Handbook on European law relating to the rights of the child - 2022 edition

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine

Handbook on European law relating to the rights of the child provides a legal standards framework to support and promote children’s rights across Europe. The 2022 edition updates knowledge since the 2015 first edition, reflecting legislative changes and significant case law. It explains how children are full-fledged human rights holders and outlines relevant obligations of the EU and the Council of Europe, including key protections under European Convention and Social Charter jurisprudence. Designed for legal professionals and practitioners.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages301

Reading Time12 h 39 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Abbreviations

How to use this handbook

Introduction to European law relating to the rights of the child: context and key principles

Core concepts

Background to the rights of the child in Europe

HANDBOOK Handbook on European law relating to the rights of the child 2022 edition The manuscript was completed in February 2022. Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Photo credit (cover & inside): © iStockphoto © European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and Council of Europe, 2022 For any use or reproduction of photos or other material that is not under the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights/Council of Europe copyright, permission must be sought directly from the copyright holders. Neither the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights/Council of Europe nor any person acting on behalf of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights/Council of Europe is responsible for the use that might be made of the following information. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2022 CoE: ISBN 978-92-871-9750-4 FRA – print: ISBN 978-92-9461-460-5 doi:10.2811/079581 TK-09-21-398-EN-C FRA – PDF: ISBN 978-92-9461-457-5 doi:10 .2811/610564 TK-09-21-398-EN-N This handbook was drafted in English. The Council of Europe (CoE) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) take no responsibility for the quality of the translations into otherlanguages. The views expressed in this handbook do not bind the CoE and the ECtHR. The handbook refers to a selection of commentaries and manuals. The CoE and ECtHR take no responsibility for their content, nor does their inclusion on this list amount to any form of endorsement of these publications. Further publications are listed on the internet pages of the ECtHR library at: [echr.coe.int](echr.coe.int), and more resource materials can be found at [coe.int/children](coe.int/children). Handbook on European law relating to the rights of the child 2022 edition Foreword This second edition of the Handbook on European law relating to the rights of the child has been jointly prepared by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and the Council of Europe (the Children’s Rights Division, the European Social Charter Department and the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights) . It is the fifth in a series of handbooks on European law jointly prepared by our organisations. Previous handbooks were dedicated to European law relating to non-discrimination, asylum, borders and immigration, data protection and access to justice. Since we published the first edition in 2015, there have been a number of legislative changes, as well as important case law relevant to the rights of the child. For example, the European Union (EU) has for the first time legislated on procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings. The Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) has clarified legal questions regarding issues such as return of third-country national children. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has delivered a number of important judgments, notably in the areas of violence against children and detention of migrant children. Children are full-fledged human rightsholders and this handbook aims to increase knowledge on the legal standards that protect and promote these rights in Europe. The Treaty on European Union sets forth the Union’s obligation to promote the protection of the rights of the child. Its Charter of Fundamental Rights, regulations and directives, as well as the jurisprudence of the CJEU, have contributed to further determining the protection of these rights. In the Council of Europe, a large number of conventions and their respective treaty bodies focus on specific aspects of the protection of the rights of the child, including protection from sexual abuse and exploitation, cybercrime, trafficking, gender-based violence and violation of data protection rights. These conventions contribute to enhancing the protection granted to children under the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Social Charter, including by the jurisprudence of the ECtHR and the dec

FAQs

What is the purpose of this handbook?

It aims to increase knowledge of legal standards that protect and promote children’s rights in Europe, helping practitioners integrate a child’s rights perspective into decisions.

What does the 2022 edition update?

It reflects legislative changes and important case law since the 2015 first edition, including developments relevant to procedural safeguards and other children-related issues.

Who is the handbook designed for?

Legal professionals, judges, public prosecutors, child protection authorities, and other practitioners and organisations responsible for ensuring legal protection of children’s rights.

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine