With the persistent COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, and the consequences of climate change affecting all countries, securing and protecting children’s rights in crisis and emergency situations has become a new priority in the Council of Europe’s Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2022-2027) launched at a high-level conference in Rome. Other priorities of the Strategy continue to be freedom from violence, equal opportunities and social inclusion, access to and safe use of technologies, child-friendly justice and giving a voice to every child.
“Children’s rights are at greater risk during crisis and emergency situations,” said Marija Pejčinović Burić, Council of Europe Secretary General in her opening speech at the Strategy launching event. “The crisis in Ukraine is devastating for millions of people, especially for children. The Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression compels us to ask what we can do to protect children in armed conflicts and to ensure the rights of all those children who have been displaced or became migrants as a result of the violence”. “Millions are the children victims of violence, discrimination, conflicts, poverty, and abuse. To them and to all children in the world, it is our duty - both as governments and adults - to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of their fundamental rights allowing them to build a world that lives up to their dreams and their aspirations”. The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, addressed a message to the conference, read by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Italy. Senior Council of Europe and European Union representatives, as well as Ministers, Deputy Ministers, State Secretaries and Undersecretaries from 20 member states took part in the opening session. |
