eu-charter

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Article 24 - The rights of the child

Article 24 - The rights of the child

1. Children shall have the right to such protection and care as is necessary for their well-being. They may express their views freely. Such views shall be taken into consideration on matters which concern them in accordance with their age and maturity.
2. In all actions relating to children, whether taken by public authorities or private institutions, the child's best interests must be a primary consideration.
3. Every child shall have the right to maintain on a regular basis a personal relationship and direct contact with both his or her parents, unless that is contrary to his or her interests.

    • Text:

      This Article is based on the New York Convention on the Rights of the Child signed on 20 November 1989 and ratified by all the Member States, particularly Articles 3, 9, 12 and 13 thereof.

      Paragraph 3 takes account of the fact that, as part of the establishment of an area of freedom, security and justice, the legislation of the Union on civil matters having cross-border implications, for which Article 81 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union confers power, may include notably visiting rights ensuring that children can maintain on a regular basis a personal and direct contact with both of their parents.

      Source:
      Official Journal of the European Union C 303/17 - 14.12.2007
      Preamble - Explanations relating to the Charter of Fundamental Rights:
      These explanations were originally prepared under the authority of the Praesidium of the Convention which drafted the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Although they do not as such have the status of law, they are a valuable tool of interpretation intended to clarify the provisions of the Charter.
    • OB v Procura della Repubblica presso il Tribunale di Bologna (KInsa)
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:C:2025:392
    • Arce
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:C:2025:192
    • Aleksandra Melnichenko v Council of the European Union
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:T:2025:180
    • N. D. v Migration Department of the Republic of Lithuania
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      National Court/Tribunal
      Deciding body:
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
    • Question of unconstitutionality, promoted by the Social Chamber of the High Court of Justice of Catalonia of the revised text of the Workers' Statute Law, approved by Royal Legislative Decree 2/2015, of October 23
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      National Court/Tribunal
      Deciding body:
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:ES:TC:2024:140
    • Public Prosecutor Service v X
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      National Court/Tribunal
      Deciding body:
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
    • N.S.H. and D.P. v Asylum Service
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      National Court/Tribunal
      Deciding body:
      International Protection Administrative Court
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
    • A family (two adult plaintiffs and an infant) v Ministry of the Interior
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      National Court/Tribunal
      Deciding body:
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:SI:VSRS:2024:I.UP.146.2024
    • K, L v Staatssecretaris van Justitie en Veiligheid
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      Court of Justice of the European Union
      Deciding body:
      Court (Grand Chamber)
      Type:
      Policy area:
      Asylum and migration
      ECLI (European case law identifier):
      ECLI:EU:C:2024:487
    • The Danish public prosecutors office v. T
      Decision date:
      Deciding body type:
      National Court/Tribunal
      Deciding body:
      Type:
      Decision
      Policy area:
      ECLI (European case law identifier):

    55 results found

    • Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms
      Country:
      Czechia

      Article 32 (1) Parenthood and the family are under the protection of the law. Special protection is guaranteed to children and adolescents. (2) Pregnant women are guaranteed special care, protection in labor relations, and suitable labor conditions. (3) Children, whether born in or out of wedlock, enjoy equal rights. (4) It is the parents’ right to care for and bring up their children; children have the right to parental upbringing and care. Parental rights may be limited and minor children may be removed from their parents’ custody against the latters’ will only by the decision of a court on the basis of the law. (5) Parents who are raising children have the right to assistance from the state. (6) Detailed provisions shall be set by law.

    • Listina základních práv a svobod
      Country:
      Czechia

      Článek 32 (1) Rodičovství a rodina jsou pod ochranou zákona. Zvláštní ochrana dětí a mladistvých je zaručena. (2) Ženě v těhotenství je zaručena zvláštní péče, ochrana v pracovních vztazích a odpovídající pracovní podmínky. (3) Děti narozené v manželství i mimo ně mají stejná práva. (4) Péče o děti a jejich výchova je právem rodičů; děti mají právo na rodičovskou výchovu a péči. Práva rodičů mohou být omezena a nezletilé děti mohou být od rodičů odloučeny proti jejich vůli jen rozhodnutím soudu na základě zákona. (5) Rodiče, kteří pečují o děti, mají právo na pomoc státu. (6) Podrobnosti stanoví zákon.

    • Childcare Act 2006
      Country:
      United Kingdom

      An Act to make provision about the powers and duties of local authorities and other bodies in England in relation to the improvement of the well-being of young children; to make provision about the powers and duties of local authorities in England and Wales in relation to the provision of childcare and the provision of information to parents and other persons; to make provision about the regulation and inspection of childcare provision in England; to amend Part 10A of the Children Act 1989 in relation to Wales; and for connected purposes. 

    • Children Act 1989
      Country:
      United Kingdom

      Section 1 Welfare of the child.
      (1) When a court determines any question with respect to—
      (a)the upbringing of a child; or
      (b)the administration of a child’s property or the application of any income arising from it,the child’s welfare shall be the court’s paramount consideration.
      (2)In any proceedings in which any question with respect to the upbringing of a child arises, the court shall have regard to the general principle that any delay in determining the question is likely to prejudice the welfare of the child.
      (2A)A court, in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (4)(a) or (7), is as respects each parent within subsection (6)(a) to presume, unless the contrary is shown, that involvement of that parent in the life of the child concerned will further the child's welfare.
      (2B)In subsection (2A) “involvement” means involvement of some kind, either direct or indirect, but not any particular division of a child's time.
      (3)In the circumstances mentioned in subsection (4), a court shall have regard in particular to—
      (a)the ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned (considered in the light of his age and understanding);
      (b)his physical, emotional and educational needs;
      (c)the likely effect on him of any change in his circumstances;
      (d)his age, sex, background and any characteristics of his which the court considers relevant;
      (e)any harm which he has suffered or is at risk of suffering;
      (f)how capable each of his parents, and any other person in relation to whom the court considers the question to be relevant, is of meeting his needs;
      (g)the range of powers available to the court under this Act in the proceedings in question.
      (4)The circumstances are that—
      (a)the court is considering whether to make, vary or discharge a section 8 order, and the making, variation or discharge of the order is opposed by any party to the proceedings; or
      (b)the court is considering whether to make, vary or discharge a special guardianship order or an order under Part IV.
      (5)Where a court is considering whether or not to make one or more orders under this Act with respect to a child, it shall not make the order or any of the orders unless it considers that doing so would be better for the child than making no order at all.
      (6)In subsection (2A) “parent” means parent of the child concerned; and, for the purposes of that subsection, a parent of the child concerned—
      (a)is within this paragraph if that parent can be involved in the child's life in a way that does not put the child at risk of suffering harm; and
      (b)is to be treated as being within paragraph (a) unless there is some evidence before the court in the particular proceedings to suggest that involvement of that parent in the child's life would put the child at risk of suffering harm whatever the form of the involvement.
      (7)The circumstances referred to are that the court is considering whether to make an order under section 4(1)(c) or (2A) or 4ZA(1)(c) or (5) (parental responsibility of parent other than mother).

