October 2016 “I use Skype to speak to my 11 year old son” – the effective use of this telecommunications tool was one of the first things we learnt when speaking to a female inmate from the Śledczy Grochów prison in Warsaw. The fifteen-minute weekly Skype session is granted in addition to the one hour … Read More
children of prisoners
Pact secures ALP accreditation
Last month, COPE member Pact secured ALP (Accrediting Learning Professionally) accreditation with Skills for Justice for three of their prison-based relationship and parenting programmes (Building Stronger Families, Building Bridges and Time to Connect). Pact is now a Skills for Justice Approved Awards Centre. For more information: http://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/news/prison-relationship-education-parenting-courses-now-accredited-skills-justice CEO, Andy Keen-Downs, said: “I’m incredibly proud of Pact’s … Read More
European Custody and Detention Summit
14-15 November 2016 Tower of London Complete with workshops, roundtables and technology demonstrations, the European Custody & Detention Summit is a unique forum bringing together custody providers and policymakers to share perspectives, best practice and innovations. Sessions include: Transforming Global Custody; Mental health and police detention; Restorative justice in intercultural settings; Supporting Women in Custody and … Read More
Separated Children in Judicial Proceedings
On 27 and 28 October 2016, COPE member Rachel Brett spoke at the Separated Children in Judicial Proceedings conference in Brussels, which was hosted by the Committee of Regions. Rachel’s plenary presentation focused on trans-European perspectives on cross-border justice for children and COPE’s previous collaboration with the AIRE Centre on a joint third party intervention … Read More
Written Declaration on the protection of the children of imprisoned parents
On 12 September, ten Members of the European Parliament placed a Written Declaration (WD) on the protection of children with imprisoned parents before the parliament under Rule 136 of the body’s Rules of Procedure. Read the text here. The sponsoring MEPs, members of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Children’s Rights, include Patrizia Toia (Italy), Sergio Gaetano … Read More
Data collection and children affected by parental incarceration
Based on COPE’s estimates, 800,000 children have a parent in prison on any given day in the European Union, a figure that rises to 2.1 million when all Council of Europe countries are included. The total number of children affected throughout a year is likely even higher again, given that the total number of people … Read More
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