EU Strategy on the rights of the child
Omschrijving
Children’s rights are human rights. Every child in Europe and across the world should enjoy the same rights and be able to live free of discrimination, recrimination or intimidation of any kind.
This is a social, moral and human imperative on which children – who account for almost one in five people living in the EU (1 ) and one in three in the world (2 ) – and the wider community depends on. It is about ensuring all children can fulfil their potential and play a leading role in society– whether it be in fighting for fairness and equality, strengthening democracy or driving the twin green and digital transitions
This is why the protection and promotion of the rights of the child is a core objective of the European Union’s work at home and abroad (3 ). It is enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU ( 4 ) which guarantees the protection of children’s rights in implementing Union law. It cuts across all policy areas and forms part of the core priorities of the European Commission, as set out in President von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines (5 ).
This strategy’s overarching ambition is to build the best possible life for children in the European Union and across the globe. It reflects the rights and the role of children in our society. They inspire and are at the forefront of raising awareness on the nature and climate change crises, discrimination and injustice. They are as much the citizens and leaders of today as they are the leaders of tomorrow. This strategy seeks to fulfil our shared responsibility to join forces to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of every child; and to build together with children healthier, resilient, fairer and equal societies for all.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child(6) (UNCRC), which all EU Member States have ratified, continues to guide our action in this field. More than 30 years after its entry into force, significant progress has been made and children are increasingly recognised as having their own set of rights.
The Convention recognises the right of all children to have the best possible start in life, to grow up happy and healthy, and to develop to their full potential. This includes the right to live in a clean and healthy planet, a protective and caring environment, to relax, play, and enjoy cultural and artistic activities, and to enjoy and respect the natural environment. Families and communities also need to be provided with the necessary support so that they can ensure children’s wellbeing and development.
Never before have children across the EU enjoyed the rights, opportunities and security of today. This is notably thanks to EU policy actions, legislation and funding over the last decade, working alongside Member States. In past decades, the Commission has put forward important initiatives addressing child trafficking, child sexual abuse and exploitation, missing children, and on promoting childfriendly justice systems. We have elaborated and included child-friendly provisions in asylum and migration policies and law. We have stepped up efforts to make the internet safer for children and continue to combat poverty and social exclusion. The revamped 2017 EU Guidelines for the promotion and protection on the rights of the child were a milestone for children’s rights globally, together with the many humanitarian and developmental programmes promoting the right to health and education. The impact of these initiatives has largely improved the life of children in the EU, and the concrete fulfilment of their rights.
This progress was hard won but should not be taken for granted. Now is the time to build on those efforts, address persisting and emerging challenges and to define a comprehensive strategy to protect and promote children’s rights in today’s ever-changing world.
Too many children still face severe and regular violations of their rights. Children continue to be victims of different forms of violence; suffer from socio-economic exclusion and discrimination, in particular on the grounds of their sex, sexual orientation, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability – or that of their parents. Children’s concerns are not sufficiently listened to, and their views are often not considered enough in matters important to them.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges and inequalities and created new ones. Children have been exposed to increased domestic violence and online abuse and exploitation, cyberbullying (7 ) and more child sexual abuse material has been shared online ( 8 ). Procedures such as on asylum or family reunification experienced delays. The shift to distance learning disproportionately affected very young children, those with special needs, those living in poverty, in marginalised communities, such as Roma children, and in remote and rural areas, lacking access to internet connections and IT equipment. Many children lost their most nutritious daily meal, as well as access to services that schools provide. The pandemic also strongly affected children’s mental health, with a reported increase in anxiety, stress and loneliness. Many could not participate in sports, leisure, artistic and cultural activities that are essential for their development and well-being.
The EU needs a new, comprehensive approach to reflect new realities and enduring challenges. By adopting this first comprehensive strategy on the rights of the child, the Commission is committing to putting children and their best interests at the heart of EU policies, through its internal and external actions and in line with the principle of subsidiarity. This strategy aims to bring together all new and existing EU legislative, policy and funding instruments within one comprehensive framework. It proposes a series of targeted actions across six thematic areas, each one defining the priorities for EU action in the coming years. This will be supported by strengthening the mainstreaming of children’s rights across all relevant EU policies. The specific needs of certain groups of children, including those in situations of multiple vulnerabilities and facing intersecting forms of discrimination, are duly taken into account.
This strategy builds on previous Commission communications on the rights of the child (9 ), and on the existing legal and policy framework (10). It also contributes to achieving the aims of the European Pillar of Social Rights (11). The strategy is anchored in the UNCRC and its three Optional Protocols, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) (12) and will contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (13). It also links to the Council of Europe standards on the rights of the child, as well as with its Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016-2021) (14).
The strategy draws upon the substantive contributions from the European Parliament (15), Member States, child rights organisations, other stakeholders and individuals, collected during the preparatory phase, including through an open public consultation (16) and the 2020 European Forum on the Rights of the Child (17).
This strategy has been developed for children and together with children. The views and suggestions of over 10.000 children have been taken on board in preparing this strategy (18). Children have also been involved in preparing its child-friendly version (19). This marks a new chapter and an important step for the EU towards genuine child participation in its decision-making processes.
