Handbook on European Law relating to the rights of the child
November 20, 2015
On 20 November, on the occasion of Universal Children’s Day, the Council of Europe and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights launched their Handbook on European law relating to the rights of the child. It is the first comprehensive guide to European law in the area of children’s rights, taking into account both the case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). It contains references to relevant EU Regulations and Directives, the European Social Charter and the decisions of the European Committee of Social Rights, as well as other Council of Europe instruments.
The handbook also illustrates the importance of parents and guardians or other legal representatives and makes reference, where appropriate, to where rights and responsibilities are most prominently vested in children’s carers.
The handbook is designed for non-specialist legal professionals, judges, public prosecutors, child protection authorities, and other practitioners and organisations responsible for ensuring the legal protection of the rights of the child. It explains key jurisprudence, summarising major rulings of both the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).