The Council of the Baltic Sea States is an intergovernmental political forum for regional cooperation. Consisting of 11 Member States and the European Union, it supports a regional perspective on global challenges. The Expert Group on Children at Risk gathers representatives from our 11 Member States to engage in dialogue, exchange and practical projects to promote children’s rights, to build stronger national child protection systems, to promote child-friendly justice and to contribute to non-violent childhoods.

The vision of the Children at Risk Expert Group for the Baltic Sea region (BSR) is that of a region where children enjoy their rights as recognised in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In our vision, effective national child protection systems offer comprehensive prevention, protection and support, thereby providing equal opportunities for all children to grow, develop and thrive free from all forms of violence.

Each child has equal opportunities and is offered meaningful opportunities for participation and active involvement in building a prosperous, safe and secure region for all. The mission of the CBSS Expert Group on Children at Risk is to contribute to the fulfilment of our vision for children by promoting children’s rights and bolstering national child protection systems, including legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect children from all forms of violence, through regional dialogue and practical cooperation.

The agreed strategy and annual work plans are executed by the Children at Risk Unit (CAR Unit) within the Permanent International Secretariat of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, under the guidance of the Expert Group. The CAR Unit provides secretarial and professional support to the Expert Group, builds and nurtures strategic partnerships, drafts relevant documents and reports, and develops and executes projects. The Expert Group and the CAR Unit at the CBSS Secretariat are fully committed to the mission of keeping children protected and safeguarded from actions that place them at risk of violence, abuse, exploitation, injury and any other harm.