Poland signs landmark Charter supporting children with imprisoned parents
March 23, 2026
In Poland, more than 90,000 children* are growing up separated from a parent in prison, often without consistent or coordinated support. A new Charter signed on 19 March 2026 in Kraków aims to change that by placing their needs more firmly on the agenda of public institutions and…
Prison officers in Greece put child rights and well-being at the centre
January 27, 2026
In a powerful step toward more child-sensitive prison practice, two closely linked interactive workshops brought prison officers from across Greece together this December to focus on the rights and well-being of children visiting a parent in prison and to reflect on their own experiences…
Under One Roof: Strengthening support for children with imprisoned parents in Estonia
January 20, 2026
Ensuring that children remain protected, supported and meaningfully connected when a parent is imprisoned requires more than isolated actions by individual institutions. It demands coordinated responses across justice, prison, child protection and social services…
Reflections from Kraków: Council of Europe’s 30th Conference of Directors of Prison and Probation Services
October 3, 2025
An estimated 2.1 million children across Europe have a parent in prison on any given day. Yet we often hear that considering the rights and needs of these children is a “niche” topic within criminal justice discussions, an “extra” issue, peripheral to the main objectives and realities of the prison world…
Protecting children’s rights during a parent’s criminal court proceedings — COPE Judicial Roundtable IV, hosted by the Portuguese Supreme Court of Justice
August 13, 2025
On June 27, 2025, COPE held its fourth Judicial Roundtable in Lisbon, Portugal, hosted by the Portuguese Supreme Court of Justice. A central goal of the event was to …
Press Release: COPE online seminar “Creative Connections”
July 8, 2025
On 24 June 2025, COPE held the online seminar “Creative Connections,” organised in collaboration with the Special Health Center for Prisoners of Korydallos, the NGO EPANODOS for the support of released prisoners and the General Secretariat for Crime Prevention Policy. Coordinators Liz Ayre, Arete…
COPE’s 17th International Conference hosted by Mid-Dlam għad-Dawl in Malta
June 24, 2025
Held at Caritas Community Centre, Malta, this conference centred on understanding and dismantling the stigma faced by children affected by parental imprisonment, exploring how it permeates communities, institutions and systems. The conference brought together individuals with lived experience of parental …
COPE Input to OHCHR study on human rights and social reintegration
March 27, 2025
COPE has provided input to the OHCHR study on human rights and the social reintegration of persons released from detention and persons subjected to non-custodial measures. In its submission, COPE’s submission highlights the…
Regranting 2025
March 4, 2025
2025 COPE SUB-GRANTING CALL – GAME WITH MUM & DAD Announcement of an open call for recipients of financial support EU Grant number: 101194526 EU Project acronym and title: Child Check 2025 The project Child Check 2025, co-funded from the European Union’s European Education and Culture Executive Agency (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme) under
COPE input for UNHRC Resolution 52/12 on mental health and human rights
January 14, 2025
COPE has provided input for the UNHCR resolution 52/12 on mental health and human rights, with valuable contributions from COPE member Dr. Rodrigo J. Carcedo González from Universidad de Salamanca (Spain). Drawing on EU-funded research…
