Interview to Thomas Hammarberg – To allow children to be themselves

Fondazione L’Albero della Vita met Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe and asked him what does it means to protect children’s rights.

About children left behind, Commissioner Hammarberg said:

One mistake that sometimes happens is that the adults believe that the child would not understand anyhow. But one should always explain what is going to happen so that child is prepared, and if the parents are migrating to another Country, leaving their child with grandparents or whoever, that is a dramatic event in the life of the child and should be explained and also argued that it is absolutely necessary in order for the child to take a position to this and if the child – which probably would be the case often – has a strong opinion, that should come up and should be discussed and negotiated. That would be the fully respect of the child in such situation.

See the extract of the Interview

children left behind, Council of Europe, CRC, Fondazione L'Albero della Vita, hammarberg, human rights