Ukraine Reports on PACE Chairmanship: Kyiv Helps Build Child-Friendly Europe

KYIV, Ukraine, November 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Ukraine just completed its six month chairmanship at the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The objectives of the chairmanship included the protection of children's rights, human rights and the rule of law, as well as the development of local democracy. The rights of children were at the top of the list of Ukraine's agenda for the duration of its leadership at the PACE. The work conducted by Ukraine was focused on the protection of children against any form of violence and the fulfillment of the children's right for health care.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Kostyantyn Gryshchenko Ukraine's key achievements in the protection of the rights of children include the organization of two international conferences that provided the Council of Europe with professional recommendations by the experts working in the field as well as the launch of the preparations of the new Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child 2012-2015, reported Uryadovyi Kurier.

On May 24-25, 2011, the Ukrainian government held an international conference "Combating violence against children: from isolated actions to integrated strategies". The conference was co-organized by the State Service for Youth and Sports of Ukraine, UNICEF Regional Office for CEE/CIS, and the Council of Europe Programme "Building a Europe for and with Children". A conference on unaccompanied minor asylum seekers took place in Ukraine on October 26-27, 2011. The conference resulted in the exchange and compilation of valuable practical experience, which is to be further implemented.

During the chairmanship at the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe Kyiv contributed to the creation of the future Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child 2012-2015. A working group has been created to prepare the strategy.

The Council of Europe is an international organization founded in 1949 with an aim to promote cooperation of all European countries in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law, and cultural cooperation. The Council consists of 47 member states. The organization seeks to resolve such problems as terrorism, organized crime, corruption, and illicit trafficking.