Child rights experts call on future European Parliament members to become Child Rights Champions

Ahead of the EU elections on 6-9 June, EU Election candidates are invited to sign the Child Rights Manifesto and form a new Intergroup on Children's Rights.

The 23 child rights organisations that form the #VoteforChildren coalition launched on 21 March a campaign to ask candidates to secure and advance children’s rights by, among others:

• mainstreaming and protecting children’s rights
• breaking the cycle of poverty and inequality by investing in children
• fostering meaningful, inclusive, and safe participation of children
• securing a child-centred EU budget.

As part of the campaign, the coalition produced a Child Manifesto outlining concrete measures to address the challenges faced by children. From education to mental health, from bullying to violence prevention, the manifesto advocates for policies that prioritise children’s well-being. It’s a call to action - a commitment to ensuring that every child’s voice is heard and their rights protected at all levels of decision-making.

The campaign hopes to see a new Intergroup on Children’s Rights being formed in the European Parliament after the elections. The Intergroup is a formal body in the European Parliament that mainstreams children’s rights and assesses the impact of legislative and non-legislative work on children. It is a cross-party group of committed members of the EU Parliament, who work with child-focused organisations to keep children’s rights on top of the EU agenda.

1 in 4 children in the EU are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Globally, more than 1 in 6 children are living in a conflict zone. An estimated 5.4 million children around the globe live in harmful institutions, with concerningly high rates in the EU. These numbers show the necessity and urgency for the future members of the European Parliament to prioritise children's rights and needs, to protect children's present and build a brighter future!

Sign the Manifesto now and commit to becoming a Child Rights Champion in your next mandate