Right after the adoption of the European Commission’s Recommendation “Investing in Children: Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage” (20 February 2013), which provides guidance to Member States on how to tackle child poverty and promote children’s well-being, this event created momentum for civil-society organisations to join forces and put pressure on local and national governments to implement the Recommendation.
It was co-hosted by the Children’s Rights Alliance Ireland, UNICEF National Committee for Ireland and EAPN Ireland and consisted of a political roundtable with participation of many high-level speakers, and an advocacy seminar.
Day 1 was under the patronage of the Irish Presidency. Irish Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald hosted the morning round table which launched the Unicef Report Card 11 on child well-being. Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton was invited to speak at the afternoon Plenary.
Day 2 was an advocacy seminar of members of different European networks to discuss the implementation of the EC Recommendation at national level.
Eurochild and EAPN also launched their explainer on child poverty and well-being “Towards Children’s Well-Being In Europe”.
See EAPN, Eurochild and Unicef joint press release INVEST IN CHILDREN NOW Leading human rights organisations meet in Dublin with Irish Presidency to strategise on action to move forward the fight against child poverty in the EU! (10th April)
Open the final report of the event here (released August 2013).
See the Programme here and Presentations here (from Eurochild’s website).
- Lieve Fransen – Director Europe 2020, Social Policies
- Daina Urbonaitiene – Ministry of Social Security and Labour, Lithuania
- Kart Mere (EAPN Estonia) & Sean O’Neill (Eurochild/Welsh End Child Poverty Coalition)
- Chris de Neubourg – Unicef
- Deirdre de Burca – Caritas Europa
- Sian Jones – EAPN Policy Coordinator
- Gaelle Buysschaert – UNICEF Belgium
- Reka Tunyogi – Eurochild Advocacy & Parliamentary Officer
- Graciela Malgesini – EAPN Spain
- Stuart Duffin – One Family Ireland
- Gaelle Buysschaert – UNICEF Belgium
- John Dickie – End Child Poverty Coalition Scotland
- Dilyana Giteva – NNC Bulgaria
- Fatima Veiga – EAPN Portugal
- What is child poverty?
EAPN and Eurochild took the opportunity of this major event to launch their Explainer “Towards Children’s Well-Being in the EU“, which aims to raise public awareness on child poverty in Europe and on the devastating effects it has on lives of children and families as well as on society as a whole. The Explainer challenges the myths around child poverty, provides arguments and concrete solutions at EU, national, local and individual levels to help stakeholders mobilize around the implementation of the European Commission Recommendation.
- What’s the situation of well-being in the different EU countries?
UNICEF also launched the UNICEF Report Card 11 – “Child well-being in rich countries. A comparative overview”. As debates in the EU continue to generate strongly opposed views on the pros and cons of austerity measures and social spending cuts, Report Card 11 charts the achievements of 29 of the world’s advanced economies, including 27 EU member states, in ensuring the well-being of their children during the first decade of this century. This international comparison, says the report, proves that child poverty in these countries is not inevitable, but policy susceptible – and that some countries are doing much better than others at protecting their most vulnerable children. For the first time, the Report Card is able to go back and make a comparison – albeit in a more restrictive set of dimensions – with the 2007 Report Card 7. Report Card 11 also includes an relevant section on how children see their own lives.
Weblink: www.unicef-irc.org
The recent European Commission’s Recommendation “Investing in Children: Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage” – was adopted on 20 February 2013 as part of the Social Investment Package for Growth and Cohesion (SIP). It provides guidance to Member States on how to tackle child poverty and promote children’s well-being. It also sets up a common EU framework based on the recognition of children as rights holders.
A positive EU framework for cooperation and political leadership can and does make a difference to policy making at national and regional level. Action by Member States is now required.
Weblink: “Investing in Children: Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage”
- Eurochild assessment of the Recommendation
Eurochild’s assessment unwraps the Recommendation’s principles and translates them into policies and practices. Furthermore, it highlights opportunities for civil society organisations, to act at national and regional policy making level, using the tools and mechanisms available through the EU to influence and persuade governments where they can make the greatest difference to children’s lives.
Weblink: Eurochild’s Assessment of EC Recommendation
To follow the topic on Twitter use #childpoverty2013. More information about the event and the related processes can be obtained from janina.arsenjeva@eurochild.org or sian.jones@eapn.eu
{jathumbnail off images=”images/stories/pictures/events/2013-event-Dublin-children.jpg,images/stories/pictures/Covers-books-MAG-reports/2013-Child-poverty-explainer-EN-cover.png”}
