COPE advocates for a ‘one roof’ approach, a strategic scheme that encourages relevant cross-sectoral stakeholders to come together under a unified framework to provide an integrated response for children with a parent in prison, by sharing resources and identifying and addressing deficiencies in existing systems. This briefing paper offers an overview of some of the … Read More
Child participation stands as the first thematic area of the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, which states that EU action should ‘empower children to be active citizens and members of democratic societies’. Promoting meaningful participation of children with a parent in prison ensures their influence in key decisions that affect their lives, … Read More
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
COPE has produced a toolkit on frame reflective advocacy for and with children who have a parent in conflict with the law. This publication discusses how refining the ways in which sensitive, child-friendly language devoid of stigma or judgement can better protect and promote children’s agency and offers a series of tools and ideas for … Read More
The COVID-19 pandemic has had dramatic effects on everyday life. Measures and restrictions to limit the spread of the virus have had a significant impact on children with a parent in prison. With the suspension of in-person visits in prisons and despite measures to facilitate the continuity of the child-parent relationship (notably video-calls), some children … Read More
The Council of Europe Recommendation CM/ Rec(2018)5 is landmark instrument that addresses the needs of children with imprisoned parents through fifty-six guidelines for good practice. As part of COPE’s 2020 ‘Not my crime, still my sentence’ campaign, COPE members shared a selection of these guidelines with children who were invited to choose one that they … Read More
COPE ‘Advocacy Packs’ can be used as starting points when initiating contact with the following stakeholders: prison services, alternative care providers, police and law enforcement officials, the media, the judiciary and schools.
For many children, the arrest of a parent will mark their first encounter with the police. Witnessing the arrest of a parent can be frightening, violent and traumatic for the child. This does not have to be the case, however. Police officers can take action before, during and after an arrest, search or warrant in … Read More
A toolkit on children’s right to direct contact with a parent in prison Child psychologists, social workers, researchers and other child welfare professionals are in consensus that the imprisonment of a parent can have long-lasting adverse consequences on the lives of children when they are not supported, and that reasonable steps should be taken to … Read More
“Mum explained that I had to prepare myself that my father would probably be imprisoned. It was sort of like waiting for something that you know will be unpleasant, but you don’t know how bad it will be…. And it was also as if every time we thought that now we were sure we would … Read More
