EUROPE: Commissioner for Human Rights supports children access to international justice

Summary: International human rights mechanisms are not well known to children or to those working with and for them", said the Commissioner at the close of the Conference on International Justice for Children, held in Strasbourg on 17-18 September. Thomas Hammarberg drew up a list of means to make children's complaints possible before international courts and spoke in favour of a simplification of procedures.

The Commissioner supports children access to international justice

[STRASBOURG, 18 September] « International human rights mechanisms are not well known to children or to those working with and for them », said the Commissioner for Human Rights at the close of the Conference on International Justice for Children, held in Strasbourg on 17-18 September.

Thomas Hammarberg drew up a list of means to make children's complaints possible before international courts. In particular, he underlined that children should be given unrescricted access, the possibility of applying at any age and should have information available in a child-friendly language. He also spoke in favour of a simplification of procedures. "International, and national courts alike, should endorse procedures which are adapted to children's vulnerability", he added, "otherwise children might come up against unsurmontable barriers".

The conference was organised within the "Building an Europe for and with Children" Council of Europe Campaign. It brought together high-level representatives from international courts and organisations, the civil society, but also international experts and jurists.

Owner: Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europepdf: http://www.coe.int/t/commissioner/Activities/news2007/070918conference_e...Association: website of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights

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