Latest information 

  • 19 March 2024 

    Presentation of the Annual Report 2023 and Work Programme until the end of the legislative term 2019-2024 to the Committee on Legal Affairs. 

    On Tuesday 19 March 2024, the EP Coordinator on Children’s Rights Vice President Ewa Kopacz presented her Annual Report 2023 and work programme 2024 to the Committee on Legal Affairs. This report provides a summary of the main activities undertaken by the Coordinator and her Office during the year together with planned initiatives for 2024 under three main headings reflecting the main responsibilities under her Mandate:

    • Coordination of the EP activities in the field of children’s rights.
    • International child abduction and other cross-border family disputes.
    • Specific issues in the field of children’s rights.

    During her presentation, the Coordinator highlighted some of the initiatives undertaken by her during the last year including her work with the Committee on Legal Affairs on cross-border family law issues together with an overview of her experience of the situation of children victims of parental child abduction since her term began in 2019. She also provided the Committee with a brief synopsis of the revised mandate of the EP Coordinator as endorsed by the Bureau of Parliament in November 2023. The revised mandate will further embed the Coordinator as a formal body representing Parliament on children’s rights and strengthen Parliament’s commitment and obligations in respect to the rights of the child for the parliamentary term to come.

    As her mandate comes to an end in July 2024, the Vice President thanked the Committee on Legal Affairs for its unwavering support and great cooperation with her and her Office during the last five years.

  • 23 February 2024 

    Revised mandate of the European Parliament Coordinator on Children’s Rights and its Office 

    Background. On 20 November 2023, the Bureau of Parliament endorsed the recommendations presented by Ewa Kopacz, Vice-President and the EP Coordinator on Children’s Rights, to revise the mandate of the EP Coordinator to support Parliament’s commitment to promote and protect the rights of the child for the next legislative period 2024-2029.

    The revision of the mandate is based on the experience of Vice President Kopacz as the first EP Coordinator to complete a full parliamentary term following the establishment of the Office in 2018, and builds upon the work of her predecessors (McGuinness 2016, Morin-Chartier 2018 and Corazza Bildt 2019).

    The revised mandate, accompanied by a detailed set of internal recommendations has three main elements and incorporates a comprehensive set of actions:

    • To strengthen, support and clarify the role and function of the EP Coordinator and her/his Office as Parliament’s body responsible for promotion and protection of the rights of the child and to represent Parliament’s position on children’s rights in an impartial and expert way in the main areas of activities as enshrined in the current mandate;
    • To increase the visibility of the EP Coordinator both within the Parliament and outside;
    • To provide mechanisms and instruments to support the EP Coordinator’s activities.


    The set of actions under the revised mandate is as follows:

    • Embed and empower the position of the EP Coordinator on Children’s Rights as the formal representative body of Parliament on children’s rights and ensure the EP Coordinator represents Parliament independently from his/her political affiliation.
    • Further strengthen cooperation and support to parliamentary committees in their work on children’s rights.
    • Develop in-house expertise and knowledge sharing on children’s rights, including through research and studies in cooperation with parliamentary committees and independently, and through increased cooperation with external experts on various child rights issues covered by the mandate of the Coordinator.
    • Confirm the role of the EP Coordinator and the Office to maintain direct contact with citizens that relate to individual cross-border family law issues only. The role of the Office in responding to individual enquiries from citizens is to provide information and guidance on the possible steps the citizen could take, including information on cross-border family mediation where appropriate.
    • Continue to focus its activities on international family law and cross-border family law policy and developments through engagement with stakeholders, studies and promoting best practices, especially in the area of cross-border family law, cross-border family mediation and child-friendly justice, based also on the knowledge and experience gained via direct enquires from citizens.
    • Increase the visibility of the role, function and activities of the EP Coordinator through official EP communication channels, awareness raising and use of in-house communication tools both within the Parliament and with external stakeholders. This increased visibility and communication aims to provide clarity and limit misunderstandings or confusion with any political activities undertaken by other unofficial gatherings and groupings of Members, for both internal and external stakeholders on the role and function of the Coordinator.
    • Ensure appropriate support to the EP Coordinator in carrying out his/her function through the Office of the EP Coordinator on Children’s Rights. Due to its inseparable connection concerning international private law and family law, the Office and its staff is administratively part of the Committee on Legal Affairs’ Secretariat in DG IPOL under the responsibility of its Head of Unit.
  • 20 November 2023 

    World Children’s Day, 20 November 2023 

    “When a child laughs, the whole world laughs” are the words of Janusz Korczak[i], an outstanding teacher whose work became the basis for our modern understanding of children's rights and subsequent work on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Although this Parliament works every day on many topics for children, such as the European Child Guarantee discussed today, we must clearly say to ourselves - it is still not enough. Millions of children both in Europe and around the world have no reason to smile today.

