Ad-hoc Advocacy Areas

The European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) have repeatedly and tirelessly stated in numerous statements that: children on the move are children first. These children, independently of their or their families’ immigration status, are entitled to maximum protection, safety and care while European countries fail to respond to their basic needs. We strongly stress the need for full compliance of existing laws, policies and practices across Europe with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and its optional protocols, as well as with other relevant international instruments and standards.

• 2024 - Statement on the protection of children on the move at EU borders in light of the adoption of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum - Also available in Spanish and Basque
• 2021 - Statement on Violations of the Human Rights of Children on the Move in the context of pushbacks
• 2020 - Open Letter on the Emergency Situation of Migrant Children Trapped in Camps at the border between Greece and Turkey and on the Greek Islands
• 2019 - Statement on the Situation of Children on the Move on Rescue Vessels in the Mediterranean
• 2019 - Statement on Ending detention of Children for Immigration Purposes - Also available in Serbian Cyrilic and Serbian Latin.
• 2018 - Statement on the Right to Education of Children on the Move -  Also available in Serbian Cyrilic and Serbian Latin.
• 2017 - Statement on Urging the EU Institutions to Respect the Rights of the Child in Developing the new Common European Asylum System (CEAS)
• 2013 - Statement on Children on the Move -  Also available in Greek, Serbian Cyrilic, Serbian Latin and French.
• 2013 - Statement on Urgent help for Syrian Children in Refugee Camps
• 2008 - Statement on the EU "Return" Directive
• 2006 - Statement on State Obligations for the Treatment of Unaccompanied Children

• 2021 - Open Letter on the Temporary Derogation to the ePrivacy Directive to Combat Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
• 2007 - Statement on the implementation of the UN Study on Violence Against Children recommendations

• 2021 - Open Letter of Support to the Human Rights Defender Armenia in the context of a proposed amendment to the constitutional law on the Human Rights Defender

• 2018 - Statement on Intercountry Adoption

• 2003 - Statement on Juvenile Justice: Europe’s children’s champions challenge governments to respect young offenders’ rights

• 2019 - 30th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

• 2023 - Statement on recognising and strengthening the protection of Child Human Rights Defenders
• 2022 - Statement on the impact of high energy prices on children and families - English and French
• 2021 – Letter to the United Nations to mainstream children’s rights across all UN agencies, sectors and actions