On World Children’s Day, Eurodiaconia urges strong commitment and ambitious actions from the EU and its member states aimed at implementing the European Child Guarantee. We recognize the essential role of supporting children and families in breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty, envisioning a future where every child can thrive.
This November 20th marks the 65th World Children’s Day and the 35th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. As we commemorate this important occasion, we must reaffirm that children’s rights are human rights: non-negotiable and universal.
Today, the European Union faces a pivotal moment as it embarks on a new political cycle, with children’s futures at a crossroads. Climate change, digitalization, and economic pressures are shaping childhood, often bringing unprecedented challenges. In this context, a robust approach is needed to ensure the protection and promotion of children’s rights across Europe.
A first priority must be achieving the target set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan: reducing the number of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion by 5 million by 2030. The latest figures on child poverty underscore the urgency of this mission: in 2023, 20 million children across the EU—nearly one in four—were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. This number is a stark reminder that child poverty remains unacceptably high and has stagnated for too long. More must be done at both the European and national levels to address the root causes of poverty, strengthen social protection, and support family well-being through structural, long-term action.
To reach this goal, the European Child Guarantee, as emphasized in President von der Leyen’s political guidelines for the next European Commission, must be strengthened. By ensuring access to quality education, healthcare, and essential services, the Child Guarantee provides a foundation to protect vulnerable children from poverty and exclusion. However, to succeed, it must include stronger mechanisms for implementation and monitoring at the national level. The forthcoming EU Anti-Poverty Strategy presents an opportunity to step up action on eradicating poverty, including child poverty, through a meaningful systemic approach.
Another essential area that demands attention is children’s mental health. Eurodiaconia members are working in this area through programs that provide mental health and family support. Our Dutch member organization, Kerk in Actie, is committed to children’s well-being. Vulnerable and traumatized children who had to leave their parents can find a safe new home in a family-led environment. Their “youth village” offers stability, targeted support, and the safety of a family, as well as a wide range of sports and leisure activities to ensure that children can recover and develop their personalities. Next to their crucial work in the Netherlands, Kerk in Actie also supports children and young people in Ukraine. In cooperation with their long-term local partners, Kerk in Actie is responding to the urgent needs of children displaced and traumatized by the ongoing conflict, which has now persisted for nearly three years. Under the guidance of professionals, Kerk in Actie provides safe spaces where children receive essential psychosocial support, including play therapy to help them process their experiences and express their emotions. Their support extends beyond mental health, ensuring that families have food and resources for stability during harsh winter months. To sustain this work, Kerk in Actie is holding a door-to-door collection in the Netherlands from November 18 to 23, with funds directed toward providing food, shelter, and mental health care to thousands of vulnerable children and families.
This World Children’s Day, we call for the upcoming mandate of the European Commission to put children’s rights and poverty reduction at the forefront of the EU’s agenda. Together, let’s use this new political cycle to prioritize and implement comprehensive and impactful strategies that will secure a bright future for every child in Europe and positively shape the lives of the generations to come.