    • Children Act 2004
      Country:
      United Kingdom

      An Act to make provision for the establishment of a Children’s Commissioner; to make provision about services provided to and for children and young people by local authorities and other persons; to make provision in relation to Wales about advisory and support services relating to family proceedings; to make provision about private fostering, child minding and day care, adoption review panels, the defence of reasonable punishment, the making of grants as respects children and families, child safety orders, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, the publication of material relating to children involved in certain legal proceedings and the disclosure by the Inland Revenue of information relating to children. [15th November 2004] 

    • Children and Young Persons Act 2008
      Country:
      United Kingdom

      An Act to make provision about the delivery of local authority social work services for children and young persons; to amend Parts 2 and 3 of the Children Act 1989; to make further provision about the functions of local authorities and others in relation to children and young persons; to make provision about the enforcement of care standards in relation to certain establishments or agencies connected with children; to make provision about the independent review of determinations relating to adoption; and for connected purposes.

    • Protection of Children Act 1999
      Country:
      United Kingdom

      An Act to require a list to be kept of persons considered unsuitable to work with children; to extend the power to make regulations undersection 218(6) of the EducationReform Act 1988; to make further provision with respect to that list and the list kept for the purposes of such regulations; to enable the protection afforded to children to be afforded to persons suffering from mental impairment; and for connected purposes. 

    • Constitutión Española
      Country:
      Spain

      Artículo 39(1) Los poderes públicos aseguran la protección social, económica y jurídica de la familia. (2) Los poderes públicos aseguran, asimismo, la protección integral de los hijos, iguales éstos ante la ley con independencia de su filiación, y de las madres, cualquiera que sea su estado civil. La ley posibilitará la investigación de la paternidad. (3) Los padres deben prestar asistencia de todo orden a los hijos habidos dentro o fuera del matrimonio, durante su minoría de edad y en los demás casos en que legalmente proceda. (4) Los niños gozarán de la protección prevista en los acuerdos internacionales que velan por sus derechos.

    • Constitution of the Kingdom of Spain
      Country:
      Spain

      Section 39 (1) The public authorities ensure social, economic and legal protection of the family. (2) The public authorities likewise ensure full protection of children, who are equal before the law, regardless of their parentage, and of mothers, whatever their marital status. The law shall provide for the possibility of the investigation of paternity. (3) Parents must provide their children, whether born within or outside wedlock, with assistance of every kind while they are still under age and in other circumstances in which the law so establishes. (4) Children shall enjoy the protection provided for in the international agreements safeguarding their rights

    • Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia
      Country:
      Slovenia

      Article 53 (...) The state shall protect the family, motherhood, fatherhood, children and young people and shall create the necessary conditions for such protection.

      Article 54 Parents have the right and duty to maintain, educate and raise their children. This right and duty may be revoked or restricted only for such reasons as are provided by law in order to protect the child's interests. Children born out of wedlock have the same rights as children born within it.

      Article 56 Children shall enjoy special protection and care. Children shall enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms consistent with their age and maturity. Children shall be guaranteed special protection from economic, social, physical, mental or other exploitation and abuse. Such protection shall be regulated by law. Children and minors who are not cared for by their parents, who have no parents or who are without proper family care shall enjoy the special protection of the state. Their position shall be regulated by law.

    • Ustava Republike Slovenije
      Country:
      Slovenia

      53. člen (...) Država varuje družino, materinstvo, očetovstvo, otroke in mladino ter ustvarja za to varstvo potrebne razmere.

      54. člen Starši imajo pravico in dolžnost vzdrževati, izobraževati in vzgajati svoje otroke. Ta pravica in dolžnost se staršem lahko odvzame ali omeji samo iz razlogov, ki jih zaradi varovanja otrokovih koristi določa zakon. Otroci, rojeni zunaj zakonske zveze, imajo enake pravice kakor otroci, rojeni v njej.

      56. člen Otroci uživajo posebno varstvo in skrb. Človekove pravice in temeljne svoboščine uživajo otroci v skladu s svojo starostjo in zrelostjo. Otrokom se zagotavlja posebno varstvo pred gospodarskim, socialnim, telesnim, duševnim ali drugim izkoriščanjem in zlorabljanjem. Takšno varstvo ureja zakon. Otroci in mladoletniki, za katere starši ne skrbijo, ki nimajo staršev ali so brez ustrezne družinske oskrbe, uživajo posebno varstvo države. Njihov položaj ureja zakon.

    • Constitution of the Slovak Republic
      Country:
      Slovakia

      Article 41 (...) (3) Children born in and out of wedlock enjoy equal rights. (4) Child care and upbringing are the rights of parents; children have the right to parental care and upbringing. Parents' rights can be restricted and minors can be separated from their parents against their will only by a court ruling on the basis of law. (5) Parents caring for children are entitled to assistance from the state. (6) Details concerning rights under paragraphs 1 to 5 shall be laid down by law.

    • Ústava Slovenskej republiky
      Country:
      Slovakia

      Čl. 41(...) (3) Deti narodené v manželstve i mimo neho majú rovnaké práva.(4) Starostlivosť o deti a ich výchova je právom rodičov; deti majú právo na rodičovskú výchovu a starostlivosť. Práva rodičov možno obmedziť a maloleté deti možno od rodičov odlúčiť proti vôli rodičov len rozhodnutím súdu na základe zákona.(5) Rodičia, ktorí sa starajú o deti, majú právo na pomoc štátu. (6) Podrobnosti o právach podľa odsekov 1 až 5 ustanoví zákon.

