Children of Prisoners Europe and Child & Space launch the Papa Plus initiative at Sofia Prison, in Bulgaria

October 16, 2018

Nearly one million children in the European Union have a parent in prison. In addition to being separated from their parent, these children frequently experience trauma linked to the stigma and discrimination of having a parent in prison and violation of their rights. In Bulgaria, an estimated 12,500 children have a father in prison.  Children of Prisoners Europe … Read More

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Papa Plus: supporting the child-parent relationship in Bulgaria

November 29, 2017

In the European Union, some 800,000 children are separated from a parent in prison. The pan-European network Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) has been working with the Fédération des Relais Enfants Parents (FREP) for 20 years to support initiatives across Europe that focus on preserving and strengthening bonds between children and their parent in prison, … Read More

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CATS conference in Switzerland a positive experience for COPE delegation

August 22, 2017

For the first time, COPE was able to send a small delegation of children impacted by parental imprisonment to the Children as Actors for Transforming Society (CATS) Global Forum, in Caux, Switzerland. The week-long Forum’s theme of “Reaching for an inclusive world” offered children a “platform that inspires others to share their difficulties, to tackle … Read More

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COPE accepted as a member of Child Rights Connect

May 30, 2017

Child Rights Connect held their annual General Assembly 9-10 May. Along with 7 other organisations, COPE was accepted as a new member of the network. COPE has worked with Child Rights Connect (CRC) for the past three years as part of the Working Group on Children of Incarcerated Parents. Among other activities the “The Rights of … Read More

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Second Family Relations Expert Meeting organised by EuroPris in Finland

April 18, 2017

On 6-7 April 2017, in Helsinki, Finland, EuroPris organised the second Family Relations expert meeting. Lucy Gampell and Madelein Kattel, COPE Board members, were present at the meeting, which was a follow-up to the first meeting held in Zagreb, 18-19 May 2016. The Family Relations expert group comprises 11 experts from European National Agencies (Czech … Read More

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Social work and social rehabilitation in the Polish penitentiary system

April 13, 2017

From 3-8 April 2017 the Jagiellonian University organised their third Social Labor Seminar in Cracow as part of the framework  of the Polish Social Work Week PSSPS, targeting students and professionals. The theme on day four concerned the penitentiary system in Poland, addressing questions such as: “Is there a place in the Polish penitentiary system … Read More

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Children of prisoners briefing to States at United Nations, Geneva

February 3, 2017

As part of the Child Rights Connect working group on children of incarcerated parents, Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) co-organised and participated in an international briefing for Member States at the UN in Geneva on 1 February 2017. This event took place during the 74th session of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child … Read More

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