A dialogue between theory and practice. Focus on the best interests of the child in family affairs.
The Belgian authorities in cooperation with the Children’s Rights Division of the Council of Europe are pleased to welcome you in Brussels for this European conference focused on the child’s best interests. The Conference, which will permit a real dialogue between theory and practice, is organised in the framework of the Belgian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in the perspective of "the promotion and realisation of human rights". This event commemorates, at the same time, the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The conference pursues three objectives:
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to take stock of the understanding and application of the child’s best interests in the international context as well as in the various national contexts
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to identify factors that hinder and those that drive as observed by the decision makers in the application of the child’s best interests and to outline solutions
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to find and develop ethical, procedural and practical standards which support the practitioners and policy makers when they take into consideration the child’s best interests.
The first day of the Conference will focus on the child’s best interests in general and the second day, on the child’s best interests in family affairs.
The main lessons drawn from the conference will be submitted to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. For Belgium, as well as for the Council of Europe, it is essential that all partners experts, decision-makers, practitioners, but also children can give their point of view and can contribute to the discussion.
We would like to thank all those who were involved in this event. We hope to launch a fruitful debate in order to strengthen children’s rights.
On this website you can find a detailed programme, a concept note which outlines the objectives of the conference a bit more and information about registration.
This website will also be used to publish the presentations and papers related to this conference.