Eurochild’s impact on the Anti-Racism Strategy 2026–2030

Eurochild welcomes the Anti-Racism Strategy 2026–2030 and looks forward to its implementation to uphold the rights of children with a migrant background and ethnic minority origin.

The Union of Equality: Anti-Racism Strategy 2026–2030 puts structural racism and an intersectional approach at the heart of the framework, and it is committed to mainstreaming anti-racism across policy areas. These are precisely the foundations Eurochild pushed for in our 2025 contribution, Breaking the silence on racial discrimination in childhood, where we pointed out that racial discrimination is too often absent from children’s rights debates.

Key elements of the strategy

Several suggestions that we put forward are now clearly reflected in the adopted Strategy:

Naming and tackling structural racism
In line with Eurochild’s position, the Strategy explicitly frames structural racism as persistent, cumulative and intergenerational, and it foresees work with Member States to facilitate a shared understanding and working definition of structural racism.

Better equality data
The Strategy reflects Eurochild’s call for better data by encouraging improved, harmonised equality data collection through national statistical offices. Better data is also an important element in the European Commission and the Member States' efforts to set targets to fight racial discrimination across various sectors.

Education that addresses the roots of racism
Eurochild explicitly recommended integrating human rights education that acknowledges colonialism and slavery. The Strategy mirrors this direction through support for projects exploring colonial legacies and a forthcoming joint project with UNESCO to strengthen anti-racism education.

Linking anti-racism to social rights, especially for children
Building on Eurochild’s recommendation, the Strategy explicitly encourages delivery on the European Child Guarantee, taking into account the disadvantages experienced by these children, and situates this alongside the forthcoming EU Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Housing as a discrimination front
Eurochild highlighted housing inequalities as a child rights issue that disproportionately impacts children with a migrant background and ethnic minority origin. The Strategy commits to a Commission study on the housing situation of groups at risk of discrimination.

Protecting people online, including children
The Strategy recognises that online hatred is a daily reality for racialised communities and commits the Commission to monitoring and enforcing the Digital Services Act (DSA), alongside regular support for the Code of Conduct on countering illegal hate speech online. It also links anti-racism to digital literacy and education, including updated guidance for teachers on tackling disinformation and promoting inclusion and tolerance online. The Strategy further flags the risk of algorithmic discrimination and notes that the Commission’s 2026 report on the Racial Equality Directive will analyse how anti-discrimination law applies to such cases. It also points to the AI Act, including prohibitions on certain harmful practices.

What still needs strengthening

While the Strategy is a strong step forward, it does not yet go far enough in several areas that are crucial for children’s rights. To turn commitments into real change, the following gaps should be addressed during implementation:

Embed intersectionality
The Strategy references intersectionality, but it remains largely at the level of principle. It should include clearer actions to tackle how discrimination compounds in key areas for children’s rights, including healthcare and mental health, where barriers and unequal treatment have long-term effects.

Address racism and anti-migrant hatred consistently
While the Strategy notes that “anti-migrant hatred also frequently intersects with and reinforces racism”, this is not reflected consistently across the measures. Implementation should more explicitly recognise and respond to the specific experiences of children with a migrant background, including those affected by migration or residence status-related discrimination.

Strengthen action and data on justice and policing.
The Strategy should be backed by stronger commitments to collect and use data on disparities in the justice system, including juvenile justice outcomes, as well as racial profiling and police violence, so that problems can be identified early and addressed promptly.

Protect civic space for civil society organisations
The Strategy does not sufficiently respond to the shrinking civic space affecting civil society organisations working with children with a migrant background and ethnic minority origin. The Commission and Member States should include concrete measures to safeguard their enabling environment and meaningful participation.

While we welcome the adoption of the 2026–2030 Anti-Racism Strategy, the real opportunity lies in its implementation, and that implementation must be more ambitious to deliver for children. We look forward to collaborating with the European Commission to ensure that children with a migrant background and ethnic minority origin are fully supported throughout the process. This will only be possible within a broader EU and national framework, including close collaboration across governance levels and with civil society. Only then can we move from breaking the silence to ensuring real protection for all children, whatever their background.