Provisions on the right of the child placed in alternative care to issue complaints

Children placed in alternative care are vulnerable to abuse and neglect. All services and institutions or facilities responsible for the care and protection of children should inform children about their rights, including their right to issue complaints against the alternative care personnel. Alternative care providers should therefore develop accessible, confidential and child-friendly reporting procedures.

Specific provisions on the rights of the child placed in alternative care to issue complaints

Note:
No information available for Slovenia.

Source: FRA, 2014

Key findings

  • In many EU Member States, there are no particular provisions addressing the situation and the vulnerability of children in alternative care and their right to issue complaints, including against alternative care personnel.
  • Even when specific provisions exist, children are not adequately and systematically informed about their rights. There is often no particular authority or person responsible for informing children about their rights, including their right to report and how to do it.

In 11 EU Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and the United Kingdom), there are specific provisions on the rights of children in alternative care to issue complaints.

When no particular provisions are in place, general provisions establishing the rights of children to report violations of their rights also apply to children in placement.