Commitments

• A Special Place for Children in EU External Action
  • A Special Place for Children in EU External Action and the European Union’s Action Plan on Children’s Rights in External Action (2008) aim to establish a framework for a comprehensive EU approach towards the protection and promotion of child rights at the international level.
• An EU Agenda for the Rights of the Child
  • An EU Agenda for the Rights of the Child (2011) reaffirm the strong EU commitment to promoting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of the child in all relevant EU policies and present concrete areas for action, including child rights in EU’s external action.
• Checklist for the integration of the protection of children affected by armes conflict
  • The present Checklist for the Integration of the Protection of Children affected by Armed Conflict into ESDP operations seeks to ensure that child rights and protection concerns are systematically addressed from the early planning through the implementation of ESDP operations. The document is intended for use by staff responsible for mission planning and support, and by the EUSR, as well as the Head of mission/Commander in the field. In addition, the Checklist refers to child protection concerns that are addressed by all mission staff, as child protection concerns can be core functions for some staff, they should be taken into account by all members and/or components of an operation.
• Child abduction alert/Draft Council conclusions
• Consolidated version of the treaty on european union
  • The respect for human rights and child rights are enshrined in the portal paragraphs of the Treaty on EU.
• Council Conclusions on the promotion and protection of the rights of the child in the European Union's external action - the development and humanitarian dimensions
  • These conclusions are from the 2870th External Relations Council Meeting, held in Brussels, 26 and 27 May 2008. The documents contains paragraphs on child rights mainstreaming.
• Council of Europe - Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
  • The rights protected in this convention are recognised as general principles of EU Law (Treaty on EU article 6). The EU – as an organisation – is currently in the process of acceding to the ECHR. When finalized, this will make EU the first regional organisation to accede to a human rights convention.
• EU Guidelines for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child
  • EU Guidelines for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child (2007) adopts an integrated approach to the promotion and protection of child rights in EU’s external action.
• EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict
  • EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict (2008) highlights the issue of children in armed conflict and undertakes to raise the awareness of this issue both internally and eternally.
• European Union’s Action Plan on Children’s Rights in External Action
  • This document first presents a set of guiding principles. Second, it identifies priorities for action including targets and indicators in the form of a logical framework and a timeline. Third, it defines a framework for monitoring, coordination and accountability.
• Guidelines to EU policy towards third countries on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
  • The purpose of these guidelines is to provide the EU with an operational tool to be used in contacts with third countries at all levels as well as in multilateral human rights fora in order to support and strengthen on-going efforts to prevent and eradicate torture and ill-treatment in all parts of the world.
• Increasing the impact of EU Development Policy: an Agenda for Change
  • At a critical juncture - facing new global challenges, close to the 2015 target for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and in the midst of preparations for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) - the EU must choose the right mix of policies, tools and resources to be effective and efficient in the fight against poverty in the context of sustainable development. The Commission is proposing an Agenda for Change to strengthen Europe’s solidarity with the world’s developing nations in this fight.
• Operational Guidance on taking account of Fundamental Rights in Commission Impact
  • The Operational Guidance on Fundamental Rights is for Commission staff preparing impact assessments and for impact assessment support units. It begins by describing the ‘Key context and background’, addressing a number of central questions on dealing with fundamental rights. The second section traces the methodological steps of standard impact assessments and, for each step, looks at how fundamental rights aspects should be taken into account.
• Revised Implementation Strategy of the EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict
  • In 2003, the EU adopted the Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), which were updated in 2008. In order to effectively execute the objectives of the Guidelines, the EU adopted in 2006 a specific Implementation Strategy.
    
    The implementation of the Guidelines has focused on 19 priority countries. Apart of the general Implementation Strategy, each priority country has an individual implementation strategy.
    
    While many issues addressed in the 2006 Implementation Strategy are still valid, numerous major developments have taken place since its adoption both in the European Union and internationally.
    
    It is vital to align the Strategy with these developments to put in place a more comprehensive and holistic approach as well as to further advance
• Towards an EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child
  • Towards an EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child (2006) established a basis for promoting and protecting the child rights in both internal and external policies.
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
  • The UN convention on the Rights of the Child document. The rights in the CRC and the optional protocols are set out in 54 articles. There are four overall guiding principles of the CRC: non-discrimination/equality (article 2), best interests of the child (article 3), survival and development (article 6), participation/inclusion (article 12).
• Updated European Union Guidelines on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law
  • The purpose of these Guidelines is to set out operational tools for the European Union and its institutions and bodies to promote compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL).
    
    They underline the European Union's commitment to promote such compliance in a visible and consistent manner. The Guidelines are addressed to all those taking action within the framework of theEuropean Union to the extent that the matters raised fall within their areas of responsibility and competence. They are complementary to Guidelines and other Common Positions already adopted within the EU in relation to matters such as human rights, torture and the protection of civilians.