Children and young people in care - Discover your rights!

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), SOS Children’s Villages and the Council of Europe have published a youth friendly version of the rights of children in alternative care together. The publication is based on the UNCRC, the Q4C Standards and the Recommendations of the Council of Europe on the rights of children living in residential institutions (2005).

The Council of Europe officially launched the brochure on 20 November in Strasbourg. Moreover, the Council of Europe and SOS Children’s Villages will present the brochure together in Helsinki on 2 December 2009 in the framework of an international event on child participation.

The brochure was developed by experts together with young people from European countries with care experience. An effective combination of explanations regarding the legal framework on the one hand and practical solutions on the other, the brochure points out typical situations in which young people can make use of their rights while they are in alternative care or about to leave care.

Renaldo, Raluca and Peter, three fictitious young people in alternative care, tell their stories as well as the stories of other children and young people in alternative care. General information about alternative care (including a glossary and useful links) and tips for children and young people complete the information contained within these stories.

Children and young people in care - Discover your rights! is available for download from http://www.coe.int/children, the website of the Council of Europe’s child rights programme “Building a Europe for and with children”. A Russian version is currently being finalised.