    • Constituția României
      Country:
      Romania

      Articolul 49(1) Copiii si tinerii se bucura de un regim special de protectie si de asistenta în realizarea drepturilor lor. (2) Statul acorda alocatii pentru copii si ajutoare pentru îngrijirea copilului bolnav ori cu handicap. Alte forme de protectie sociala a copiilor si a tinerilor se stabilesc prin lege. (3) Exploatarea minorilor, folosirea lor în activitati care le-ar dauna sanatatii, moralitatii sau care le-ar pune în primejdie viata ori dezvoltarea normala sunt interzise. (4) Minorii sub vârsta de 15 ani nu pot fi angajati ca salariati. (5) Autoritatile publice au obligatia sa contribuie la asigurarea conditiilor pentru participarea libera a tinerilor la viata politica, sociala, economica, culturala si sportiva a tarii.

    • Constitution of Romania
      Country:
      Romania

      Article 49(1) Children and young people shall enjoy special protection and assistance in the pursuit of their rights. (2) The State shall grant allowances for children and benefits for the care of ill or disabled children. Other forms of social protection for children and young people shall be established by law. (3) The exploitation of minors, their employment in activities that might be harmful to their health, or morals, or might endanger their life and normal development are prohibited. (4) Minors under the age of fifteen may not be employed for any paid labour. (5) The public authorities are bound to contribute to secure the conditions for the free participation of young people in the political, social, economic, cultural and sporting life of the country.

    • Constituição da República Portuguesa
      Country:
      Portugal

      Artigo 69.º (Infância) 1. As crianças têm direito à protecção da sociedade e do Estado, com vista ao seu desenvolvimento integral, especialmente contra todas as formas de abandono, de discriminação e de opressão e contra o exercício abusivo da autoridade na família e nas demais instituições. 2. O Estado assegura especial protecção às crianças órfãs, abandonadas ou por qualquer forma privadas de um ambiente familiar normal. 3. É proibido, nos termos da lei, o trabalho de menores em idade escolar. Artigo 70.º (Juventude) 1. Os jovens gozam de protecção especial para efectivação dos seus direitos económicos, sociais e culturais, nomeadamente: a) No ensino, na formação profissional e na cultura; b) No acesso ao primeiro emprego, no trabalho e na segurança social; c) No acesso à habitação; d) Na educação física e no desporto; e) No aproveitamento dos tempos livres. 2. A política de juventude deverá ter como objectivos prioritários o desenvolvimento da personalidade dos jovens, a criação de condições para a sua efectiva integração na vida activa, o gosto pela criação livre e o sentido de serviço à comunidade. 3. O Estado, em colaboração com as famílias, as escolas, as empresas, as organizações de moradores, as associações e fundações de fins culturais e as colectividades de cultura e recreio, fomenta e apoia as organizações juvenis na prossecução daqueles objectivos, bem como o intercâmbio internacional da juventude. Artigo 36.º (Família, casamento e filiação) 4. Os filhos nascidos fora do casamento não podem, por esse motivo, ser objecto de qualquer discriminação e a lei ou as repartições oficiais não podem usar designações discriminatórias relativas à filiação. 6. Os filhos não podem ser separados dos pais, salvo quando estes não cumpram os seus deveres fundamentais para com eles e sempre mediante decisão judicial.

    • Constitution of the Portuguese Republic
      Country:
      Portugal

      Article 69 (Childhood) (1) With a view to their integral development, children shall possess the right to protection by society and the state, especially from all forms of abandonment, discrimination and oppression and from the abusive exercise of authority in the family or any other institution. (2) The state shall ensure special protection for children who are orphaned, abandoned or deprived of a normal family environment in any way. (3) Labour by minors of school age shall be prohibited as laid down by law. Article 70 (Youth) (1) In order to ensure the effective enjoyment of their economic, social and cultural rights, young people shall receive special protection, particularly: (a) In education, vocational training and culture; (b) In access to their first job, at work and in relation to social security; (c) In access to housing; (d) In physical education and sport; (e) In the use of their free time. (2) The priority objectives of the youth policy shall be the development of young people’s personality, the creation of the conditions needed for their effective integration into the active life, a love of free creativity and a sense of community service. (3) Acting in cooperation with families, schools, businesses, residents’ organisations, cultural associations and foundations and cultural and recreational groups, the state shall foster and support youth organisations in the pursuit of the said objectives, as well as international youth exchanges. Article 36 (Family, marriage and filiation) (4) Children born outside marriage shall not be discriminated against on that ground; terms describing filiation that are discriminatory shall not be used by the law or by government departments. (6) Children shall not be separated from their parents unless the parents fail to perform their fundamental duties towards the children, and in that case only by judicial decision.

    • Constitution of the Republic of Poland
      Country:
      Poland

      Article 48.1. Parents shall have the right to rear their children in accordance with their own convictions. Such upbringing shall respect the degree of maturity of a child as well as his freedom of conscience and belief and also his convictions.2. Limitation or deprivation of parental rights may be effected only in the instances specified by statute and only on the basis of a final court judgment. Article 68(...) 3. Public authorities shall ensure special health care to children, pregnant women, handicapped people and persons of advanced age.(...) 5. Public authorities shall support the development of physical culture, particularly amongst children and young persons.Article 72.1. The Republic of Poland shall ensure protection of the rights of the child. Everyone shall have the right to demand of organs of public authority that they defend children against violence, cruelty, exploitation and actions which undermine their moral sense.2. A child deprived of parental care shall have the right to care and assistance provided by public authorities.3. Organs of public authority and persons responsible for children, in the course of establishing the rights of a child, shall consider and, insofar as possible, give priority to the views of the child.4. The competence and procedure for appointment of the Commissioner for Children's Rights shall be specified by statute.

    • Constitution of the Republic of Poland
      Country:
      Poland

      Article 48.1. Parents shall have the right to rear their children in accordance with their own convictions. Such upbringing shall respect the degree of maturity of a child as well as his freedom of conscience and belief and also his convictions.2. Limitation or deprivation of parental rights may be effected only in the instances specified by statute and only on the basis of a final court judgment. Article 68(...) 3. Public authorities shall ensure special health care to children, pregnant women, handicapped people and persons of advanced age.(...) 5. Public authorities shall support the development of physical culture, particularly amongst children and young persons.Article 721. The Republic of Poland shall ensure protection of the rights of the child. Everyone shall have the right to demand of organs of public authority that they defend children against violence, cruelty, exploitation and actions which undermine their moral sense.2. A child deprived of parental care shall have the right to care and assistance provided by public authorities.3. Organs of public authority and persons responsible for children, in the course of establishing the rights of a child, shall consider and, insofar as possible, give priority to the views of the child.4. The competence and procedure for appointment of the Commissioner for Children's Rights shall be specified by statute.

