Stand Up for Children’s and Youth Rights

WAGGGS has promoted children’s rights since it was founded. For nearly a century WAGGGS and its members have enabled girls around the world to understand and promote their rights as responsible citizens of the world.

In Europe, childrens rights are a focus both for the Council of Europe and the European Union.

The Council of Europe has developed a three-year programme “Building a Europe for and with Children” from 2009-2011 focusing on mainstreaming children’s policies  across the Council of Europe, eradicating violence against children and promoting the participation of children in decision-makingthe promotion of children’s rights and protection of children from violence.   

The European Union has also been working on the promotion of children’s rights in its internal and external policies.  In 2006 the European Commission adopted a Communication “Towards and EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child” which among other initiatives established a EU Forum on Children’s Rights.  The Europe Region WAGGGS contributed to the 2006 Communication, and the subsequent opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee.  We continue to work with other children’s rights NGOs on the further development of the strategy in the EU Forum on the Rights of the Child, where WAGGGS is one of 13 NGOs advise and assist the Commission and other European Institutions in particular regarding the participation of children in decision-making, mainstreaming of children's rights, and exchanging information and good practice.

Youth Rights

Young people, between childhood and adulthood, often have specific needs which are often not well understood or recognized. The Europe Region WAGGGS supports the European Youth Forum which is leading the campaign for a Convention on the Rights of Young People in the framework of the Council of Europe. Such a Convention would promote the autonomy of young people and their participation in society; and help protect against discrimination and support the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities.