Championing Children’s Rights: A Promise for Protection, Respect and Empowerment

Three years ago, we made a promise. We presented an EU Comprehensive Strategy on the Rights of the Child and a European Child Guarantee, developed together with children for children. We started from the principle that every child in Europe and across the world should enjoy the same rights and live free from discrimination, intimidation and violence of any kind. We not only committed to promote children’s rights, but to uphold them, fulfil them and be accountable for them. In a rapidly changing world, children suffer adversely from the pandemic, poverty and inequality, discrimination, armed conflicts, climate change, and in the virtual world. We have taken collective action with our European and international partners as well as with civil society organizations to continue strengthening the rights and quality of children’s lives in the EU and beyond.

Despite the progress made, we must recognise that violence against children remains a significant challenge both inside and outside the EU. Statistics underscore the urgency of our mission. For example: evidence suggests that an estimated 20% of children in Europe experience some form of sexual abuse, that suicide is the second leading cause of death among those aged 15-19, and that up to 29% of 15-year-olds reported being frequently bullied. According to the World Health Organisation, half of the world’s children experience some form of violence each year.

Violence against children can cost economies up to 8% of global GDP. Actions, and inaction, of governments have a greater impact on children than on any other group in society. Protecting them is both a legal and a moral imperative. It is also a strategic long-term investment in our societies. This situation compelled us to develop and adopt a Commission Recommendation on Integrated Child Protection Systems. This milestone is not just another policy document—it is the culmination of persistent efforts to ensure that every child's right to a safe and nurturing environment becomes more than just an ideal.

This Recommendation calls for a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, protection, and participation, ensuring that child protection systems are robust and responsive to the diverse needs of all children. This approach is critical as we tackle ongoing challenges such as online child sexual abuse and exploitation, socio-economic exclusion, the protection of children in migration, and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and safety.

Our actions have been guided by a simple yet powerful principle: "Nothing for us, without us." Using our new Children’s Participation Platform launched a few months ago, over 1,000 children have already actively contributed to shaping policies that affect their lives. From digital safety to combatting on and offline bullying and abuse, and from violence at schools to the situation of children in alternative care. Their voices have not only enriched our understanding but also steered the EU towards more child-centric policies.

The startling statistics on violence against children are not just numbers; they represent individual lives and destinies that we are committed to improving through decisive action and integrated support systems through a whole-of-society approach.

As we move forward, our Recommendation aims to fortify the existing framework by fostering greater collaboration among Member States, enhancing resource allocation, and ensuring that our legal and policy reforms translate into real-world protections.

In reflection, the progress this Commission has made in advancing children's rights and protections leaves a legacy that transcends political cycles. It is a collective achievement that not only improves protection but empowers our youngest citizens, encouraging their active democratic participation in shaping a more just and equitable society. This work must continue.

We still have a way to go to make our Child Rights Strategy a reality for all children, everywhere, but I am heartened by our progress. Our work has never been about short-term fixes, but about laying the groundwork for sustainable change —a vision that will continue to guide the Commission's dedication to children's rights, ensuring no child is left behind.