    • Konstytucja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
      Country:
      Poland

      Art. 48.1. Rodzice mają prawo do wychowania dzieci zgodnie z własnymi przekonaniami. Wychowanie to powinno uwzględniać stopień dojrzałości dziecka, a także wolność jego sumienia i wyznania oraz jego przekonania. 2. Ograniczenie lub pozbawienie praw rodzicielskich może nastąpić tylko w przypadkach określonych w ustawie i tylko na podstawie prawomocnego orzeczenia sądu. Art. 68(...) 3. Władze publiczne są obowiązane do zapewnienia szczególnej opieki zdrowotnej dzieciom, kobietom ciężarnym, osobom niepełnosprawnym i osobom w podeszłym wieku.(...) 5. Władze publiczne popierają rozwój kultury fizycznej, zwłaszcza wśród dzieci i młodzieży.Art. 72.1. Rzeczpospolita Polska zapewnia ochronę praw dziecka. Każdy ma prawo żądać od organów władzy publicznej ochrony dziecka przed przemocą, okrucieństwem, wyzyskiem i demoralizacją.2. Dziecko pozbawione opieki rodzicielskiej ma prawo do opieki i pomocy władz publicznych.3. W toku ustalania praw dziecka organy władzy publicznej oraz osoby odpowiedzialne za dziecko są obowiązane do wysłuchania i w miarę możliwości uwzględnienia zdania dziecka.4. Ustawa określa kompetencje i sposób powoływania Rzecznika Praw Dziecka.

    28 results found

    • Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women and domestic violence

      Preamble  


      (2) Equality between women and men and non-discrimination are core values of the Union and fundamental rights enshrined, respectively, in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and in Articles 21 and 23 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the ‘Charter’). Violence against women and domestic violence endanger those very values and rights, undermining women and girls’ rights to equality in all areas of life and hindering their equal societal and professional participation.

      (3) Violence against women and domestic violence is a violation of fundamental rights such as the right to human dignity, the right to life and integrity of the person, the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the right to respect for private and family life, the right to liberty and security, the right to the protection of personal data, the right to non-discrimination, including on the grounds of sex, and the rights of the child, as enshrined in the Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.


      (6) Violence against women and domestic violence can be exacerbated where it intersects with discrimination based on a combination of sex and any other ground or grounds of discrimination as referred to in Article 21 of the Charter, namely race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation (‘intersectional discrimination’). Member States should therefore pay due regard to victims affected by such intersectional discrimination by taking specific measures. Persons affected by intersectional discrimination are at a heightened risk of experiencing gender-based violence. Consequently, Member States should take that heightened level of risk into consideration when implementing the measures provided for by this Directive, especially regarding the individual assessment to identify victims’ protection needs, specialist support to victims and training and information for professionals likely to come into contact with victims.


      (20) The dissemination of images, videos or other material depicting sexually explicit activities or the intimate parts of a person without that person’s consent to the public by means of ICT should not be criminalised, where such non-criminalisation is necessary to safeguard the fundamental rights protected under the Charter, in particular the freedom of expression, including the freedom to receive and impart information and ideas in an open and democratic society, as well as the freedom of the arts and sciences, including academic freedom. Moreover, the offence should not cover the handling of material by public authorities, in particular to conduct criminal proceedings or to prevent, detect or investigate crime, and Member States should be able to exempt a person from responsibility under specific circumstances, for example where telephone or internet helplines handle material in order to report an offence to authorities.


      (26) The offence of cyber incitement to violence or hatred presupposes that the incitement is not expressed in a purely private context but publicly through the use of ICT. Therefore, it should require dissemination to the public, which should be understood as entailing making a given item of material which amounts to incitement to violence or hatred accessible, through ICT, to a potentially unlimited number of persons, namely making the material easily accessible to users in general, without requiring further action by the person who provided the material, irrespective of whether those persons actually access the information in question. Accordingly, where access to the material requires registration or admittance to a group of users, that information should be considered to be disseminated to the public only where users seeking to access the material are automatically registered or admitted without a human decision or without selecting to whom access is granted. In assessing whether material qualifies as amounting to incitement to hatred or violence, the competent authorities should take into account the fundamental right to freedom of expression as enshrined in Article 11 of the Charter.


      (33) In the case of domestic violence and violence against women, especially where committed by close family members or intimate partners, victims might be under such duress from the offender that they fear to reach out to the competent authorities, even if their lives are in danger. Therefore, Member States should ensure that their confidentiality rules do not constitute an obstacle for healthcare professionals to report to the competent authorities, where they have reasonable grounds to believe that there is an imminent risk of serious physical harm. Such reporting is justified because such acts might not be reported by those who experience or directly witness them. Similarly, instances of domestic violence or violence against women which affect children are often only intercepted by third parties noticing irregular behaviour or physical harm to the child. Children need to be effectively protected from such forms of violence and adequate measures promptly taken. Therefore, professionals who come into contact with child victims, including healthcare, social services or education professionals, should not be constrained by confidentiality rules where they have reasonable grounds to believe that serious physical harm has been inflicted on a child. Where professionals report such instances of violence, Member States should ensure that they are not held liable for breach of confidentiality. However, legal professional privilege should be protected, in accordance with Article 7 of the Charter, as justified by the fundamental role assigned to lawyers in a democratic society. Where provided for by national law, the clergy-penitent privilege, or equivalent principles applicable in order to safeguard the freedom of religion, should also be protected. In addition, the possibility for professionals to report such instances of violence is without prejudice to national rules on confidentiality of sources applicable in the context of the media.


      (42) Victims are often in need of specific support. To ensure they effectively receive offers of support, the competent authorities should refer victims to appropriate support services. That should, in particular, be the case where an individual assessment has found that the victim has particular support needs. When determining whether to refer child victims to support services, the best interests of those victims should be a primary consideration, as laid down in Article 24 of the Charter. Member States should ensure that the processing of related personal data by competent authorities is based on law, in accordance with the relevant provisions concerning the lawfulness of processing set out in Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council  and in accordance with Directive (EU) 2016/680 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Such law should include appropriate personal data safeguards that respect the essence of the right to data protection and provide for suitable and specific measures to safeguard the fundamental rights and the interests of individuals. Where competent authorities transfer victims’ personal data to support services for the purposes of victim referral, they should ensure that the data transferred are limited to what is necessary to inform the support services of the circumstances of the case, so that victims receive appropriate support and protection. A support service should only store personal data for as long as necessary and, in any event, for no longer than five years, or a shorter period of time if established in national law, after the last contact between the support service and the victim.


