teachers and children, and between children themselves - boys and girls - in the classroom and in day care centres, as it is mainly there where children learn democratic participation.

8. Policies aimed at encouraging and implementing children's participation must ensure that they reach all different groups of children, special attention being given to those living in risk situations or facing any form of social exclusion or marginalisation with a view to promote their social integration.

9. Participation in social life and especially in the community will be successful and felt positive by children, if

* participation concerns topics, which are important for children;

* the forms of participation are transparent to the children, appropriate to the age and the stage of development of the children and to the special subject of participation;

* it is possible to include children from different social levels, from different ethnic backgrounds, and both boys and girls;

* adults listen to children and their special kind of diction;

* participation has concrete consequences within a period of time, which does not seem too long for children; therefore safe and clear procedures are needed to introduce the proposals of children into the administration;

* older children in particular know from the beginning that not all their wishes will be fulfilled. They should also know that participation does not only mean fun, but also efforts, and that they should be ready to discuss and to acquire the knowledge needed to solve a problem;

* participation is not being used by adults for carrying through their own interests;

* adults do not use participation for shuffling over their responsibility to children.

10. The importance of media for children is an important factor, which should be taken into account in the context of policies towards participation of children in family and social life. It is therefore indispensable to involve the media in such policies from the very beginning. To encourage media involvement, governments should make all relevant information in the field of children's participation in family and social life available to the media . Governments should also create special awards for media, which distinguish themselves in the dissemination of information on children's rights.

11. Over and beyond their information role, the media can be an immediate field for children to exercise participation. There is moreover a tradition of participation which is worthy of support in the editing of school newspapers and in the press of voluntary organisations; within the programming of children's radio and television there is a trend towards increasing the time allocated to children's participation, whether in the studio, or at a distance; and the public broadcasting services, in the 'children's television charter" of the UER (29 May 1995), states that "children should hear, see and express themselves, their culture, their languages and their life experiences, through television programmes which affirm their sense of self, community and place". Thanks to this free availability, broadcasting can play its role without prejudice to the editorial autonomy of the media. A socially useful orientation of the programmes can in any case be included in "mission agreements", or in the schedule of conditions attached to the public concession or authorisation of public or commercial broadcasting.

12. An active role for children, as for adults, is encouraged by the new communication technologies, and in particular by the convergence between long distance communication, computer technology and television, and by access to interactive networks. Social or geographic discrimination in the possibility to learn and use the new technologies can be neutralised thanks to the promotion of access to public structures (schools, libraries, and elsewhere) as was already indicated in the conclusions of the Madrid Conference (December 1994) on "The evolution of the role of children in family life".

13. At the present time there is a good deal of public anxiety about easy access to negative content of the Internet and the negative uses to which the Internet can be put, and to which children can be particularly vulnerable. It should however be added that the interactive services can become a very efficient instrument for exchanging information (for example in a news group on Internet), conducive to good practice in children's participation.

14. In implementing new policies for children's participation a variety of new ways and forms is needed, which include parliamentary forms and project oriented forms just as much as special ways of participation in educational institutions, clubs and associations for children. The institution of a children's delegate in governmental committees and on parliamentary level would be a further means of ensuring that the voice of children in matters relating to them is being heard and their opinions being taken account of. These various types of institutions would provide a framework for consultation and a place where to learn participation in a political context.

15. Additionally there is a strong need to produce, test, evaluate and distribute instruments (training packages, audio-visual materials etc.) that can be used to illustrates how to improve participative skills.

16. Examples such as the European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights, which ensures children's participation in certain judicial and administrative procedures concerning them, show that children's participation has already started to become part of everyday reality.

17. The XXVth session of the Conference of European Ministers responsible for Family Affairs (Vienna, June 1997) on "Adolescence: A Challenge to the Family (Educational and supportive measures for parenting)" underlined the necessity for participation of adolescents in decisions concerning them; and consultation on the possible solutions to problems concerning them. Ministers stressed that youth and family participation enables policy makers to include creative new ideas attuned to the needs of and interests of young people in the respective policy areas, and to develop more client-oriented policies.

18. The Ist and IInd Conference of European Ministers responsible for youth established models for youth participation and initiatives in society which should be implemented widely and thoroughly as a corner stone for broad forms of children's participation.

19. The results of the conference on "The evolution of the role of children in family life : participation and negotiation" organised by the Council of Europe and the Spanish government in Madrid in December 1994 to mark the International Year of the Family were taken into account in the process of drafting the present Recommendation, as well as the results of the Childhood Policies Project's Closing Conference held in Leipzig in 1996.

