http://www.emcmillanscott.com/2.htmlEU takes the lead on children's rightsThe European Union is pushing for improved rights for children, after the publication in July 2006 of a green paper. In 1977, the United Nations encouraged more rights for children and this led to the introduction of the UK Children Act of 1989. The core principle was that in disputes, the right of the child should be paramount.Edward McMillan-Scott has for many years championed improved children's rights, and has been involved in a number of cross-frontier 'tug-of-love' cases. He says that the UK has the best legal framework for children's rights and is campaigning for a similar approach across the EU and beyond: "A society is well judged by the way it treats its innocents" says Edward, seen below welcoming 'tug-of-love' parents who marched from Brussels to Strasbourg to present a petition. In many cases, their children have been taken to Germany by the other parent, and they are not allowed to have any contact.  Early Christmas at home for JessicaFather and grandfather Edward McMillan-Scott has vowed to continue fighting for the rights of the hundreds of children across Europe who are abducted or who are denied a voice in tug-of-love cases, like Jessica Ferguson. |
Over 130,000 children go missing in the UK each year and 400 children are abducted by a parent across EU frontiers. Each case is tragic, but Edward McMillan-Scott is campaigning for "best practice" - so that the EU sets up a US-style Amber Alert system for missing kids - and that a tug-of-love child can be heard in court and may be legally represented. Watch
Edward's intervention in plenary on Angelilli's Report
on the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child
Law firm backs Edward In 2006 Edward McMillan-Scott initiated a pro bono report into the operation of EU and international child abduction mechanisms from major law firm, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. The report on Parental Abduction of Children (November 2006) examines in particular the weaknesses of the EU’s Brussels II Regulation – which superseded the international 1980 Hague Convention within the EU (in Britain in 2005) on cross-frontier child abduction - and recommends a number of actions. Seven out of the 12 cases examined at random concern Germany (see Problems with German child agency below).
Commissioner Frattini at the European Forum on the Rights of the Child EU governments hold child forum 'A European Forum for the Rights of the Child' took place in Berlin on 4 June 2007 under the German EU presidency (January – July 2007) which examined EU policy towards children's rights. This forum brought together Member States, Ombudspersons for children, Council of Europe, Unicef, NGOs, civil society and others to share expertise, information, results and good practices in order to develop them further. MEP hearing discusses child rightsOn 17 April 2007 a European Parliament hearing 'Towards an EU strategy on the Rights of the Child' was organised by rapporteur Roberta Angellili MEP and attended by parents, EU officials, NGOs and a childrens' panel. The hearing involved the seven European Parliament committees which are examining the July 2006 Communication. Commissioner Frattini spoke. At McMillan-Scott’s suggestion, Anne-Marie Hutchinson OBE, a London solicitor and chairman of the child abduction charity Reunite gave a presentation on the loopholes of the current European legal system regarding parental abduction of children. |
Eurochild is an active network
of organisations and individuals working in and across Europe to
improve the quality of life of children and young people. Eurochild’s
work is underpinned by the principles enshrined in the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child - 
The leading UK charity specialising in
international parental child abduction, 
Parents,
children and grandparents victims of international and administrative
child abductions 
