What is the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights?

The Charter of Fundamental Rights sets out in a single document the fundamental rights protected in EU law. It brings together the rights found in the EU Court of Justice case law, the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) and rights and principles arising from the constitutional traditions of EU Member States and their membership of other international human rights treaties. 

The Charter is binding on EU institutions and on Member States when they are acting within the scope of EU law. 

How does the EU Charter protect children’s rights?

The Charter includes a dedicated provision on children’s rights which draws upon the UNCRC. This provision (Article 24) sets out: 

• The right to care and protection 
• The right to express views freely 
• The best interests of the child principle 
• The right to know both parents 

The Charter also enhances and updates rights that already exits in other treaties such as the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This includes the right to education. 

Children’s rights under the Charter have been translated into practice through EU legislation, policy and case law. This has included areas as diverse as legislation on child-friendly justice, protecting the best interests of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and tackling youth unemployment and childhood obesity.  

For more information visit the EU Fundamental Rights Agency’s webpage