Economy - published on 24 February 2021
Source: European Commission
Today, the results of the report “Our Europe, Our Rights, Our Future” will be officially launched at a virtual event with Vice-President for Democracy and Demography, Dubravka
Šuica, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit and Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders. The views and suggestions of over
10,000 children between 11 and 17 years old will feed into the first-ever comprehensive Strategy on the rights of the child and the European Child Guarantee, to be presented by the Commission in
coming weeks. Speaking ahead of the event, Vice-President Šuica said: Children are the experts in the things that concern them. Participation, equality and inclusion are the
guiding principles for both the EU Strategy on the rights of the child and the Child Guarantee. We must and will ensure that all children have an equal start in life and thrive in this world,
free from fear and want. The upcoming Strategy strives to protect the rights of all children in the EU’s internal and external actions, and to mainstream children’s rights in EU policies
and instruments, within the EU and beyond. The upcoming European Child Guarantee aims to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and inequality by guaranteeing access to quality services for
children in need, such as early childhood education and care, education and play and leisure activities, healthcare, nutrition and housing. Today’s results show that one in five children in the
EU who responded to the survey are growing up unhappy and anxious for the future. A third of the children surveyed have experienced discrimination or exclusion. That rate rose to one-half when
consulting children with disabilities, migrants, ethnic minorities or those who identify as LGBTQ+. Child participation will be a key priority of the EU Strategy on the rights of the child. The
Commission has recently published a study on
child participation in EU political and democratic life, which will feed into the EU Strategy and to which over 200 children and young people contributed.
Read today’s report and press release.