    Armed conflicts, poverty, climate change, violence against children both in the real world and online, lack of access to education and health care, and to psychological and social support so needed in the crises of recent years still deprive children of their rights and their childhood across Europe. These issues shape and also influences subsequent generations, which means that it also determines the future of all of us.

    There are over twenty armed conflicts taking place around the world today, and children always pay the highest price in such conflicts. I want to strongly emphasise today - children in Ukraine, children in Gaza and Israel, in Sudan and wherever adults fight their wars, have the same right to live, to grow up and develop being safe, loved and respected. This right is universal, inalienable and does not depend on which country and on which side of the wall the child is born.

    Today, as we celebrate World Children's Day, let us also look at ourselves. How often do we ignore children's problems just because they seem too small and trivial compared to the problems of adults? How often do we treat children not as subjects of rights but as objects, property of parents, communities or nations? We discuss children's rights so often in this Parliament, and we still so rarely ask children themselves what they need and how they see the world around them.

    Finally, I would like to quote once more from Janusz Korczak - "A child has the right to be himself. Has the right to make mistakes.  Has the right to have its own opinion.  Has the right to respect. There are no children – there are people.” this should always guide our daily work in the European Parliament and beyond.

    Side events on the day

    1. Speech to the European Parliament at the plenary joint debate 20 November 2023 - Children first - strengthening the Child Guarantee, two years on from its adoption - Reducing inequalities and promoting social inclusion in times of crisis for children and their families: You can view the speech here

    2. Message of the European Parliament as EP Coordinator on Children’s Rights.
    Please note by clicking on these links you will be redireted to an external platform:

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    3. Collaboration with UNICEF - interview with young people on World Children’s Day 2023: https://twitter.com/UNICEF_EU/status/1726535797124509945

    [i] Janusz Korczak was the pen name of Henryk Goldszmit, who was born in Warsaw on 22 July 1878 or 1879, and murdered in the Treblinka death camp on 5 or 6 August 1942.

  • 26-27 June 2023 

    EU Children’s Participation Platform - General Assembly 26-27 June 2023 

    The first General Assembly of the EU Children’s Participation Platform brought together over 60 children and teenagers from across Europe with policy makers, national representatives, international organisations and civil society organisations to discuss key issues including children’s rights, climate action, child poverty, and the protection of children from violence. The EU Children’s Platform provides a safe space for children and teenagers to engage on topics that matter to them at the EU level.

    At the invitation of Ms Ewa Kopacz, EP Coordinator on Children’s Rights, the young people and accompanying adults visited the European Parliament on the first day of the General Assembly.

    On the second day of the General Assembly Vice President Ewa Kopacz participated in a very interesting discussion with the young participants.

    You can watch the full discussion here.

    I hope that the Children’s Participation Platform will both encourage and inspire young people to become involved in the democratic process. Young people always bring a fresh and interesting perspective to the table. As law and policy makers, we not only have an obligation to listen but also to reflect these ideas in the work we do in the European Parliament too” Ewa Kopacz

    For more information on the EU Children’s Participation Platform, please see here:

    https://eu-for-children.europa.eu/home

  • 30 May 2023 

    30th Anniversary of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Intercountry Adoption 

    On 30 May 2023, at the request of Vice President Kopacz, the Committee on Legal Affairs organised an exchange of views on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on protection of children and cooperation in respect of intercountry adoption.

    In her opening remarks, Vice President Kopacz noted that sadly, the reality is that not every child can grow up in the care of their birth families, and where it is not possible for the child to remain in their care, adoption can give the child a permanent loving and stable family. In intercountry adoptions, we need to put in place specific safeguards to prevent the exploitation of children, birth families and adoptive parents. She also spoke about the issue of illegal adoption in or from States that are not party to the Convention, and the real threat of illegal adoptions in situations of armed conflict.

    Ms Laura Martínez-Mora, representing the Hague Conference on Private International Law then provided the Committee with an excellent account of the state of play 30 years on, including the progress made, for example, in the legal framework and procedures in adoption practice. She also noted the better cooperation between States. She addressed the remaining challenges including weak or deficient child protection services.

