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This report is the outcome from the seminar on the development of independent human rights institutions for children which took place in Stockholm on 18 February 2008 and was organised by Save the Children Sweden. Participants in the meeting included the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, a number of Children's Ombudsmen from Europe, Government representatives from Sweden and national and international NGO representatives. Objective of the meeting The objective of the meeting was to share experiences of the work of ombudsmen for children from a number of countries and stakeholders in order to identify how their function and position could be strengthened and further developed. The seminar takes place in light of recent discussions in Sweden, as well as internationally, about Children’s Ombudsmen as an important part of the follow up of the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Furthermore, Ombudsmen institutions are developing throughout the world, with 26 so far in the Council of Europe countries, and another 30 throughout the rest of the world. This meeting was also a follow up to the conference “Ombudswork for Children” which took place in Athens in September 2006, and was jointly organised by the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian federation and the Greek Ombudsman. This paper highlights some of the issues that were discussed at the meeting and concludes with a number of recommendations on independence and working relationships with other stakeholders and some points for future discussion and research. Further information:
pdf: http://www.crin.org/docs/Ombudswork_for_Children_Stockholm_Feb08.doc