During the financial crisis, the number of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion in Europe went up by almost 1 million, with an increase of around half a million in just one year between 2011 and 2012, reaching a dramatic high of 27 million. Even in Europe’s richest countries, in Scandinavia, children’s rights are not always respected – as shown in Save the Children’s new European report, ‘CHILD POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION – A matter of children’s rights’, launched in Brussels on 24 April.
The report concludes that children born into economically and socially disadvantaged households, with disabilities and those from a migrant or minority background are more likely to start their lives at a disadvantage. Furthermore, children growing up in poverty are less likely to acquire the skills and capabilities that will enable them to break the cycle of disadvantage and contribute during their lives to the overall economic and social wellbeing of society according to the report. The research shows that the effectiveness of redistributive state interventions represents a major factor in influencing child poverty, along with employment.
The meeting on 24 April featured presentations from the EU Alliance for Investing in Children (of which EPHA is a member), member of the Belgian Senate, EC DG Employment, Permanent Representation of Italy to the EU (on behalf of the upcoming Italian Presidency), and UNICEF Brussels office.
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