“If not us then who?”

The EU is certainly one of the best places for a child to grow up: enjoying rights, opportunities and security. But this is not the case for all children, and there is more that can and needs to be done.

You might remember my blog post from last year, where I wrote about an atypical back-to-school period, and pointed to our commitment to invest more in the future of our children. We set an ambition to develop a comprehensive Strategy on the Rights of the Child and a European Child Guarantee, aimed at creating a framework that covers a broad range of issues and strengthens internal and external EU actions on children’s rights. As of last Wednesday, 24 March 2021, both the Strategy and Guarantee were adopted, and our pledge to achieve a child rights-based culture in our policy-making was reinforced further. Of course we need to feel proud that the European Union is one of the best places to be a child, but there is still more that needs to be done to reach our ambitious goals.

Child Rights Strategy

The key principles and ambitions of the Child Rights Strategy are to build the best possible life for children in the European Union and across the world, reflecting their rights and role in society. Every child should enjoy the same rights, and this Strategy reminds us of our humanity and our obligation to build together with children healthier, fairer, more resilient and equal societies for all.

Do you remember last year’s climate strikes and the youth that gathered to raise awareness on climate change? Many gathered were children. They inspire us and are at the forefront of raising awareness on nature and climate change, discrimination, injustice and much more. They are as much the citizens and leaders of today as they are the leaders of tomorrow.

This is why the Strategy has been developed for children and with children, to ensure that their  views are recognized and incorporated. The text of the Strategy will also be published in a child friendly version, co-created by children, for children. I am particularly thrilled about this, as it will help children understand the priorities of the Strategy, which is after all, theirs.

The Child Rights Strategy has 6 priority areas:

Child participation in the EU political and democratic life
 

“If not us, then who?”

(Boy, 16, 13th European Forum on the Rights of the Child, 2020)

Socio-economic inclusion, health and education

“A child that doesn’t go to school won’t be able to do much with his life, if you don’t go to school, you can’t do anything. School lets you open up to the world and talk to people. School is life.”
(Child seeking asylum, France).

The Child Rights Strategy reflects matters that children themselves have told us are important for them, so we based ourselves on the results of the very first open consultation conducted with children, including the voices of more than 10.000 children. This active involvement of children in the policymaking of the European Commission is unprecedented; I found it to be a very positive experience and we intend to continue this approach in the future. To remain inclusive and comprehensive, the Strategy secures the protection of children with disabilities, minority children, Roma, LGBTIQ, migrant and unaccompanied children, throughout all the different headings, or pillars as we call them, ensuring access to health, socio-economic inclusion and education, among others.

Violence against children

Not calm, feeling scared, feeling stressed, restless
(Bulgaria, 13-year-old boy)

Child friendly justice

It should be different from the justice for adults; children need conversations, somebody to talk to them, to see their daily life and then to take decisions what should be changed (Bulgaria)

Many children expressed the concern that they are not listened to sufficiently, and that their views are often not considered in matters which are important to them. We aim to change this. But it is not only their voices that we aim to strengthen. Too many children in the EU and worldwide face regular and severe violations of their rights and continue to be victims of violence. To tackle these challenges, the Strategy will address child trafficking, child sexual abuse and exploitation, missing children, and promote child-friendly justice systems, including in criminal law or in cross-border family law cases.

Child rights in the digital environment

 

“I didn't have a computer, the internet didn't reach my village, and I didn't have any data. I lost my uncle. (…) I didn't have the strength to connect to the classes. The teachers knew this, but they suspended me because I couldn't connect for the last three months, and I had to repeat.” (girl, 15, Spain)

The global dimension

“…My dream is to return home and play with my friends. I wish to see my town. Our homes were destroyed, there are no houses standing still anymore. There was nothing here, there were no schools except for tents. It is very cold here. Look at us.” (A girl from, Syria, 9 years old)

Let us remember that children are not by definition vulnerable, but are too often are placed in vulnerable situations. Consider how challenging it is to cope with our new lifestyles and how much more time we spend online since the COVID-19 outbreak. This pandemic has magnified existing challenges and vulnerabilities, and this is especially true for children. Children are exposed to increased domestic violence and more child sexual abuse material has been shared online. The shift to distance learning has particularly affected very young children, children with special needs, those living in poverty, in marginalised communities and in remote and rural areas, lacking access to internet connections and IT equipment. This Strategy will work on ensuring online safety for children and ensuring that children are equipped with the right tools for an equal start in life. It will help us create safe spaces, and ensure equal opportunities for all.

The Strategy also contains a strong emphasis on global action, as too many children worldwide suffer from human rights violations, poverty, poor living conditions, and exclusion. Many are affected by armed conflict and are increasingly the victims of International Humanitarian Law violations. Leading by example, the EU can become a key promoter and protector of children’s rights in the multilateral fora to help improve child rights across the globe.

European Child Guarantee

All children should have access to essential services such as early childhood education and care, healthcare, nutrition, housing and play and leisure activities. To help make this a possibility, we will also have the European Child Guarantee, focused on ‘children in need’, meaning those at risk of poverty or social exclusion, in the EU.

The Guarantee is an important instrument under the policy framework of the Child Rights strategy and is a key deliverable of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan. It encourages Member States to take action and focus investments, to close the gaps that children in need of support still have in gaining access to opportunities. It will also recommend that Member States provide a guarantee to children in need to improve access to basic services free of charge. There is a recommended set of policy measures and guidance on how best to implement these policies ; it proposes how to establish appropriate governance, monitoring and reporting mechanisms. All this has one objective: to give our children a better chance for an equal start in life.

Looking Forward

Children’s rights have come a long way since the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. We offer this ambitious, Comprehensive Strategy on the Rights of the Child as a joint endeavour and our roadmap for the years to come, to ensure a better future for our children. We all own it and owe it to present and future generations, who are the future of Europe, and to the children beyond the borders of our Union.  The responsibility to act now is on all our shoulders, as we move onwards towards the implementation of our proposed actions together with children. Because if not them, then who?