    Looking at the minimum safeguards that should be in place to ensure the protection of children and avoid illicit practices in inter-country adoption, she presented the ‘Toolkit for preventing and addressing illicit practices’ officially published on 1 June 2023. This toolkit provides practical guidance on identifying and dealing with illicit practices and on enhancing cooperation between States.

    This Toolkit will be an invaluable tool to safeguard children, birth families and adoptive parents in the intercountry adoption procedure.

    Toolkit for Preventing and Addressing Illicit Practices in Intercountry Adoption / Hague Conference on Private International Law Working Group on preventing and addressing illicit practices in intercountry adoption, June 2023

    The Toolkit is also available in French.

    Presentation to the Committee on Legal Affairs on 30th Anniversary of the Hague Convention of Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Intercountry Adoption - Laura Martínez-Mora, Hague Conference on Private International Law.

    More information on the 1993 Adoption Convention is available on the Adoption Section of the HCCH website.

  • 20 April 2023 

    Ukraine - Joint Inter-institutional Mission to Kyiv. 

    On 20 April at the invitation of Ms Oksana Zholnovych, Minister for Social Policy Ukraine, the first joint mission of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council to Ukraine following the full-scale aggression of Russia took place in Kyiv. The focus of this mission was twofold, to understand the impact and effects (current and future) of the war on Ukrainian children and to share knowledge on child protection systems in line with global best practice.

    Representing the European Parliament, Vice President Ewa Kopacz, EP Coordinator on Children’s Rights together with Vice President of the European Commission Dubravka Šuica and Camilla Waltersson Grönvall, Swedish Minister of Social Services, representing the Presidency of the Council of the European Union led the EU delegation in extensive discussions with their Ukrainian counterparts.

    Over the course of the day, the delegation heard about the key issues and challenges as a result of the Russian aggression in Ukraine on the lives of children, including the impact of the war on their mental and physical health and wellbeing, their access to education and essential services including childcare & child support services.

    The discussions also included the future reform of the child protection system, including the departure from large institutional care settings and transition towards family and community based care for children.

    The concern for children illegally deported or retained in Russia or in occupied territories, and the urgency in seeking their return was raised by First Lady Olena Zelenska and the Presidential Commissioner for Children Daria Herasymczuk

  • 21 March 2023 

    Presentation of the Annual Report 2022 and Work Programme 2023 to the Committee on Legal Affairs. 

    On Tuesday 21 March 2023, the EP Coordinator on Children’s Rights Vice President Ewa Kopacz presented her Annual Report 2022 and work programme 2023 to the Committee on Legal Affairs. This report provides a summary of the main activities undertaken by the Coordinator and her Office during the year together with planned initiatives for 2023 under three main headings reflecting the main responsibilities under her Mandate:

    1. Coordination of the EP activities in the field of children’s rights.
    2. International child abduction and other cross-border family disputes.
    3. Specific issues in the field of children’s rights.

    During her presentation, the Coordinator highlighted some of the initiatives undertaken by her during the last year including on the devastating impact and consequences of the war on Ukrainian children, the changes in EU cross-border family law and the mental health of children. She acknowledged with appreciation the great cooperation and engagement by the Committee on Legal Affairs during 2022 on cross-border family law matters and the cooperation with other relevant committees that deal with the rights of the child under their respective competences during this period.

  • 1 March 2023 

    Debate on the violation of international law and human rights of children from Ukraine forcibly deported to or retained in Russia 

    At the request of the EP Coordinator on Children's Rights, Vice President Ewa Kopacz the Subcommittee on Human Rights organised an exchange of views on 1 March 2023 on the deportation of children to Russia from Ukraine. The aim of the meeting was to focus attention on the plight of children forcibly deported to Russia from Ukraine and to discuss the significance of such action under international and humanitarian law, in follow up to the recommendations outlined in the European Parliament Resolution on 15 September 2022.


    In her opening remarks, VP Kopacz underlined, "that while the estimated number of children taken to Russia stands at over 16.000, it is widely understood that the actual figures are far higher". While she spoke about the necessity to ensure that those responsible for the forced deportation of Ukrainian children are brought to justice, she stressed the most pressing actions must be to ensure the fast return of the children to their families and caregivers in Ukraine.


