International Relations

ENOC

The European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) is a non-profit association that brings together independent institutions dedicated to defending children's rights. More specifically, ENOC connects the independent offices of children's rights institutions established in European countries to promote the fundamental rights of children. Its mandate is to facilitate the promotion and protection of children's rights as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. ENOC holds an annual meeting each year.

ENOC aims to establish connections and share information and strategies with independent institutions dedicated to defending children's rights, including ombudspersons for children, children's rights commissioners, or children's rights focal points within national human rights institutions or ombudsman offices.

ENOC is non-profit and its objectives include:

• Promoting and safeguarding children's rights and developing strategies for the fullest possible implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Serving as a collaborative platform for information exchange, capacity building, and professional support among its members.
• Promoting the establishment of independent children's rights defense institutions worldwide and providing support to such initiatives while maintaining an overview of activities worldwide and sharing knowledge beyond ENOC.
• Facilitating contacts and support with and among other independent children's rights defense institutions worldwide and their networks.
• Advocating for awareness and policy work to ensure that relevant European bodies place children's rights at the center of their activities, legislation, and policies and adopt a child rights approach in their work.
• Promoting active participation of children and young people in decision-making processes, legislation, and policies that affect them. ENOC aims to implement such engagement and active participation of children and young people in all aspects of its work and decision-making, including through consultations, engagement, and other activities.
• Initiating and coordinating strategic policy and litigation interventions that concern children's rights, accepted by at least two-thirds of ENOC's full members.

AOMF

Role and mission:

The main mission of the Association des Ombudsmans et des Médiateurs de la Francophonie (AOMF) is to promote the role of Ombudsman and Mediator in the Francophonie and to encourage the development and consolidation of independent mediation institutions in the French-speaking world.

The Association helps French-speaking countries to set up new mediation institutions. It also offers its expertise to existing institutions. The AOMF and its members are committed to promoting and defending democracy, the rule of law and social peace throughout La Francophonie, and to ensuring respect for national and international texts on human rights, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Bamako Declaration.

In November 2013, at the end of the Dakar Congress the AOMF set itself five objectives:

• Supporting member institutions in their professional development (training and effective sharing of best practices)
• Strengthening institutions within their respective states
• Expanding and positioning AOMF in Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia
• Consolidating intervention in favor of children
• Intensifying internal and external communication.

With the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) as its main financial backer, AOMF liaises with the official bodies of the Francophonie, in particular the Délégation à la Paix, à la Démocratie et aux droits de l'Homme, which has supported AOMF's activities since its creation. AOMF's activities are in line with the provisions of Chapter V of the Bamako Declaration on the permanent observation and evaluation of the practice of democracy, rights and freedoms within the Francophonie.

The AOMF organizes a congress every three years, in close collaboration with the host institution.

Eurochild

Eurochild is a network of organizations and individuals working in and across Europe to promote the rights and well-being of children and young people.

Their network includes nearly 200 members in 41 countries. Eurochild works towards a society where children and young people grow up happy, healthy, confident, and respected in their rights as individuals, especially for disadvantaged and underprivileged children.

Eurochild achieves its goal by influencing policies, strengthening civil society capacity, facilitating mutual learning, and exchanging practices and research. They advocate for children's participation and active involvement in various aspects of their work.

Eurochild's work is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: an international human rights treaty that grants all children and young people a comprehensive set of rights.

Eurochild was established in 2004 by a group of organizations that previously worked together in the European branch of the International Forum for Child Welfare. Eurochild closely collaborates with the European Union, as the protection of children's rights is part of the EU's goals and values. Eurochild is a member of several networks and working groups, such as Social Platform, EAPN, European Public Health Alliance, the European Economic and Social Committee, Child Rights Connect, Lifelong Learning Platform, and the Steering Committee for Children's Rights.