Children who have an imprisoned parent may experience anxiety, shame, low self-esteem. Sharing important moments, events and experiences may not be possible because their father/mother is far away. This can cause a young child to feel alone and confused.
Year: 2016
Rebalancing the scales: Child rights when sentencing parents
Given that over 800,000 children in the EU have a parent in prison, legal and judicial awareness of the issues facing children of prisoners and their rights is of paramount importance. In many cases, the most important stage of a family’s involvement with the criminal justice system will be at the trial and sentencing phase, where the decision to commit a parent to prison can have far-reaching, negative consequences for children, including, in some instances, the latter being taken into care. Many countries, however, do not take sufficient account of the impact of parental imprisonment on children or of the specific circumstance and needs facing children of prisoners.
It’s time to act
Within the Council of Europe countries, an estimated 2.1 million children have a parent in prison.[1] In the words of Ilina Taneva, Secretary to the Council of Europe’s Council for Penological Co-operation, that is equivalent to the population of a small country. These 2.1 million children often suffer as the result of their parents’ conflict with the law. All stages of the criminal justice process, from the initial arrest to resettlement, have the potential to impact negatively on these children’s lives.
Alain Bouregba : Comment l’incarcération altère la relation enfant-parent ?
Alain Bouregba, co-fondateur et ancien président du réseau COPE, président de la Fédération des Relais Enfants Parents, analyse la façon dont l’incarcération altère la relation enfant-parent.
1 – Comment l’incarcération altère la conduite de l’individu ?
2 – Comment l’incarcération altère la relation enfant-parent ?
3 – Comment atténuer les effets nocifs de l’incarcération sur la relation enfant-parent ?
800,000 voices
This video briefly spotlights some of the voices of the estimated 800,000 children with imprisoned parents in the European Union. Created by Families Outside UK in partnership with COPE, the video briefly explores the myriad perspectives, sometimes contradictory, always their own, of children with an imprisoned parent.
COPE policy developments for children affected by parental incarceration 2015
The year 2016 promises excellent momentum, building on the successes of COPE and the work of its members in 2015 in advancing policy for children with imprisoned parents on national and international levels. Over the course of 2015, COPE’s action and the excellent advocacy work of its member organisations have contributed to an increased awareness of the … Read More
COPE fact-finding mission to Portugal, December 2015
COPE began a series of meetings in Portugal in early December 2015, aimed at further developing the COPE network and gathering information on the situation of children with imprisoned parents. Over the course of three days, COPE met with national bodies, such as the Provedor de Justiça, as well as with academics, researchers and social … Read More
Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child to be launched April 2016
On 5 and 6 April 2016, the Committee of Ministers will adopt the new Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016-2021). It will be launched at the Bulgarian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers. The Council of Europe’s children’s strategy is based on four main objectives of the Monaco Strategy (2011-2015). … Read More
QUNO suggested questions for UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
COPE member organisation Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) has submitted suggested questions and concluding observations on children of prisoners to the 71st session of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which began on the 11 January 2016. QUNO submitted questions for Ireland, France, and Latvia’s review before the Committee on Child … Read More
COPE network activity log 2015
The year 2015 saw the COPE network and its members organise, host, and attend over 200 events across Europe and the rest of world. From speaking engagements to workshops, policy groups to conferences, the network has participated in events in more than 17 countries. COPE would like to thank those members and supporters who contributed to … Read More