The Spring Seminar of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) took place in Warsaw, Poland, between 8 and 10 June 2022, hosted by the Polish Ombudsman for Children’s Rights, Mikolaj Pawlak.
The participants, among whom was also Slovenian Deputy Ombudsman Dr Jože Ruparčič, discussed the protection of children’s rights in Ukraine, climate justice and the role of independent children’s rights institutions. The discussion on the topic of children’s rights in Ukraine included specific cases of the tragic fates of refugees and the presentation of activities and efforts for their protection, which was elaborated on in more detail by the Polish Ombudsman for Children’s Rights. The urgency to ensure environmental awareness of the whole of society and corporate social responsibility in particular was highlighted during the talks on climate justice.
The participants agreed that the commitment to a cleaner and friendlier environment must become the commitment of everyone if we want to preserve it for future generations. In relation to the institutional protection of children’s rights, it was emphasised that children must actually be involved in the decision-making about their cases. In this regard, child advocacy, which operates within the Slovenian Ombudsman institution, is certainly a good example of best practice.
ENOC
Deputy Ombudsman Dr Ruparčič at the ENOC Spring Seminar in Warsaw
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The European Network of Ombudsmen for Children (ENOC) was set up in 1997 in Norway.
The Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia has been a member of the ENOC since 2002.
The goal of the countries included in the ENOC is to implement the contents of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to raise public awareness of children's rights and to make additional efforts to implement the contents of the Convention in the legal regulations of individual countries.
Within the ENOC, members exchange data, approaches, strategies and results of comparative analyzes, and also offer assistance to individual offices in creating or increasing autonomy in decision-making and operation in the home country.
ENOC members are autonomous and
- supervise the work of government departments, bodies and ministries
- investigate complex issues (child trafficking, violence)
- encourage relevant research,
- participate in decisions that affect the rights and well-being of children.