    Speaking on behalf of the European Commission, Vice President Dubravka Šuica, Commissioner for Democracy and Demography strongly condemned Russia's deportation of children to Russia as a violation of international law and international human rights law. She outlined the Commission initiatives to support the return of children to Ukraine and highlighted the collection of evidence as essential for the prosecution of those responsible.


    The invited experts highlighted the difficulties in locating missing children, the systematic process undertaken by Russian authorities to integrate Ukrainian children into Russian society in contravention of international law and on the evidence of violation of international and human rights laws. All speakers stressed the need to establish information about the status and situation of missing and deported children with a view to ensure they return home alongside the need for systematic collection of evidence to prosecute those responsible.


    The Coordinator will continue to work closely with the Subcommittee on Human Rights on the follow up recommendations from the meeting.


    You can follow the entire debate here from minute 17.35.

    Draft programme.

  • 01 June 2022 

    What’s new in EU family law? High-level conference on the Brussels IIb Regulation 

    On 8 September 2022 Ewa Kopacz, European Parliament Vice President and EP Coordinator on Children’s Rights together with Didier Reynders the European Commissioner on Justice co-hosted a conference entitled “ What’s new in EU family law? : High-level conference on the Brussels IIb Regulation”.

    This high-level conference brought together experts in EU family law to address the novelties and important changes introduced by the Brussels IIb Regulation, which entered into application on 1 August 2022. Participants took part in a moderated discussion on the topic through a Q & A session with interpretation provided in 10 languages (EN, DE, FR, ES, IT, PL, PT, EL, BG, RO).

    The conference aimed to reach out to judges, lawyers, mediators, academics Central Authorities, child protection officials, NGOs and Children’s rights organisations engaged in cross-border family cases in EU Member States, Western Balkan and EFTA countries.

    Conference Material: 
    Speaker Presentations (EN): 
      
  • 21 April 2022 

    Exchange of views on the risk of illegal adoption concerning Ukrainian children from institutional care fleeing the war 

    Upon the request of the European Parliament Coordinator on Children’s Rights Ewa Kopacz, the Committees on Legal Affairs and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs held an extraordinary meeting on 21 April 2022 to discuss with invited experts the risk of illegal adoption of children fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

    The invited experts addressed the legal and welfare concerns of illegal adoption of Ukrainian children displaced following the Russian invasion. They agreed that the protection of children fleeing the war from abuse and exploitation and safeguarding their best interests is the key priority.

    The speakers stressed that the arrival of large numbers of children from Ukraine should not be a justification to lower protection standards, safeguarding measures or to circumvent international law on intercountry adoption. They recalled that intercountry adoption should not take place in situations of armed conflict.

    To ensure the full protection of the rights of children coming from Ukraine, speakers highlighted the importance of integration into the national child protection, education and healthcare systems. They also called for mandatory screening and a data sharing mechanism among the competent national authorities in receiving countries.

    The experts urged close contact and communication between the competent receiving authorities with their Ukrainian counterparts responsible for the care of children in institutional care. Finally, they raised concern about the illegal transfer of children to Russia and cautioned that amendments to Russian legislation are being developed in order to accelerate adoptions from Ukraine.


    Background


    Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, more than five million people have been forced to leave their homes and seek refuge. Almost half of those fleeing are minors, according to UNICEF, and in need of enhanced protection, as they run a bigger risk of falling victim to trafficking, illegal adoption and exploitation.


    On 7 April, Parliament adopted a resolution calling for greater protection of children fleeing war in Ukraine, particularly vulnerable children, for the registration of children entering the EU from institutional care, as well as monitoring their well-being and location in the EU. MEPs called on member states to halt child adoptions in order to avoid further or permanent separation of children from their parents and families against their best interests.

    A recording of the full discussion is available on the Parliament’s Multimedia Centre

    /news/en/press-room/20220412IPR27120/ukraine-dangers-related-to-illegal-adoption-of-children-fleeing-war


  • 15 March 2022 

    Presentation of the Annual Report 2021 and Work Programme 2022 to the Committee on Legal Affairs. 

    On Tuesday 15 March 2022, the EP Coordinator on Children’s Rights presented her annual report 2021 and work programme 2022 to the Committee on Legal Affairs. This report provides a summary of the main activities undertaken by the Coordinator and her Office in 2021 together with the work programme for 2022 under three main headings reflecting the main responsibilities under her Mandate:

    1. Coordination of the EP activities in the field of children’s rights.
    2. International child abduction and other cross-border family disputes.
    3. Specific issues in the field of children’s rights.

