Council of Europe

The Council of Europe is the continent's oldest political organisation. Founded in 1949 with a mission to defend human rights, democracy and the rule of law, it now covers all of geographical Europe – apart from Belarus.

Action to stop violence and promote child-friendly policies is at the heart of the Council’s work.

The Council oversees the European Court of Human Rights – and over 46 years of existence, the Court has changed children’s lives through its judgements – outlawing corporal punishment in schools, for example. The Council has also been at the origin of projects such as the Euro rail scheme to allow young people to explore Europe and legal texts to guarantee their rights – from protection from child sexual exploitation to trafficking, and including mutual recognition of school and college qualifications between countries. It has a forum for children and families which works to encourage child-friendly policy in member States’ planning, and two youth centres – in Strasbourg and Budapest – which bring together young people to pool ideas and energy on how to tackle problems such as globalisation and racism. It has also launched special schemes to teach human rights in schools, and change history books to ensure that children in former conflict zones have a neutral perspective.

Anti violence action is a top priority for the Council. Over the past few years it has carried out a major project on violence in everyday life – with a new European Charter for democratic schools without violence launched in 2004, following the first ever electronic vote by 82 schools from 19 countries. A new project against violence to children has been launched at the beginning of 2005.

The Council is the joint sponsor and organiser of the Ljubljana Consultation, along with the government of Slovenia.

CoE /Alban Bodineau