On May 9 – 10 2005, the ministers responsible for children’s issues within the member countries of the Council of the Baltic Sea States met on the invitation of the Minister for Children and Family Affairs in Norway, Ms Laila Dåvöy.
The meeting was organised by the Ministry for Children and Family Affairs in Norway in cooperation with the Children’s Unit at the Secretariat of the Council of the Baltic Sea States. The whole cooperation on children at risk in the region was discussed and the participants listened to presentations related to the prioritised areas:
- Sexual exploitation of children
- The rights of children in institutions
- Unaccompanied and trafficked children
The Council of Europe presented their recent recommendation 2005:05 on the rights of children in institutions and experts gave presentations on alternatives to institutional placements and on improving the quality of care in existing institutions.
The Baltic Sea Regional Study on Adolescent Sexuality presented some preliminary findings.
The programme on Unaccompanied and trafficked children in the region of the Baltic Sea States was presented.
The overall work of the cooperation on children at risk and the use of the IT-tool, the Childcentre was presented.
The meeting agreed on conclusions to guide the work in the future. Conclusions included action points on: the Baltic Sea Regional Study on Adolescent Sexuality, the rights of children in institutions, Trafficking of children in the region, Regional cooperation between child protection services, streamlining the work of the cooperation and on avoiding all forms of duplication.