Not only a numbers game!

Eurochild’s Key Messages on the Demographic Renewal
Last week’s European Demographic Forum focused on “Better societies for families and
older people”. The focus on family policies is welcome. Against a background of
demographic slowdown in Europe and economic insecurity, well-formulated family policies
may give people more confidence to have the number of children they desire. They should
certainly contribute to achieving greater gender equality both in the home and the work
place, and better reconciliation of family and working life. More employment opportunities
and support for working parents may help lift some children out of poverty.
But despite this emphasis on family policies, children’s rights and analysis of the impact of
policies on the quality of childhood was notably absent from this Forum’s agenda.
Across the EU, 19% of children are at risk of poverty. Some 15% of children leave school
without achieving a secondary education1. There are pockets of communities where
joblessness is the norm, and may span several generations. We live in a society where the
socio-economic status into which a child is born is still probably the most important
determinant of their future health, education and employment outcomes.
Breaking the cycle of poverty takes on a new urgency when we consider the demographic
reality, notably the population ageing. The children of today are the ones who will be
supporting the growing number of pensioners in the coming years. Intergenerational
solidarity is a key issue. The policy discussions – such as those that took place during the
Forum – are neither far-reaching nor ambitious enough to support the most vulnerable and
disadvantaged groups of children and young people.
Eurochild believes that it is absolutely crucial that policy makers take a child-centred
approach based on the principles enshrined in the UNCRC. Such an approach ensures
that children’s well-being is addressed in a holistic way and that their needs are seen from
their perspective. It also requires a fundamental shift in our way of viewing children. They
are not passive recipients of support or protection, but rather active citizens in their own
right and, as they develop, have increasing control over their lives and influence over the
policies and decisions that affect them. Support for families should be approached in such
a way that it recognizes children as having rights independently of adults or their parents
and acknowledges them as social actors who must be supported in the gradual transition
to adulthood.
- We need urgently to invest more in early year’s services. And it is not only about
ensuring more child care places, as assumed by the Barcelona targets. To secure the
child’s best interest, Member States must look holistically at parental leave, labour market
policies, family and early years’ services, the quality, availability and affordability of early
childhood services are critical. We also need to ensure inclusion of children most at risk
of exclusion from an earliest age such as children with disabilities, ethnic minorities and
immigrant children.
- We need to review and reform education systems. Important progress has been
made at the EU level to support the vital importance of the quality of education in child’s
1 Eurostat, 2005 data (http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/emplweb/news/news_en.cfm?id=207).
EurochildAISBL
Avenue des Arts 1-2, B-1210 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)2 511 70 83 - Fax: +32 (0)2 511 72 98
e-mail: admin@eurochild.org - Website: www.eurochild.org
development2. Schools are not only there to transmit knowledge and learning; they have a
key role in supporting the psychological, emotional and social nurturing of children,
empowering them to exercise their own rights, transferring responsibility to the child, in line
with the child’s evolving capacities. This is critical not just for the growth and well-being
of children today, but also for the best interest of our society tomorrow.
- Above all, we need to ensure family policy is developed in such a way that it
enables children and parents to spend quality time together.
Investing in children is not only a moral obligation but also an economic priority.
Investment in children and families is probably the most effective route towards sustainable
social, economic and political progress in Europe. We call on the EU and Member States to
reinforce efforts to put children’s rights at the heart of policy making. The future of Europe
depends on it.*
For more information on the event please click here.
For any further information and clarification on the Key Messages, please contact: Agata D’Addato.
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About Eurochild:
EurochildAISBL is an international network of organisations and individuals working in and across
Europe to improve the quality of life of children and young people. Its work is underpinned by the
principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Eurochild is funded by the European Commission DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal
Opportunities. The views expressed in this Press Release do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the
European Commission.
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For more information, please contact:
Jana Hainsworth, Secretary General
Tel: +32 (0)2 511 70 83
e-mail: secretarygeneral@eurochild.org
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