Child protection systems in Europe: focus on family strengthening
Taken from Unequal Childhoods: Rights on paper should be rights in practice Eurochild 2025 flagship report on children in need across Europe.
On 20 November – World Children’s Day – Eurochild released its flagship report on children in need, titled Unequal Childhoods: Rights on paper should be rights in practice, which compiles information from 84 members across 36 countries in Europe. This sub-report synthesises evidence on child protection issues and the prevention of family separation.
Across Europe, legal commitments to protect family life often coexist with policy choices that undermine prevention. Some governments have adopted explicit strategies to keep children with their families and build the services needed to make this possible. Others continue enacting restrictive or punitive measures that increase the likelihood of separation.
