Since 2009 POPS has had the privilege to be involved in the pan-European research project COPING. Led by the University of Huddersfield, and in partnership with research institutions and NGO’s from Germany, Sweden and Romania, COPING is a child-centred project which aims to investigate the characteristics of children with imprisoned parents, their vulnerability and resilience to mental health problems.
On the 6th November the three year project draw to a close with a pan-European conference entitled ‘Coping with a Parent in Prison: An Agenda for Policy Reform’ at the Musee du Cinquantenaire, Royal Museum of History and Arts in Brussels.
The COPING research strategy has had at its heart an emphasis on gathering knowledge directly from children and young people. During the course of the COPING project more than 800 children affected by parental incarceration have been interviewed in Britain, Sweden, Germany and Romania. Researchers have investigated factors including resilience and available social services for this vulnerable group of children. This is the first time a transnational EU funded project has focused on children of imprisoned parents on such a grand scale.
The conference aims to reveal findings and recommendations to EU policy-makers in an effort to ensure that the topic of children of imprisoned parents is recognized at all levels of the EU judicial and child’s rights arenas. Young people have been specifically invited to share their experiences and their perspectives on how their rights have been affected by the imprisonment of a parent.
As part of the day there will also be a panel of experts including UNICEF Brussels Senior Policy Advisor Verena Knaus, Children’s Commissioner Coordinator for Child’s Rights Margaret Tuite, World Health Organization Prison and Policy Officer Stefan Enggist and QUNO Representative for Human Rights and Refugees Rachel Brett who will take questions from invited guests, partners, and young people.
MEP Jean Lambert is scheduled to give the keynote speech and the event will be co-chaired by Deputy Ombudsman for Children Croatia Maja Gabelica Supljika.
If you are on Twitter you can follow the event using the hashtag #COPING6November.
Further information about the COPING project (including all academic and NGO partners) can be found on the website here: http://www.coping-project.eu/
