Unequal Childhoods: Rights on paper should be rights in practice
Eurochild 2025 flagship report on children in need across Europe.
This report is based on assessments by 84 Eurochild members and contributors in 36 countries and provides an overview of children’s rights and child poverty in these countries. Drawing on evidence from organisations and professionals working with children, the report provides an in-depth analysis, through a children's rights lens, to ensure that rights on paper become rights in practice.
“Despite progress made in some countries, child poverty and social exclusion remain too high across Europe. Lack of access to basic services and ongoing discrimination continue to affect the most vulnerable children. As more countries face attacks that undermine democracy and limit actions of those defending children’s rights, European leaders must join forces with civil society to protect and promote the rights of every child in Europe and beyond. ” – Tanya Ward, President of Eurochild.
The report provides concrete recommendations for countries to strengthen their efforts to protect and promote children’s rights. Among the aspects analysed across Europe: children in contact with the justice system, public investment and social safety nets, violence against children, mental health, children with a migrant background and ethnic minority origin.
Our Policy Recommendations:
- Uphold the rights of all children and counter anti-rights movements
- Ensure integrated child protection systems and strengthen families
- Uphold children’s rights in the digital environment
- Eradicate child poverty and social exclusion
- Strengthen the European Child Guarantee
- Ensure adequate housing for all children
- Anchor child-related priorities in the European Semester to invest in children post-2027
- Support children’s rights in the Enlargement Countries
Country Profiles: Albania; Austria; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; England; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Kosovo; Latvia; Luxembourg; Malta; Moldova; Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Scotland; Serbia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Türkiye; Ukraine; Wales.
