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European Agreement on Au Pair Placement facts for kids

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The European Agreement on Au Pair Placement is an important international agreement. It was created by the Council of Europe, which is an organization that works to protect human rights and democracy in Europe. This agreement was first signed in Strasbourg, France, on 24 November 1969. It officially started working on 30 May 1971.

This agreement helps to set clear rules for au pair placements. An au pair is usually a young person who lives with a host family in a foreign country. They help with childcare and light household tasks. In return, they get free accommodation, meals, and pocket money. The agreement makes it clear that an au pair is not seen as a regular domestic worker or a full-time student. Instead, they are considered to be part of the family, learning about a new culture and language.

Countries and the Agreement

Many countries have joined this agreement. When a country "signs" the agreement, it means they agree with its ideas. When they "ratify" it, they officially promise to follow its rules. Sometimes, a country might "denounce" the agreement, which means they decide to leave it.

Here are some of the countries that have signed or ratified the agreement:

  • Belgium: Signed on 24 November 1969.
  • Bulgaria: Signed on 9 March 2002.
  • Denmark: Signed and ratified on 29 April 1971. The agreement started for Denmark on 30 May 1971.
  • Finland: Signed on 17 June 1997.
  • France: Signed on 3 June 1970 and ratified on 5 February 1971. It started for France on 30 May 1971.
  • Germany: Signed on 2 October 1976 (when it was West Germany).
  • Greece: Signed on 22 August 1979.
  • Italy: Signed on 24 November 1969 and ratified on 8 November 1973. It started for Italy on 9 December 1973.
  • Luxembourg: Signed on 12 December 1969 and ratified on 24 July 1990. It started for Luxembourg on 25 August 1990. Luxembourg later decided to leave the agreement on 23 September 2002, and this took effect on 24 March 2003.
  • Moldova: Signed on 27 June 2001.
  • Norway: Signed and ratified on 29 April 1971. It started for Norway on 30 May 1971.
  • Spain: Signed on 24 January 1986 and ratified on 11 August 1988. It started for Spain on 12 September 1988.
  • Switzerland: Signed on 18 March 1970.

The idea of Sweden joining this agreement has also been discussed.

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