Child rights in Europe. Convergence and divergence in judicial protection

Summary:

This publication analyses the effectiveness of the judicial protection of children’s rights within one regional organisation, the Council of Europe. The issue of children’s protection is of increasing importance in Europe and the courts have therefore become one of the means for transforming social values and influencing traditional conduct towards children. The extent to which common standards have been developed by the courts in implementing children’s rights is examined both from the perspective of the European Court of Human Rights and the judgments of the highest national courts within the Member States of the Council of Europe. Further analysis is made of the Council of Europe’s Social Charter and the reports of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.