European standards regarding children of imprisoned parents Ilina Taneva, Secretary to the Council for Penological Co-operation (PC-CP) Dublin, 6 September 2017

The Council of Europe – 47 MS Standards – adopted by CM – binding and soft law standards Monitoring bodies – to ensure implementation Assistance and co-operation activities

Two Conferences of Directors of Prison and Probation Services in 2015 and 2016 dealt with children of imprisoned parents Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016-2020) - point 13 refers specifically to children of imprisoned parents COPE – very active and major partner in this field Very interesting initiatives collected by COPE - Bambinisenzasbarre is an excellent example in this regard

What is on the table currently Work started in February 2017 on a CM Recommendation concerning children of imprisoned parents. Expected to be finalised at the end of 2017, adopted by the CM at the beginning of 2018 COPE provided two experts – Kate Philbrick and Ria Wolleswinkel; Liz Ayre, COPE Director CAHENF sent their representative at the meetings and provided an expert Aisling Parkes

Value added This synergy in the work on the text between the different divisions of the CoE and also with outside organisations competent in the field – very positive and needed Text in line with EPR and other relevant CM recommendations as well as CPT standards Questionnaire sent out – 26 country replies (in addition from Germany – 9 länder replies)

Scope and contents of the Recommendation Covers: children under 18 Addressees: parents, prisons, police, judiciary, other bodies, competent in the field Underlying values spelled out Basic principles spelled out Starts at arrest by the police, judicial orders and sentences and ends with through care Unless under national law majority is attained earlier means cases of emancipation of a minor Both infant children in prison and visiting children are covered A person holding parental responsibilities

Police, court and prison authorities Child-sensitive manner of working Preserving child-parent relation very important Selection and training of staff Conditions of imprisonment, allocation, contacts Infants in prison Multi-disciplinary ad multiagency

Challenges When different agencies are responsible partnership and sustainability are an issue Data lack in many countries due to different reasons – difficult to intervene in such a case In some MS economic conditions and public opinion are an area of concern

Thank you for your attention! For more information: www.coe.int/prison