      (68) To effectively address negative consequences for children, support measures for children should include specialised psychological counselling adapted to the age, developmental needs and individual situation of the child, together with paediatric care where necessary, and be provided as soon as the competent authorities have reasonable grounds to believe that children might have been victims, including child witnesses. When providing support to children, the rights of the child, as laid down in Article 24 of the Charter, should be a primary consideration.

      Article 16: Individual assessment to identify victims’ protection needs

      4.   The individual assessment as referred to in paragraph 2 shall take into account the victim’s individual circumstances, including whether the victim experiences discrimination based on a combination of sex and any other ground or grounds of discrimination as referred to in Article 21 of the Charter (‘intersectional discrimination’), and, therefore, faces a heightened risk of violence, and the victim’s own account and assessment of the situation. It shall be conducted in the best interest of the victim, paying special attention to the need to avoid secondary or repeat victimisation.

      Article 23: Measures to remove certain online material

      4.   Member States shall ensure that the orders and other measures referred to in paragraph 1 are taken following transparent procedures and are subject to adequate safeguards, in particular to ensure that those orders and other measures are limited to what is necessary and proportionate and that due account is taken of the rights and interests of all relevant parties involved, including their fundamental rights in accordance with the Charter.

      Member States shall ensure that hosting service providers, other relevant intermediary service providers and content providers affected by an order as referred to in the second subparagraph of paragraph 1 have a right to an effective judicial remedy. Such right shall include the right to challenge such an order before the courts of the Member State of the competent authority that issued the order.

      Article 47: Freedom of the press and freedom of expression in other media

      This Directive shall not affect special liability regimes relating to fundamental principles on the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression in protected media which exist in Member States as of 13 June 2024, provided that such regimes can be applied in full compliance with the Charter.

    • Directive 2011/93/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography

      Preamble 

      (2) In accordance with Article 6(1) of the Treaty on European Union, the Union recognises the rights, freedoms and principles set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in which Article 24(2) provides that in all actions relating to children, whether taken by public authorities or private institutions, the child’s best interests must be a primary consideration. Moreover, the Stockholm Programme — An Open and Secure Europe Serving and Protecting Citizens (4) gives a clear priority to combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography.


      (6) Serious criminal offences such as the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography require a comprehensive approach covering the prosecution of offenders, the protection of child victims, and prevention of the phenomenon. The child’s best interests must be a primary consideration when carrying out any measures to combat these offences in accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA should be replaced by a new instrument providing such comprehensive legal framework to achieve that purpose.

    • Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence

      Preamble 


      (28) Aside from the many beneficial uses of AI, it can also be misused and provide novel and powerful tools for manipulative, exploitative and social control practices. Such practices are particularly harmful and abusive and should be prohibited because they contradict Union values of respect for human dignity, freedom, equality, democracy and the rule of law and fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter, including the right to non-discrimination, to data protection and to privacy and the rights of the child.


      (48) The extent of the adverse impact caused by the AI system on the fundamental rights protected by the Charter is of particular relevance when classifying an AI system as high risk. Those rights include the right to human dignity, respect for private and family life, protection of personal data, freedom of expression and information, freedom of assembly and of association, the right to non-discrimination, the right to education, consumer protection, workers’ rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, gender equality, intellectual property rights, the right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial, the right of defence and the presumption of innocence, and the right to good administration. In addition to those rights, it is important to highlight the fact that children have specific rights as enshrined in Article 24 of the Charter and in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, further developed in the UNCRC General Comment No 25 as regards the digital environment, both of which require consideration of the children’s vulnerabilities and provision of such protection and care as necessary for their well-being. The fundamental right to a high level of environmental protection enshrined in the Charter and implemented in Union policies should also be considered when assessing the severity of the harm that an AI system can cause, including in relation to the health and safety of persons.

      Article 1: Subject matter

      1.   The purpose of this Regulation is to improve the functioning of the internal market and promote the uptake of human-centric and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI), while ensuring a high level of protection of health, safety, fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter, including democracy, the rule of law and environmental protection, against the harmful effects of AI systems in the Union and supporting innovation.

    • Regulation (EU) 2016/1953 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on the establishment of a European travel document for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals

      Preamble 
      (22)Member States should respect their respective obligations under international and Union law, notably the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular the protection in the event of removal, expulsion or extradition provided for in Article 19 and the duty referred to in Article 24(2).

    • Directive (EU) 2024/1346 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection

      Preamble 


      (31) Applicants who are in detention should be treated with full respect for human dignity and their reception should be specifically designed to meet their needs in that situation. In particular, Member States should ensure that Article 24 of the Charter and Article 37 of the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child are applied.


      (38) In applying this Directive, Member States should seek to ensure full respect for the principles of the best interests of the child and of family unity, in accordance with the Charter, the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and, where applicable, the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.


      (75) This Directive respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised in particular by the Charter. In particular, this Directive seeks to ensure full respect for human dignity and to promote the application of Articles 1, 4, 6, 7, 18, 21, 24 and 47 of the Charter and has to be implemented accordingly.

      Article 19: General rules on material reception conditions and health care

      2.   Member States shall ensure that material reception conditions and health care received in accordance with Article 22 provide an adequate standard of living for applicants, which guarantees their subsistence, protects their physical and mental health and respects their rights under the Charter.

      Article 21: Reception conditions in a Member State other than the one in which the applicant is required to be present

      From the moment applicants have been notified of a decision to transfer them to the Member State responsible in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2024/1351, they shall not be entitled to the reception conditions set out in Articles 17 to 20 of this Directive in any Member State other than the one in which they are required to be present in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2024/1351. This shall be without prejudice to the need to ensure a standard of living in accordance with Union law, including the Charter, and international obligations.

    • Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on asylum and migration management

      Preamble 

      (46) In accordance with the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and with the Charter, the best interests of the child should be a primary consideration of Member States when applying this Regulation. In assessing the best interests of the child, Member States should, in particular, take due account of the minor’s well-being and social development in the short, medium and long term, safety and security considerations and the views of the minor in accordance with his or her age and maturity, including his or her background. In addition, specific procedural guarantees for unaccompanied minors should be laid down on account of their particular vulnerability, including the appointment of a representative.