    The Coordinator began her presentation to the Committee on the humanitarian crisis caused by Russian aggression on Ukraine. She addressed the impact of the war on vulnerable children, in particular those arriving from Ukraine to the European Union seeking urgent life-saving medical treatments, unaccompanied children and children coming from institutional care settings. She urged the Committee to promote the implementation of measures to protect the rights and interests of this particular cohort of children whilst in the care of the Member States.

    She then provided the Committee with an overview of the key work carried out in 2021, highlighting in particular the work undertaken in cooperation with the Committee on Legal Affairs, other committees in Parliament and external bodies to promote and progress children’s rights and her work to improve the situation of children in cross-border family law disputes.

  • 2020 - 2021 

    Covid-19 information 

    Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting the resolution of cross-border family disputes, including parental child abduction cases

    The timely resolution of judicial proceedings involving children is crucial to ensure their best interests and wellbeing.

    Every effort should be made by national courts and administrations to resolve parental child abduction proceedings.

    The Hague Conference on Private International Law published the Covid-19 Toolkit - a compilation of relevant guidance and resources designed to assist users of the relevant Hague Conventions in these challenging times and beyond.

    The Toolkit is divided into two categories: international child protection and family matters and international legal cooperation, litigation and dispute resolution.

    Covid-19’s influence on the justice systems and judiciaries across the EU

    Due to the necessary restrictions imposed by governments to reduce the spread of Covid-19, difficulties in maintaining court-ordered or mediated access agreements are affecting separated families.

     To follow the measures taken by the member states governments with respect to the functioning of justice systems and judiciaries, a special website on this has been set up as part of the e- Justice Portal, which is regularly updated.

     The Council of Europe created a similar tool on its website, where people can consult the changes introduced by countries in the field of justice.

  • 20 November 2021 

    Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 

    On the occasion of the anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 20 November 2021, I extend my warm wishes to children, their parents and guardians and all those who work with passion and dedication to ensure children’s rights are recognised, promoted and protected in society.

    The Convention has never been more relevant than it is today, we have a duty and a responsibility to ensure that the progress made, since the Convention was drafted over thirty years ago, in recognising the rights of the child, is not diminished but strengthened as we begin economic and societal recovery from the covid-19 pandemic.

    Advances in science, medicine, technology and law have brought many benefits to the lives of children, but our world also faces many challenges including from climate change, war, political and social unrest, poverty, violence and abuse both in the physical and digital world.

    I believe that the publication of the first ever EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child earlier this year is a significant step forward in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child in the EU. As law and policy makers, we have a collective duty now to ensure the goals of the strategy are fully realised. This comprehensive strategy covering six thematic areas is all the more valuable because of the direct involvement and participation of children in its drafting.

    The participation of children in this strategy provides us with an excellent example of the valuable contribution children can make to the decision making process in the political and democratic life of the EU. Our policies and laws will be enriched and more tuned to the needs of children if we listen and enable children to participate. Today, I would like to ask our decision makers to endorse and encourage children’s real engagement in the development of policies that effect their lives, be that at local, regional, national or EU level.

    I am very aware that 22.2% of children living in the EU today are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. This is not acceptable. The proposal for a Child Guarantee is a significant tool to help address and alleviate this issue by the Member States.

    The European Union not only has a responsibility to address the rights of the child within our community, but also to work to ensure the rights of the child are respected in our external actions and relations with countries outside the EU. On this the anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, we must renew our commitment to protect children, especially those living in poverty, conflict zones and at risk of violence.

    I would like to thank my colleagues, Members of the European Parliament, for their dedication and commitment to promote and protect the rights of the child in their work as reflected in many political discussions, policy documents and legislative proposals of the parliamentary committees. As we begin to address the challenges facing our societies post pandemic, we must remain vigilant to the impact these may have on children. I am confident that child rights will remain high on the agenda of the European Parliament.

    All children deserve a peaceful childhood and a hopeful future, to receive adequate care and protection and fully enjoy their rights as outlined in the UNCRC. Today is a day to remind ourselves in the European Union of our commitment to children and to redouble our efforts to ensure our actions in law, in policy and in practice reflect, fully promote, and protect the rights of the child.

    Ewa Kopacz

    Vice President and European Parliament Coordinator on Children’s Rights

  • 28 June 2021 

    Child protection under EU law 

    On Monday 28 June, the EP Coordinator on Children’s Rights co-hosted a public hearing on the needs of children in civil, administrative and family law proceedings with the Committee on Legal Affairs. One of the key themes of the meeting was child-friendly justice.

