What is the role of the Ombudsman for Children's Rights?

The Ombudsman for Children's Rights is competent to examine situations:

• French and foreigners children living in France,
• and French children living abroad.

The Ombudsman for Children's Rights intervenes in the following areas:

• Adoption and collection of children (e.g. adopted children stuck in their country of origin because they do not have an exit visa)
• Justice responsible for enforcing the penalties arising from the Criminal Code (contravention, offense, crime)
• Minor foreigners (children placed with their parents in an administrative detention center, access to the education of some children...)
• Child protection (e.g. use of child welfare)
• Health and disability (medical care for disabled children, etc.)
• Education (early childhood, schooling, after school).

The tasks of the Defender of Rights with children are as follows:

• Ensure that children's fundamental rights are respected (right to education, health, protection from violence and discrimination, etc.)
• Examine situations where children's rights are potentially treated with contempt (through the handling of complaints addressed to them). Example: When a child encounters difficulties in accessing school or an education adapted to his or her needs due to a disability. In this case, the Defender of Rights then acts as a mediator between the child, his family and the administration to resolve a conflict and try to find an amicable solution.
• Carry out awareness-raising, education and training activities on children's rights, targeting both young people themselves and the professionals who supervise them (teachers, social workers, educators, etc.)
• Contribute to public policy development by making recommendations to government and public institutions.
• Collaborate with institutions and professionals in the field of child protection, such as the juvenile judge, social services, schools.

The Defender of Rights can be contacted:

• by the child himself,
• by the parent(s), a family member or the legal representative (guardian, guardian, etc.) of the child,
• by a representative of a medical or social service,
• by an association for the defense of children's rights, regularly declared for at least 5 years.

The Defender of Rights may intervene on his own when he considers it necessary. It is said that he shall take it into its own motion.

You can contact the Defender of Rights online, by mail or go to meet a territorial delegate.

No, bringing a case before the Advocate is free.

The Defender of Rights seeks the most suitable solution for the child.

When investigating a complaint, the Defender of Rights may request the communication of any document or information, without the secrecy of the investigation being open to him.

It may inform:

• judicial authorities, if the case can justify a investment measure or concerns a minor involved in an ongoing proceeding,
• or the services of the department, if the case involves the intervention of the child welfare service (Ase).

The Defender of Rights may make general recommendations and propose any changes to legislation.

However, judges are not required to follow its recommendations.