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Putting children at the heart of Europe’s recovery

Eurochild’s breakfast webinars to mark World Children’s Day 2020
18- 20 November 2020; 8h30 – 10h00 hrs CET

#PuttingChildrenFirst: watch the webinar recordings and video addresses in the playlist below!

Eurochild, in partnership with its national members hosted a webinar series to bring a children’s rights perspective to Europe’s recovery. The series was organised to coincide with 20th November World Children’s Day which marks the 31st anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Questions addressed: What is an ‘economy of well-being’ & why & how does it prioritise children? Why is tackling child poverty a pre-requisite to sustainably exit the crisis? Why and how does protecting children’s rights strengthen our democracies?

The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis is changing the lives of children and young people across Europe. We are witnessing a steep rise in poverty and inequalities, which threatens to deepen existing societal divides.

Vulnerable people and communities undoubtedly paid the highest price of the pandemic in terms of health and lost livelihoods. While children weren’t the face of the pandemic, they have borne the brunt of its impact. Investing in children and prioritising children’s well-being is an essential ingredient of building more inclusive and resilient societies

The discussion continues on social media: #PuttingChildrenFirst

Poverty, anxiety, digital and educational divide
Read the new report published by Eurochild on 18 November 2020, “Growing up in lockdown: Europe’s children in the age of COVID-19”, provides a unique in-depth, country-by-country assessment of the situation of children’s rights and conditions in Europe, and measuring some of the concrete effects of the coronavirus pandemic on children across Europe.

Key messages

  • What is an ‘economy of well-being’ & why & how does it prioritise children?

H.E. Marie-Louise Perera, President of Eurochild opened the webinar by bringing attention to the suffering of children as a consequence of the pandemic, as documented in our new Growing Up in Lockdown report. Eurochild, she explained, has developed the #Childonomics model that can be used to help inform policies of investing in children’s wellbeing within an economy of wellbeing.

Angel Gurría, Secretary General of OECD expressed that investing in children and their wellbeing is a winning ticket for social resilience, highlighting OECD’s rich tradition of measuring wellbeing beyond GDP. “With COVID19 taking a heavy toll on children, mechanisms like the Next Generation EU should put children at the front and centre of all recovery efforts,” said Gurria. Because as Olivier Thévenon, Head of the Children's Well-Being Unit at OECD) later explained, it takes five generations to lift children from poor families out of poverty and they are the future human capital and taxpayers.

Krista Kiuru, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services of Finland expressed her appreciation for the work of Eurochild and OECD on putting children at the centre of recovery debates. The way forward, she explained, is committing to an economy of wellbeing while building national strategies for children across political spectrums, across disciplines and with local communities. Sanna Koulu, Senior Adviser for the National Child Strategy in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, further explained that the national strategy is now intertwined with their COVID19 recovery strategy.

Professor Jennifer Davidson, Executive Director, of Inspiring Children’s Futures raised the question on how civil society could help policy makers to put children first in an economy of wellbeing. “We need to make sure that all stakeholders are connected, including children, and organisations like Eurochild with a fantastic track record on child participation,” Davidson said.

Last but not least, participants heard from Eetu, from the Children’s Parliament of the city of Tampere (Finland) and a member of the Eurochild Children's Council who called on politicians to listen and make room for children’s perspectives because adults might not remember what they needed as children. “Sometimes children’s voices can be smarter than adults, like for example Greta Thunberg,” Eetu concluded.

  • Why is tackling child poverty a pre-requisite to sustainably exit the crisis?

Pedro Sanchez Prime Minister of Spain set the mood of the discussion with a very strong message on how Spain is prioritising children in the recovery strategy. “There is no shame in acknowledging child poverty exists in our countries. But it would be shameful if we did not take ambitious measures to combat it.” Ernesto José Gasco Gonzalo, High Commissioner for the Fight against Child Poverty, Spain also spoke later on how Spain is prioritising the fight against child poverty, and how they are consulting children on policies affecting them.

Katarina Ivanković Knežević, Director, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission highlighted that a result of the pandemic, more children are experiencing poverty than before, with poorest children getting even poorer. Investment in children and in the services they need, she stressed, is essential for a sustainable and inclusive recovery. In 2021, the Commission will launch the European Child Guarantee to provide a policy framework to reduce poverty and inequalities among children, and to ensure that children in need have access to the services and the support they need.

Petra Mackroth, Head of Directorate-General Family Affairs at the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth of Germany highlighted that Germany wants all EU Member States to prioritise the reduction of child poverty during their Presidency of the EU Council. She also announced that the trio presidencies of Germany Portugal and Slovenia are preparing a joint declaration on mitigating the COVID-19 crisis to support children in the recovery strategies.

