07/10/2010 Session
In the light of the “new risks” which more and more children are facing in our globalised times and the ongoing economic crisis, such as child trafficking or being left behind by migrant parents, the Assembly today urged member states to take further steps to protect children`s rights and well-being. These include undertaking specific national studies to identify priority issues, participating in joint European programmes and developing effective strategies, for example by strengthening social services support to help biological families care for their children in cases where neglect or separation is likely.
Rapporteur Pieter Omtzigt (Netherlands, EPP/CD)underlined the fact that the ideal settings in the best interests of the child, when it is impossible to stay in the original family, should be as close to a family environment as possible involving a continuing move towards foster care through the “de-institutionalisation” of child care arrangements.