Council of Europe encourages positive parenting
[STRASBOURG, 13 December 2006] – The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe today adopted a recommendation designed to get States to recognise the importance of parental responsibilities and the need to provide parents with enough support to help them fulfil their responsibilities.
The Committee of Ministers recommends that member States take all the appropriate legislative, administrative, financial and other measures, in line with a number of principles set out in the text, including:
1. Policies to support families
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public transfers (family allowances),
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work-family balance (flexible working hours, part-time work, paid parental leave),
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childcare provision.
2. Content of positive parenting
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parental behaviour based on the best interests of the child,
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aimed at raising and empowering the child,
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non-violent behaviour affording the child recognition and support,
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setting benchmarks conducive to the child’s full development.
3. Services to support parents
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local centres and services providing parents with information and assistance,
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help lines,
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educational and support programmes for parents (during pregnancy and at various stages in the child’s development),
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services and programmes targeting populations at risk such as migrants and Roma,
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child welfare services and institutions protecting children’s rights (children’s ombudsmen).
4. Special services for parents at risk of social exclusion
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housing and medical needs,
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legal and psychological support,
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after-school facilities, access to education and leisure facilities,
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help with school work.
The explanatory memorandum includes key messages for parents (Appendix 1) and guidelines for professionals working with children and families (Appendix 2).
Positive parenting fosters parent-child relationships based on trust and mutual respect and helps to optimise the child’s development potential. It improves families’ quality of life and is an integral part of a strategy for social cohesion.
Further information
pdf: https://wcd.coe.int/com.instranet.InstraServlet?Index=no&Command=com.ins...
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