The EU plans to protect children and uphold their rights throughout Europe and overseas.

With a responsibility to protect children’s rights, the Commission is proposing 11 measures – chiefly legal changes and support for authorities in EU countries:

laws to better protect children (as an especially vulnerable group) during legal proceedings and in court

laws safeguarding children when they are suspects or accused of a crime

new laws ensuring that decisions on parental responsibility following divorce or separation are recognised and enforced in all EU countries

action to promote Council of Europe guidelines on child-friendly justice and take them into account in future civil and criminal law-making

support for training judges and other professionals to help children in court

better training for authorities responsible for unaccompanied children, including those seeking asylum in the EU

special attention for children in an upcoming EU plan to help the Roma integrate more in society

support for the quick introduction of the EU’s 116 000 hotline for missing children (cross-border alert systems for abducted or at-risk children would also be encouraged)

measures to counter cyber-bullying, grooming, exposure to harmful content, and other online risks through the EU’s safer internet programme

support in combating violence against children and child sex tourism, and protecting victims of armed conflicts, through the EU’s overseas and humanitarian aid programmes

a single EU website on children’s rights

These measures are set out in more detail in a Commission policy paper on children’s rights .

As well as the above, the EU will take into account the best interests of children in all its polices and legislation.

Some 78% of children surveyed in 2009 said they were not aware they even had any rights and 80% did not know who to contact if they needed help.

These findings were also supported by a 2010 EU survey of teenagers that canvassed focus groups including Roma, Sinti, travellers and those with special needs.

Children’s rights are enshrined in the EU law, in particular the EU charter of fundamental rights, which the EU and its member countries are legally bound to uphold. All 27 countries have also ratified the UN convention on the rights of the child.

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