Children speak up about the future and rights they want
Over 10,000 children and young people participated in a consultation to shape the EU’s upcoming Child Guarantee and Strategy on the Rights of the Child
Child participation may soon be playing a greater role in policymaking at the EU level.
To prepare the new Strategy on the Rights of the Child and the Child Guarantee, the European Commission called on five child rights organisations – Eurochild, UNICEF, Save the Children, World Vision and Child Fund Alliance – to ensure child participation in the future that concerns them.
As a result, more than 10,000 children across Europe and beyond replied to the consultation survey. The findings were presented by children themselves during the launch event on 23 February in a closed meeting with the Commission. Children got the chance to ask questions about their future to the Vice-President of the European Commission, Duravka Šuica; the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit; the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders and to the Co-Chair of the European Parliament Intergroup on Children’s Rights, David Lega.
As part of the Child Advisory Board, members of the Eurochild Children’s Council were involved in the design of the project and supported the creation of the survey. Andreas and Martina from the Eurochild Children’s Council were also among the children asking questions at the launch event.
Key findings of the report:
- 1 in 5 children feels unhappy and anxious for the future;
- 1 in 10 children said they have mental health problems or symptoms such as depression or anxiety;
- 1 in 3 experienced discrimination or exclusion;
- 88% of children and young people is aware of climate change.
