Protecting children and promoting their rights "Never forget
promises made to children." In making this declaration in New
York on 11 December 2007, during a UN session on children,
Deputy Secretary General Maud de Boer-Buquicchio underlined the
Council of Europe’s policies to promote children’s rights. In
its advocacy of the rights of the child, the Council of Europe’s
policies are guided by the four P’s - protection of children,
prevention of violence, prosecution of criminals and
participation of children. The European Convention on the
Exercise of Children's Rights establishes procedural measures to
allow children to exercise their rights. It gives substance to
the obligation to provide children with relevant information on
matters such as custody, residence, access, questions of
parentage, legal guardianship and protection from cruel or
degrading treatment. The Convention on the Protection of
Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse is the
first international legal treaty which criminalises