      (48) In accordance with the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and with the Charter, respect for private and family life should be a primary consideration of Member States when applying this Regulation.


      (62) In order to guarantee the effective protection of the applicants' fundamental rights to respect for private and family life, the rights of the child and the protection against inhuman and degrading treatment because of a transfer, applicants should have a right to an effective remedy, limited to those rights, in accordance, in particular, with Article 47 of the Charter and the relevant case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union.


      (63) In order to facilitate the smooth application of this Regulation, Member States should in all cases indicate the Member State responsible in Eurodac after having concluded the procedures for determining the Member State responsible, including in cases where the responsibility results from the failure to respect the time limits for sending or replying to take charge requests, carrying out a transfer, as well as in cases where the Member State of first application becomes responsible or it is impossible to carry out the transfer to the Member State primarily responsible due to a real risk that the applicant will be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment within the meaning of Article 4 of the Charter as a result of the transfer to that Member State and subsequently another Member State is determined as responsible.


      (87) This Regulation respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles which are guaranteed in Union and international law, including in the Charter. In particular, this Regulation seeks to ensure full observance of the right to asylum guaranteed by Article 18 of the Charter as well as the rights recognised under Articles 1, 4, 7, 24 and 47 thereof. Member States should therefore apply this Regulation accordingly, in full observance of those fundamental rights.

      Article 16: Access to the procedure for examining an application for international protection

      3.   Where it is impossible for a Member State to transfer an applicant to the Member State primarily designated as responsible because there are substantial grounds for believing that the applicant, because of the transfer to that Member State, would face a real risk of violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights that amounts to inhuman or degrading treatment within the meaning of Article 4 of the Charter, the determining Member State shall continue to examine the criteria set out in Chapter II or the clauses set out in Chapter III of this Part in order to establish whether another Member State can be designated as responsible.

      Article 18 : Consequences of non-compliance

      1.   Provided that the applicant has been informed of his or her obligations and the consequences of non-compliance therewith in accordance with Article 11(1), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2024/1356 or Article 5(1) and 21 of Directive (EU) 2024/1346, the applicant shall not be entitled to the reception conditions set out in Articles 17 to 20 of that Directive in any Member State other than the one in which he or she is required to be present pursuant to Article 17(4) of this Regulation from the moment he or she has been notified of a decision to transfer him or her to the Member State responsible.

      The first subparagraph shall be without prejudice to the need to ensure a standard of living in accordance with Union law, including the Charter, and international obligations.

      Article 43: Remedies

      1.   The applicant or another person as referred to in Article 36(1), points (b) and (c), shall have the right to an effective remedy, in the form of an appeal or a review, in fact and in law, against a transfer decision before a court or tribunal.

      The scope of such remedy shall be limited to an assessment of:

      (a) whether the transfer would, for the person concerned, result in a real risk of inhuman or degrading treatment within the meaning of Article 4 of the Charter;

    • Directive 2011/95 - Standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection, and for the content of t

      Preamble 

      (10) This Directive respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised in particular by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. In particular this Directive seeks to ensure full respect for human dignity and the right to asylum of applicants for asylum and their accompanying family members.

      (16) This Directive respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised in particular by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.  In particular this Directive seeks to ensure full respect for  human dignity and the right to asylum of applicants for  asylum and their accompanying family members and to  promote the application of Articles 1, 7, 11, 14, 15, 16, 
      18, 21, 24, 34 and 35 of that Charter, and should  therefore be implemented accordingly.


      (34) With regard to social assistance and health care, the modalities and detail of the provision of core benefits to beneficiaries of subsidiary protection status should be determined by national law. The possibility of limiting the benefits for beneficiaries of subsidiary protection status to core benefits is to be understood in the sense that this notion covers at least minimum income support, assistance in case of illness, pregnancy and parental assistance, in so far as they are granted to nationals according to the legislation of the Member State concerned.

      (35) Access to health care, including both physical and mental health care, should be ensured to beneficiaries of refugee or subsidiary protection status.

      Article 2: Definitions
      For the purposes of this Directive the following definitions shall apply:
      (a) ‘international protection’ means refugee status and subsidiary protection status as defined in points (e) and (g);
      (d) ‘refugee’ means a third-country national who, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group, is outside the country of nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country, or a stateless person, who, being outside of the country of former habitual residence for the same reasons as mentioned above, is unable or, owing to such fear, unwilling to return to it, and to whom Article 12 does not apply; [...]
      (e) ‘refugee status’ means the recognition by a Member State of a third-country national or a stateless person as a refugee;
      (f) ‘person eligible for subsidiary protection’ means a third-country national or a stateless person who does not qualify as a refugee but in respect of whom substantial grounds have been shown for believing that the person concerned, if returned to his or her country of origin, or in the case of a stateless person, to his or her country of former habitual residence, would face a real risk of suffering serious harm as defined in Article 15, and to whom Article 17(1) and (2) does not apply, and is unable, or, owing to such risk, unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country;
      (g) ‘subsidiary protection status’ means the recognition by a Member State of a third-country national or a stateless person as a person eligible for subsidiary protection; [...]

      Article 13: Granting of refugee status
      Member States shall grant refugee status to a third-country national or a stateless person who qualifies as a refugee in accordance with Chapters II and III.‘

      Article 18: Granting of subsidiary protection status
      Member States shall grant subsidiary protection status to a third-country national or a stateless person eligible for subsidiary protection in accordance with Chapters II and V.‘

      Article 21: Protection from refoulement

      1.   Member States shall respect the principle of non-refoulement in accordance with their international obligations.

      2.   Where not prohibited by the international obligations mentioned in paragraph 1, Member States may refoule a refugee, whether formally recognised or not, when:

      (a) there are reasonable grounds for considering him or her as a danger to the security of the Member State in which he or she is present; or

      (b) he or she, having been convicted by a final judgement of a particularly serious crime, constitutes a danger to the community of that Member State.

      3.   Member States may revoke, end or refuse to renew or to grant the residence permit of (or to) a refugee to whom paragraph 2 applies.

      Article 22: Information

      Member States shall provide persons recognised as being in need of international protection, as soon as possible after the respective protection status has been granted, with access to information, in a language likely to be understood by them, on the rights and obligations relating to that status.

