In this webinar, Dr Elina Pekkarinen, Ombudsman for Children, Finland, presents findings from a project that examined the protection and promotion of the rights of children in alternative care in different European countries. In this project, more than 200 Young People from 14 European countries worked with their peers at the regional and national level to develop input and recommendations aimed at improving policies and services for children in alternative care. The recommendations were written and published by the European Network of Young Advisers ENYA (the report is available here).  The project also mapped the Ombudspersons' views of child’s rights and alternative care from 34 countries that are members of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children ( ENOC). The study, commissioned by Elina and ENOC members, and led by Professor Tarja Pösö. ⁠Click here to read the ENOC report. 

About the presenter

Elina was awarded her PhD in 2010 with a thesis examining the history of juvenile delinquency and child protection. The thesis was the first social work thesis in Finland to receive the highest grade of laudatur. After getting her PhD, Pekkarinen worked at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare for a brief time before accepting the position of Child Welfare Research Project Coordinator at the Finnish Youth Research Network.In 2013, Pekkarinen received three-year funding from the Academy of Finland for a postdoctoral research project on marginalised youth and children. The same year, she became a researcher for the Finnish Youth Research Network. After her postdoctoral research project was completed in 2016, Pekkarinen worked as Research Manager at the Finnish Youth Research Network. In 2019, she worked as Professor in Social Work at the University of Turku before being appointed Ombudsman for Children.

Pekkarinen has held numerous positions of trust, including the positions of Chairman of the Finnish Society for Childhood Studies from 2013 to 2017 and Expert Member in Child Welfare Cases at the Administrative Court of Helsinki from 2009 to 2019. She swore the oath of Judge in 2009.

The University of Helsinki awarded Pekkarinen the title of Docent in 2018. She has published numerous scientific articles and publications intended for a larger audience, as well as edited various scientific publications.

(Text reproduced from The Finnish Ombudsman for Children website)