Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) spearheads and coordinates a pan-European network of organisations and individuals working with and for the estimated 700,000+ children affected by parental imprisonment in the EU; 2 million in Council of Europe countries. 

For over twenty years, COPE has been preventing and responding to violations of the rights of children with imprisoned parents, from arrest through to reintegration after the end of a prison sentence, ensuring their individual needs are met and their best interests are continuously assessed. COPE takes a systems approach to improving the lives of children with imprisoned parents, namely ensuring that the systems children come into contact with (welfare, social, justice, education, ...) are able to respect their rights and meet their needs, rather than expecting children to adapt to inadequate systems and supports.

The network has a secretariat based in Paris. Over 140 members and affiliates cover 30 Council of Europe and 27 EU Member States. Member and affiliate organisations are mostly grassroots NGOs offering supports to children with parents in prison and their families. Individual members and affiliates are experts who work or have worked in the field, including academics.

COPE helps to build the capacity of members and advocates alongside them and at international levels for child-rights-based, gender-sensitive societies and justice systems, working to identify and help to fill systems gaps. 

Judicial Roundtables 

NB: COPE has hosted a series of roundtables bringing together judges, prosecutors, legal academics, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to promote better protection of children's rights during a parent's criminal court proceedings. If you are interested in attending or co-hosting future events, please contact COPE. 

I. Poland, 2022

II. Romania, 2023

III. Online, 2024

IV. Portugal, 2025 (information forthcoming)