Due to the pandemic and lockdown measures, children's well-being has declined. Recovery is now the most important task to carry out, and the specific needs of all citizens must be taken into consideration.

The new EU recovery plan, released by the European Commission on 27 May, mobilises not only €1,100 billion under the 2021–27 Multiannual Financial Framework, but an additional €750 billion through a new instrument, Next Generation EU to help those suffering the most from the economic downturn. Clearly, in these efforts at stabilisation, there is a focus on investing in children, and the Child Guarantee sets aside resources from the cohesion envelope to tackle child poverty.

Social stress

Social distancing caused everyone, regardless of age, stress. Families lost numerous helping hands with the suspension of daycares, schools, social services and psychological support. Abuse, violence and alcoholism during lockdown may have been a huge stress factor for kids and adolescents.

Growing inequality

As the crisis created greater inequality and poverty among EU citizens, when supporting investment and reform in member states, the EU should make every effort to avoid widening the wealth gap between families:

  • According to the predictions of the World Bank, 40–60 million more people will fall into extreme poverty in 2020.
  • The International Labour Organisation assumes that about half of the global workforce is likely to lose their livelihoods.

Different systems

Each government must take responsibility and honestly look at how their safety nets take care of their citizens, including children. The EU budget behind the recovery plan promises at least 5 per cent of the total expenditure under the European Social Fund Plus to help children break out of poverty. It also provides a reminder to decision makers to focus on children's well-being when carrying out structural reforms.

Childhub

You might like..

0
2
It has become known that a new online resource for legal professionals working with children was developed. The website, launched by ChiLLS project in October, offers a variety of information and research about child protection in legal…
0
31
While most people are trying to solve the problems COVID-19 has caused all over the world, criminals are taking advantage of the situation by putting children at increased risk of sexual abuse and exploitation.  During the COVID-…
0
8
The text of the resolution is the result of the cooperation of five political groups, i.e. EPP, S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL. The resolution clearly underlines the utmost necessity for the European Union (EU) to act in this field…
0
3
Opening Doors brought together five major international organisations: Eurochild, Hope and Homes for Children, the International Foster Care Organisation (IFCO), the European branch of the International Federation of Educative…
0
82
A European Expert Group (EEG) conference on the transition from institutional to community-based care was held in Brussels on 16 January 2020, to evaluate the progress made in the deinstitutionalisation process in a…
0
7
The Europeans who joined ISIS just a few years ago would now like to return to their home countries with their children. Based on estimates, 8,000 children are stuck in camps in north-eastern Syria. They are at risk of abuse, harassment,…
0
5
Did you know that there is an EU Commissioner for Fisheries, but no Commissioner for Children? Or that the EU lacks a single authority responsible for ensuring that EU policies recognize and enforce children’s rights? While children’s rights…
0
8
During 2015–2018, there was nearly a 50 percent increase in the number of victims of human trafficking according to the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA)'s annual report; 10,598 people…
0
3
The Moria refugee camp on the island of Lesbos currently is home to more than 20,000 migrants, including 1,200 unaccompanied children. Although Europeans have increasingly grown resistant to welcoming migrants in recent years, most agree that…
0
2
For the first time in the history of the European Forum on the rights of the child, 9 children and young people participated in the 12th Forum this week. Two of the children, Petra, 15 and Lucija, 13 were supported by Eurochild member “Society Our…
0
6
On 2 February 2020, a group of 15 EU member states called ‘Friends of Cohesion’ gathered in Portugal to discuss the next EU long-term budget— the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). This group of countries includes Bulgaria,…
0
3
Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict Sexual violence in conflict is a threat to our collective security, a violation of international law and a blight on…
0
34
On the European Day for the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (18 November), a booklet is being published by the Hintalovon Child Rights Foundation, the Fund to End Violence Against Children, and with the…
0
1
Students get into university through litres of sweets and sleepless nights, however, some of the students are dropping soon after the first term. Excess stress and mental un-stability during university life are pushing them to take this drastic…
0
2
Today, 23 million children are growing up at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the EU. At particularly higher risk of social exclusion are children in vulnerable situations and disadvantaged groups, such as Roma children, children in…