20. The Leipzig Conference entitled "Children's Rights and Childhood Policies in Europe: New Approaches?" was attended by 350 participants of whom about 50 were children from countries throughout Europe. Children were enabled to participate in the Conference in such a way that they had the opportunities for expressing their views on themes addressed in the Conference and of discussing them with the other participants.

21. These Conferences were important events where the active participation of children was meaningfully experienced. Both of them demonstrated that the participation of children in such international events is possible, and can be highly enriching for adults and for children. This must encourage everybody, adults and children together, not only to work for children but also to work with children, at all levels.

Wide dissemination of the Council of Europe's work in the field will not only help in promoting children's participation but can also provide all actors concerned with valuable information concerning a broad range of practical, legal and policy aspects

1. Quality requirements and control, and professional minimum standards in social welfare services (N.B. This is a combination of two proposals, and was selected by CDPS as the study subject for the 2000/2001 Co-ordinated Research Programme).

2. The impact of information technology on the personal social services.

- Application in the management of social services

- Use by consumers such as elderly people, handicapped etc

(N.B. This is also a combination of two proposals).

3. How to reconcile work and family life: redistribution of care obligations and paid work between men and women (N.B. This is also a combination of two proposals).

4. Ways of combating marginalisation of the elderly

5. The family’s role in the prevention and handling of juvenile delinquency. Preventive and therapeutic programmes/services to promote social integration and avoid social exclusion

6. Contribution of non-working people to society through informal care/volunteer work

7. Responsibilities of citizens in the functioning of social life

8. Role and tasks of non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) in the implementation of social welfare policies, relationships between national, regional and local authorities, financing.

9. Long-term unemployment among job losers and new entrants and its consequences for poverty

10. The importance of intervention and of co-ordination at the local, regional, national and international levels for social cohesion

11. Territory and partnership : a strategy for local development

12. Development and employment opportunities at the national, regional and local levels in the context of the Social Economy.

13. The social dimension of the problems relating to AIDS : what kind of intervention ?

14. Indicators for social exclusion : joint activity with OECD

The CDPS found the following proposals of interest but recognised that it would not be the lead committee. The committee that might be responsible, or where there might be a shared responsibility, is referred to in each case.

15. Determining the needs and planning services/programmes for the immigrants (foreign workers and foreign students) to prevent social exclusion.

(CDMG)

16. Co-ordination of employment policy and social protection

(CDEM, CDSS)

17. The rising unemployment and the demands on social security system.

(CDSS)

18. The influence of working environment risk factors to occupational health ; labour security as economic and social category

(CDEM, CDSP)

19. Measures in the social security field aimed at integrating and reintegrating of the disabled into the labour market

(CDSS)

20. European Social Charter: obstacles for ratification of the Revised Charter, its Protocols and the Protocols on complaints

(European Social Charter Committees)

21. Ethnical identity as a dimension of social exclusion

(CDMG)

1. Proposals concerning the Programme for Children are set out in separate documents. The Programme calls for more resources than are presently available.

2. Social and Family Policies.

This heading includes work on the major activity on social policies and the city, which CDPS began in 1997, the various co-ordinated research programmes on subjects included in the terms of reference of CDPS, and a group of specialists on social workers.

I. Committee of experts on social policies and the city

1 meeting, 8 members, 3 days

1 meeting, 8 members, 3 days

Consultant expert, fees and participation in meetings

            Conference on innovatory social policies and the city

Participation of 40 correspondents, 3 days

Participation of Committee of experts, 8 members,

Participation of consultant expert

Publications

II. Co-ordinated research 1997/1998 : parenting, support for parents

Research director : fees and costs for participation in one meeting of responsible steering committee

III. Co-ordinated research 1998/1999 : Elderly people within their family – legal and social responsibilities

1 meeting, 6 members + member of steering committee, 3 days

IV. Co-ordinated research 1999/2000 : The Social Services as a decisive factor in prevention and the economy

1 meeting, 6 members + member of steering committee, 3 days

1 meeting, 6 members, 2 days

Study visits:

120 days, 6 members

V. Group of specialists on social workers

1 meeting, 5 members, 2 days

1 meeting, 5 members, 2 days

This list does not take into account any follow-up to the Project on Human Dignity and Social Exclusion.

The proposals in Appendix IV referred to activities for 2000.