      Article 23: Maintaining family unity

      1.   Member States shall ensure that family unity can be maintained.

      2.   Member States shall ensure that family members of the beneficiary of refugee or subsidiary protection status, who do not individually qualify for such status, are entitled to claim the benefits referred to in Articles 24 to 34, in accordance with national procedures and as far as it is compatible with the personal legal status of the family member.

      In so far as the family members of beneficiaries of subsidiary protection status are concerned, Member States may define the conditions applicable to such benefits.

      In these cases, Member States shall ensure that any benefits provided guarantee an adequate standard of living.

      3.   Paragraphs 1 and 2 are not applicable where the family member is or would be excluded from refugee or subsidiary protection status pursuant to Chapters III and V.

      4.   Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 2, Member States may refuse, reduce or withdraw the benefits referred therein for reasons of national security or public order.

      5.   Member States may decide that this Article also applies to other close relatives who lived together as part of the family at the time of leaving the country of origin, and who were wholly or mainly dependent on the beneficiary of refugee or subsidiary protection status at that time.

      Article 26: Access to employment

      1.   Member States shall authorise beneficiaries of refugee status to engage in employed or self-employed activities subject to rules generally applicable to the profession and to the public service, immediately after the refugee status has been granted.

      2.   Member States shall ensure that activities such as employment-related education opportunities for adults, vocational training and practical workplace experience are offered to beneficiaries of refugee status, under equivalent conditions as nationals.

      3.   Member States shall authorise beneficiaries of subsidiary protection status to engage in employed or self-employed activities subject to rules generally applicable to the profession and to the public service immediately after the subsidiary protection status has been granted. The situation of the labour market in the Member States may be taken into account, including for possible prioritisation of access to employment for a limited period of time to be determined in accordance with national law. Member States shall ensure that the beneficiary of subsidiary protection status has access to a post for which the beneficiary has received an offer in accordance with national rules on prioritisation in the labour market.

      4.   Member States shall ensure that beneficiaries of subsidiary protection status have access to activities such as employment-related education opportunities for adults, vocational training and practical workplace experience, under conditions to be decided by the Member States.

      5.   The law in force in the Member States applicable to remuneration, access to social security systems relating to employed or self-employed activities and other conditions of employment shall apply.

      Article 27: Access to education

      1.   Member States shall grant full access to the education system to all minors granted refugee or subsidiary protection status, under the same conditions as nationals.

      2.   Member States shall allow adults granted refugee or subsidiary protection status access to the general education system, further training or retraining, under the same conditions as third country nationals legally resident.

      3.   Member States shall ensure equal treatment between beneficiaries of refugee or subsidiary protection status and nationals in the context of the existing recognition procedures for foreign diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications.

      Article 28: Social welfare

      1.   Member States shall ensure that beneficiaries of refugee or subsidiary protection status receive, in the Member State that has granted such statuses, the necessary social assistance, as provided to nationals of that Member State.

      2.   By exception to the general rule laid down in paragraph 1, Member States may limit social assistance granted to beneficiaries of subsidiary protection status to core benefits which will then be provided at the same levels and under the same eligibility conditions as nationals.

      Article 29: Health care

      1.   Member States shall ensure that beneficiaries of refugee or subsidiary protection status have access to health care under the same eligibility conditions as nationals of the Member State that has granted such statuses.

      2.   By exception to the general rule laid down in paragraph 1, Member States may limit health care granted to beneficiaries of subsidiary protection to core benefits which will then be provided at the same levels and under the same eligibility conditions as nationals.

      3.   Member States shall provide, under the same eligibility conditions as nationals of the Member State that has granted the status, adequate health care to beneficiaries of refugee or subsidiary protection status who have special needs, such as pregnant women, disabled people, persons who have undergone torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence or minors who have been victims of any form of abuse, neglect, exploitation, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or who have suffered from armed conflict.

    • Regulation (EU) 2024/1359 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 addressing situations of crisis and force majeure in the field of migration and asylum and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1147

      Preamble 

      (8) This Regulation respects the fundamental rights of third-country nationals and stateless persons and observes the principles recognised by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the ‘Charter’), in particular the respect and protection of human dignity, prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, respect for private and family life, the principle of the best interests of the child, the right to asylum and protection in the event of removal, expulsion or extradition, as well as the Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees of 28 July 1951, as supplemented by the New York Protocol of 31 January 1967 (the ‘Geneva Convention’). This Regulation should be implemented in compliance with the Charter and general principles of Union law as well as with international law. In order to reflect the primary consideration that must be given to the best interests of the child, in line with the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the need to respect family life, as well as to ensure the protection of the health of the persons concerned, safeguards should be applied in respect of minors and their family members, and of applicants for international protection (‘applicants’) whose state of health requires specific and adequate support. The rules and guarantees set out in Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 should continue to apply in respect of persons subject to the derogations provided for in this Regulation, except where this Regulation provides otherwise. The rules set out in Directive (EU) 2024/1346 of the European Parliament and of the Council (7), including those concerning the detention of applicants, should continue to apply from the moment an application for international protection is made.


      (18) In a situation of instrumentalisation, third-country nationals and stateless persons could apply for international protection at the external border or in a transit zone of a Member State, often being persons apprehended in connection with unauthorised crossings of the external border by land, sea or air or who are disembarked following search and rescue operations. This can lead, in particular, to an unexpected significant increase in the caseload of applications for international protection at the external borders. In that regard, effective and genuine access to the international protection procedure must be ensured in accordance with Article 18 of the Charter and the Geneva Convention.


      (42) In situations of crisis and force majeure, the Member State should be authorised to derogate from Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 in order to register applications for international protection no later than four weeks after they are made. Such an extension should be without prejudice to the rights of asylum applicants guaranteed by the Charter, Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 and Directive (EU) 2024/1346. Without prejudice to the exception provided for during the period between the request and the adoption of the Council implementing decision, in a situation of crisis, characterised by mass arrivals of third-country nationals and stateless persons, the extension of the registration period should only be applied during the time period set out in the initial Council implementing decision.

      Article 1: Subject matter

      2.   Temporary measures adopted pursuant to this Regulation shall meet the requirements of necessity and proportionality, be appropriate to achieving their stated objectives and ensuring the protection of the rights of applicants and beneficiaries of international protection, and be consistent with the obligations of the Member States under the Charter, international law and the Union asylum acquis. This Regulation shall not affect the fundamental principles and guarantees, established by the legislative acts from which derogations are allowed pursuant to this Regulation.

