The Council of Europe: Convention on Contact Concerning Children

The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) is seeking views on whether the Government should ratify a Convention that aims to set out international principles on contact with children and help safeguard contact orders involving two members of the Council of Europe. It affirms that the child’s interests are paramount (a principle that has not previously been unequivocally accepted by all European courts and the European Court) and stresses the importance of meaningful contact with both parents after separation, when it is safe to do so.