Database on CRC Concluding Observations on children of prisoners

The Working Group on Child of Incarcerated Parents of Child Rights Connect has launched a seminal database on Concluding Observations of the UN Committee of the Rights of the Child which specifically mention children affected by parental incarceration. Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO), a member of the Children of Prisoners Europe network, created this database which includes … Read more

COPE invited to meet with new FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty

“Europe is facing a crisis in terms of the respect of fundamental rights” New Director of the Fundamental Rights Agency of the European Union (FRA), Michael O’Flaherty’s meeting with civil society representatives in France, including the Children of Prisoners Europe network left those present motivated and hopeful, but not without a feeling of having been … Read more

Italy renews Memorandum of Understanding on children with imprisoned parents

On 6 September 2016, the Italian Minister for Justice, Andrea Orlando, has renewed his signature of COPE member Bambinisenzasbarre’s pioneering Memorandum of Understanding on children with imprisoned parents. The third signatory, Filomena Albano, Italian Ombudswoman for Childhood and Adolescence has also renewed her signature. This landmark document, a first in Europe, represents an agreement between the … Read more

Online forum: Families affected by incarceration

COPE’s Dutch partner Exodus has launched an online forum for Families affected by the incarceration of a parent. The forum provides information and allows children whose parents are in prison, and other family members, to get in touch with others experience similar situations. To access the forum, people can register on www.exodus.nl. The forum protects … Read more

Close of 7th edition of “Not my crime, still my sentence” campaign

Over the years, COPE’s campaign “Not my crime, still my sentence” has become a landmark annual event for all organisations working for the rights of children with imprisoned parents. Launched in 2010 and taken up by many supporters, the campaign is now celebrated annually in 15 countries with the aim of raising awareness about the … Read more

COPE Conference outcome report published

COPE annual conference and network meeting 2016 The outcome report for the Conference “Children with a parent in conflict with the law: What are their best interests? How can they be met?”, which took place on Friday 20 May 2016 at the Stara gradska vijećnica, Zagreb, Croatia, is now online. Click here to view or download the report. … Read more

Data collection and children with imprisoned parents

This week, COPE’s annual campaign “Not my crime, still my sentence” will be focusing on the importance of collecting data relating to children of prisoners. Included in Article 6 of the Italian Memorandum of Understanding and expressly stated as the subject of a Council of Europe Parliamentary resolution, data collection is an issue of key … Read more

Information, assistance and support for children of prisoners

This week, the focus of COPE’s campaign “Not my crime, still my sentence” is the importance of providing information, assistance and support for children of imprisoned parents. Receiving appropriate and timely information about their parent’s whereabouts and well-being is of crucial importance to a child. Lack of information may lead to confusion, anxiety and fears. … Read more

Maintaining family ties: visits and other forms of contact

This week, COPE’s Not My Crime, Still My Sentence campaign will be focusing on the theme of maintaining family ties through prison visits and alternative communications. The absence of a parent can significantly change the family dynamic and can have negative effects on a child’s development. COPE wants to raise awareness about the importance of … Read more

Child-friendly visits for children with imprisoned parents

This week, Children of Prisoners Europe has focused its “Not my crime, still my sentence” campaign on Article 2 of the Italian Memorandum of Understanding on children with imprisoned parents. Article 2 of the Memorandum focuses on making prison visits child-friendly. It calls for the designation of a “children’s space” with toys and drawing boards … Read more