    • Directive 2011/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA

      Preamble 
      (1) Trafficking in human beings is a serious crime, often committed within the framework of organised crime, a gross violation of fundamental rights and explicitly prohibited by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Preventing and combating trafficking in human beings is a priority for the Union and the Member States.


      (8) Children are more vulnerable than adults and therefore at greater risk of becoming victims of trafficking in human beings. In the application of this Directive, the child’s best interests must be a primary consideration, in accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

      (10) This Directive is without prejudice to the principle of non-refoulement in accordance with the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (Geneva Convention), and is in accordance with Article 4 and Article 19(2) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.


      (33) This Directive respects fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised in particular by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and notably human dignity, the prohibition of slavery, forced labour and trafficking in human beings, the prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the rights of the child, the right to liberty and security, freedom of expression and information, the protection of personal data, the right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial and the principles of the legality and proportionality of criminal offences and penalties. In particular, this Directive seeks to ensure full respect for those rights and principles and must be implemented accordingly.

      Article 1: Subject matter

      This Directive establishes minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and sanctions in the area of trafficking in human beings. It also introduces common provisions, taking into account the gender perspective, to strengthen the prevention of this crime and the protection of the victims thereof.

    • Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection (recast)

      Preamble 
      (33) The best interests of the child should be a primary consideration of Member States when applying this Directive, in accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the Charter) and the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In assessing the best interest of the child, Member States should in particular take due account of the minor’s well-being and social development, including his or her background.

      (39) In determining whether a situation of uncertainty prevails in the country of origin of an applicant, Member States should ensure that they obtain precise and up-to-date information from relevant sources such as EASO, UNHCR, the Council of Europe and other relevant international organisations. Member States should ensure that any postponement of conclusion of the procedure fully complies with their obligations under Directive 2011/95/EU and Article 41 of the Charter, without prejudice to the efficiency and fairness of the procedures under this Directive.


      (60) This Directive respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised by the Charter. In particular, this Directive seeks to ensure full respect for human dignity and to promote the application of Articles 1, 4, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, and 47 of the Charter and has to be implemented accordingly.

      Article 13: Obligations of the applicants

      1. Member States shall impose upon applicants the obligation to cooperate with the competent authorities with a view to establishing their identity and other elements referred to in Article 4(2) of Directive 2011/95/EU. Member States may impose upon applicants other obligations to cooperate with the competent authorities insofar as such obligations are necessary for the processing of the application.

      2. In particular, Member States may provide that:

      (a) applicants are required to report to the competent authorities or to appear before them in person, either without delay or at a specified time;

      (b) applicants have to hand over documents in their possession relevant to the examination of the application, such as their passports;

      (c) applicants are required to inform the competent authorities of their current place of residence or address and of any changes thereof as soon as possible. Member States may provide that the applicant shall have to accept any communication at the most recent place of residence or address which he or she indicated accordingly;

      (d) the competent authorities may search the applicant and the items which he or she is carrying. Without prejudice to any search carried out for security reasons, a search of the applicant’s person under this Directive shall be carried out by a person of the same sex with full respect for the principles of human dignity and of physical and psychological integrity;

      (e) the competent authorities may take a photograph of the applicant; and

      (f) the competent authorities may record the applicant’s oral statements, provided he or she has previously been informed thereof.

      ...

      Article 30: Collection of information on individual cases

      For the purposes of examining individual cases, Member States shall not:

      (a) disclose information regarding individual applications for international protection, or the fact that an application has been made, to the alleged actor(s) of persecution or serious harm;

      (b) obtain any information from the alleged actor(s) of persecution or serious harm in a manner that would result in such actor(s) being directly informed of the fact that an application has been made by the applicant in question, and would jeopardise the physical integrity of the applicant or his or her dependants, or the liberty and security of his or her family members still living in the country of origin.

      ...

      Article 45: Procedural rules

      1. Member States shall ensure that, where the competent authority is considering withdrawing international protection from a third-country national or stateless person in accordance with Article 14 or 19 of Directive 2011/95/EU, the person concerned enjoys the following guarantees:

      (a) to be informed in writing that the competent authority is reconsidering his or her qualification as a beneficiary of international protection and the reasons for such a reconsideration; and

      (b) to be given the opportunity to submit, in a personal interview in accordance with Article 12(1)(b) and Articles 14 to 17 or in a written statement, reasons as to why his or her international protection should not be withdrawn.

      2. In addition, Member States shall ensure that within the framework of the procedure set out in paragraph 1:

      (a) the competent authority is able to obtain precise and up-to-date information from various sources, such as, where appropriate, from EASO and UNHCR, as to the general situation prevailing in the countries of origin of the persons concerned; and

      (b) where information on an individual case is collected for the purposes of reconsidering international protection, it is not obtained from the actor(s) of persecution or serious harm in a manner that would result in such actor(s) being directly informed of the fact that the person concerned is a beneficiary of international protection whose status is under reconsideration, or jeopardise the physical integrity of the person or his or her dependants, or the liberty and security of his or her family members still living in the country of origin.

      3. Member States shall ensure that the decision of the competent authority to withdraw international protection is given in writing. The reasons in fact and in law shall be stated in the decision and information on how to challenge the decision shall be given in writing.

      4. Once the competent authority has taken the decision to withdraw international protection, Article 20, Article 22, Article 23(1) and Article 29 are equally applicable.

      5. By way of derogation from paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Article, Member States may decide that international protection shall lapse by law where the beneficiary of international protection has unequivocally renounced his or her recognition as such. A Member State may also provide that international protection shall lapse by law where the beneficiary of international protection has become a national of that Member State. 

    6 results found

    • Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, Committee on the Rights of the Child, Joint general comment No. 4 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members...
    • Committee on the Rights of the Child General comment No. 15 (2013) on the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health (art. 24)
    • Committee on the Rights of the Child General comment No. 17 (2013) on the right of the child to rest, leisure, play, recreational activities, cultural life and the arts (art. 31)
    • Committee on the Rights of the Child, General comment No. 14 (2013) on the right of the child to have his or her best interests taken as a primary consideration (art. 3, para. 1 )
    • Committee on the Rights of the Child, General comment No. 20 (2016) on the implementation of the rights of the child during adolescence
    • Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, Committee on the Rights of the Child, Joint general comment No. 3 (2017) of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members...