    The hearing heard from experts on the rights and needs of children in such proceedings, the measures necessary to achieve child-friendly justice, how cross border cooperation between judicial systems and authorities involved in proceedings works in practice, as well as the use of mediation, as a child friendly tool in family law disputes.

    The outcome of the discussion will contribute to the upcoming Committee on Legal Affairs own-initiative report on "Protecting the rights of the child in civil, administrative and family law proceedings".

    More information on public hearing on Child protection under EU law.

  • 28 June 2021 

    Children and adolescence mental health in post Covid -19 Europe 

    On Monday 28 June, on the initiative of the EP Coordinator on Children’s Rights, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) held an exchange of views on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and adolescents.

    During this exchange, the European Commission DG Sante and DG Just shared the outcomes of the conference “Mental health and the pandemic: living, caring, acting!” together with the key elements embedded in the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child on mental health. The OECD presented the main findings from the research “Supporting young people’s mental health though the Covid -19 crisis”. The presentations were followed by the discussion with the EP Coordinator and Members of ENVI Committee.

  • 11-12 June 2021 

    Amicable project 

    The AMICABLE project aims to provide assistance for the cross-border recognition and enforceability of mediated family agreements in the EU. It also seeks to promote a tried-and-tested model for incorporating mediation into international child abduction proceedings in the EU. It is hoped that the results of the AMICABLE project will thus help to promote mediation in cross-border family disputes within the EU.

    This project is supported by the Office of the European Parliament Coordinator on Children's Rights, the Office is represented in the project steering committee. The Coordinator addressed remotely the national seminar in Poland on 18-19 March 2021 and the final conference on 11th June 2021, Berlin, Germany. The AMICABLE is an EU co-funded project which has the overarching aim of improving the situation of children in cross-border parental responsibility disputes and child abduction cases within the EU. The project started in March 2019 and is running for a period of 24 months.

  • 26 May 2021 

    Workshop on mainstreaming children's rights in EU legislation 

    On 26 May 2021, the Policy Department for Citizens Rights and Constitutional Affairs organised a workshop on "Mainstreaming children's rights in the EU legislation under the Better Regulation Agenda" for the JURI Committee, in the presence of the EP Coordinator for Children's Rights, Ms Ewa Kopacz.

    The workshop aimed to explore the possibility to embed in the existing rules and guidelines of impact assessment for new and reviewed legislative proposals, a "child rights" test. As all EU legislation may influence directly or indirectly the lives and wellbeing of our youngest citizens, such a tool could help lawmakers to identify and ensure measures that will promote and protect the rights of the child as guaranteed by EU and International law. The workshop examined how children's right to participate in the EU decision-making process can be put in practice. Against this background, the work of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children in the field of child rights impact assessment (CRIA) was presented, together with a national case study. Experts from the European Commission presented the  current elements of the better regulation agenda that include child rights perspective in EU legislation.

  • 24 March 2021 

    The EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child and the European Child Guarantee 

    On 24 March 2021, the European Commission published a comprehensive EU policy framework to ensure the protection of rights of all children, and secure access to basic services for vulnerable children, the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child and the European Child Guarantee.

    The European Parliament Coordinator on Children’s Rights welcomes this very important initiative and is committed to ensuring that the European Parliament engages fully in the promotion and successful implementation of the Strategy.

    The EU strategy on the Rights of the Child

    1. The Strategy proposes a series of targeted actions across six thematic areas:
    2. Participation in political and democratic life: An EU that empowers children to be active citizens and members of democratic societies.
    3. Socio-economic inclusion, health and education: An EU that fights child poverty, promotes inclusive and child-friendly societies, health and education systems.
    4. Combating violence against children and ensuring child protection: an EU that helps children grow free from violence.
    5. Child-friendly justice: An EU where the justice system upholds the rights and needs of children.
    6. Digital and information society: An EU where children can safely navigate the digital environment, and harness its opportunities.
    7. The Global Dimension: an EU that supports, protects and empowers children globally, including during crisis and conflict.

    European Child Guarantee

    Alongside the Strategy, the European Commission published a proposal for a Council Recommendation establishing a European Child Guarantee.

    The European Child Guarantee, which aims to break the cycle of poverty and exclusion, provides guidance and tools for Member States to support children in need by guaranteeing access to a set of key services.