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Document 32021H1004
EU strategy on the rights of the child and the European child guarantee
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- Date of last review:
- 21/09/2021
- Initial creation date:
- 20/11/2021
- Summary code:
-
- 13.01.02.03.04 Children's rights
- 17.19.01.00 Social investment – Fight against poverty
- 23.06.00.00 Fundamental rights & discrimination
- 13.01.02.03.04 Children's rights
- EUROVOC descriptor:
- Directory code:
- Summarised document(s):
- Author:
- Publications Office of the European Union
- Responsible entity(ies):
- Council of the European Union
EU strategy on the rights of the child and the European child guarantee
SUMMARY OF:
Recommendation (EU) 2021/1004 establishing a European Child Guarantee
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE COMMUNICATION AND THE RECOMMENDATION?
- The European Union (EU) strategy on the rights of the child proposes new actions to better protect, promote and fulfil children’s rights.
- The European child guarantee aims to prevent and combat social exclusion of children in need by guaranteeing access to a set of key services, by combating child poverty and fostering equal opportunities.
KEY POINTS
EU strategy on the rights of the child
- The strategy brings together all new and existing EU legislative, policy and funding instruments on the rights of the child within 1 comprehensive framework.
- This strategy builds on previous European Commission communications and existing EU legislation and policy,such as the EU agenda for the rights of the child.
- It contributes to achieving the aims of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
- The strategy is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and contributes to achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals.
- It proposes a series of targeted actions across 6 thematic priority areas:
- participation in political and democratic life;
- socio-economic inclusion, health and education;
- combating violence against children and ensuring child protection;
- child-friendly justice;
- digital and information society;
- global dimension — supporting, protecting and empowering children globally, including during crisis and conflict.
- To support these actions, children’s rights are mainstreamed across all relevant EU policies.
- Funding for these actions is provided through a number of sources including the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) (see summary) and the European Regional Development Fund (see summary).
European child guarantee
- The European child guarantee complements the strategy on the rights of the child, and in particular the socio-economic, health and education theme.
- It puts into practice principle 11 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, on childcare and support for children.
- It applies to children under 18 at risk of poverty or social exclusion.
- It sets out a number of core recommendations for EU Member States including:
- providing effective and free access to high quality early childhood education and care, education and school-based activities, at least 1 healthy meal on each school day and healthcare;
- providing effective access to healthy nutrition and adequate housing;
- breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty and disadvantage, while making the best interest of the child a primary consideration;
- building a policy framework to identify and address financial and non-financial barriers to participation in early childhood education and care, education and school-based activities, especially for those groups of children experiencing specific disadvantages;
- nominating a Child Guarantee Coordinator to monitor and coordinate implementation;
- submitting national action plans for the period up to 2030 within 9 months of adopting the recommendation.
- Member States can draw on EU funding to support their actions, in particular from the ESF+ and NextGenerationEU.
BACKGROUND
For more information, see:
- The EU strategy on the rights of the child and the European child guarantee (European Commission).
MAIN DOCUMENTS
Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/1004 of establishing a European Child Guarantee (OJ L 223, , pp. 14-23)
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — EU strategy on the rights of the child (COM(2021) 142 final, )
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