The following text was spoken by Daniel Mirauta, judge of a Court of Appeals in Romania, at COPE’s Annual Network Meeting in Limerick, June 2023. My name is Daniel Mirauta. I am a judge in Romania, in a Court of Appeals. I judge mainly criminal appeals and my judgments are enforceable and final, so they … Read More
Year: 2023
European Union Strategy on the Rights of the Child and the European Child Guarantee
The Strategy on the Rights of the Child and the European Child Guarantee were published by the European Union on 24 March 2021. These two comprehensive policy initiatives mark the Commission’s commitment to ‘better protect all children, to help them fulfill their rights and to place them right at the centre of EU policy making’ (European … Read More
Strip-searching of children visiting a parent in prison banned in Estonia
Thanks to the ongoing advocacy of Estonia’s Chancellor of Justice (CoJ), the rights of children with an imprisoned parent are gaining increased visibility in Estonia, reflected by important shifts in practice. Notably, strip-searching of children visiting prison is now banned in all three prisons in Estonia. The CoJ, the independent supervisor of basic principles of the Constitution … Read More
Game with Mum & Dad – European Football campaign launched for children with a parent in prison
Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) is launching Game with Mum & Dad, a Europe-wide event where children with a parent in prison get to play a game of football with a father, mother or caregiver behind prison walls. The campaign is founded on the COPE network’s shared values of child safeguarding, child participation, non-discrimination and … Read More
COPE annual conference and network meeting 2023
Registration is now open ! The international conference “Reconnecting through Learning and Play” co-hosted by Bedford Row Family Project, COPE, Mary Immaculate College and Limerick Prison will take place in Limerick on June 8. How can we use play to strengthen the child-parent bond during a parent’s imprisonment ? How can schools foster compassionate and supportive environments for children … Read More
Getting to Berlin
Conference venue Festsaal der Berliner Stadtmission (Festsaal of the Berlin City Mission)Lehrter Str. 6810557 Berlin Directions
Ruling by European Court of Human Rights safeguards the right of a child to visit imprisoned parent
COPE welcomes the European Court of Human Rights ruling (21 March 2023) safeguarding the right of a child to visit his or her parent in detention. The court upheld COPE’s intervention in the Deltuva v. Lithuania case, stating that all decisions concerning children should take their best interests as a prior consideration and that children … Read More
Call for strengthened protection and care systems to support children and young people
COPE stands alongside 14 other NGOs to call on the international community to protect upon all children impacted by the conflict in Ukraine. A year has passed since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, which has affected and displaced millions of children. Despite the international community’s repeated calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops … Read More
The treatment of mothers in prison and their children – the situation in Europe and beyond
Sara Tirrito’s article, Eva Kaili and the treatment of female prisoners with children. How it works in Europe: from the shortcomings of Belgium to the excellence of Germany, was published on “il Fatto Quotidiano” 15 February 2023. The full article (in Italian) can be found here. Eva Kaili and the treatment of female prisoners with … Read More
A supportive guide written for and by caregivers of children who have an imprisoned parent
Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) recognises the uniquely important – and challenging – role played by those who care for children when their parent is in prison. Whilst each family’s situation is different, many caregivers may face similar questions: what should I tell the children? How should I speak to the school? How do I respond to the changing … Read More