Afshan Khan, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia and the Special Coordinator for the Refuge and Migrant Response in Europe highlighted that UNICEF, like Eurochild, believes that children should be at the heart of the recovery and that the role of civil society is crucial for putting children first.It is important to adopt a comprehensive approach and this can be achieved through the Child Guarantee Action Plans and multiannual national strategies to tackle child poverty.

Mariam and Ángel from the youth journalist network of Plataforma de Infancia spoke to their Prime Minister and all present on how children are not just the future they are the present.

  • Why and how does protecting children’s rights strengthen our democracies?

George Bogdanov, Director National Network for Children Bulgaria (Eurochild member) highlighted the unprecedented attack on children's rights in Bulgaria by extremist far-right and religious groups using fake news to spread fear among parents; and intimidating child rights activists which in itself is a threat to democracy. “The question is not only how to put the child at the heart of European recovery, but how to put the child at the heart of the European democracy,” Bogdanov said.

Dubravka Šuica, Commission Vice-President on Democracy & Demography highlighted that child protection is a Member State competence, but the aim of the upcoming EU Strategy is to be taken on board by all member states, including Bulgaria, in their bid to bring about positive change. She then spoke about the importance of child participation in policy making: “The Commission’s work has already benefitted from the vision and ideas of 10.000 children who contributed to our consultation on our rights of the child strategy, and I want to thank Eurochild for its great work on this.”

Denitsa Sacheva, Minister of Labour & Social Policies, Bulgaria thanked the civil society in Bulgaria for their tireless work despite the precarious situation created by the forces campaigning against child rights in the last few years. She then highlighted progress made on the dialogue between parents’ organisations and the civil society to introduce the act on social services, fundamental for children and vulnerable groups.

Bruce Adamson, Chair of the European Network of Ombudsmen for Children reiterated how supporting civil society organisations with funding, education and broader public education, is key to ensure that human rights defenders are protected and they can protect children in return.

Baroness Massey, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly Sub-Committee on Children, Council of Europe; Member of the House of Lord (UK) joined the discussion by saying that much of the work on children is about child protection. Yet, to influence the future we need to involve children in our political systems and organisations not only just to give children a voice to speak out. But to also helps organisations, Parliaments, to gain insights which they may never have thought of.

Milena from the Bulgarian Safer Internet Centre, and a member of the Eurochild Children's Council explained that rights are all about recognition that young people are members of society whose voice has to be accepted. “We are not naïve or greedy. We want our voice to be heard and our rights respected because the decisions made today concern our future,” Milena concluded.
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Full programme



Webinar 1: What is an ‘economy of well-being’ & why & how does it prioritise children?
18 November 2020; 8h30 – 10h00 hrs (CET)
Co-hosts: H.E. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Eurochild President, President Emeritus of Malta & Hanna Heinonen, CEO of Central Union for Child Welfare Organised in partnership with OECD
Focusing on the economic arguments for investing in children, this webinar will also highlight Finland’s efforts to prioritise children’s rights and why this makes economic sense.
  • Angel Gurría, Secretary General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
  • Krista Kiuru, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services, Finland
  • Professor Jennifer Davidson, Executive Director, Inspiring Children’s Futures; Founding Director, CELCIS, UK
  • Olivier Thévenon, Head of the Children's Well-Being Unit, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
  • Sanna Koulu, Senior Adviser for the National Child Strategy, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland
  • Eetu, Children’s Parliament of the city of Tampere, Finland; Eurochild Children's Council
Language – English

Webinar 2: Why is tackling child poverty a pre-requisite to sustainably exit the crisis?
19 November 2020; 8h30 – 10h00 hrs (CET)
Co-hosts: H.E. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Eurochild President, President Emeritus of Malta & Carles López Picó, President of the Plataforma de Infancia, Spain
Nearly 1 in 4 children in the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion before the pandemic. With the lockdowns and socio-economic crisis hitting poorest families particularly hard, pushing more people into poverty, and deepening pre-existing divides, it is imperative to analyse which are the measures to be taken to prevent and reduce child poverty. The webinar will also look at how the European Child Guarantee initiative can help address this growing challenge and will bring a perspective of the Spanish government, which has made the fight against child poverty a particular priority.
  • Pedro Sanchez, President of the Government of Spain (video address)
  • Katarina Ivanković Knežević, Director, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
  • Ernesto José Gasco Gonzalo, High Commissioner for the Fight against Child Poverty, Spain
  • Afshan Khan, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia
  • Petra Mackroth, Head of Directorate-General Family Affairs at the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Germany
  • Mariam and Ángel: representatives of Cibercorresponsales, the youth journalist network of Plataforma de Infancia, and association Colectivo de acción para el Juego y la Educación (CAJE), Spain
Languages – English, Spanish  

Webinar 3: Why and how does protecting children’s rights strengthen our democracies?
20 November 2020; 8h30 – 10h00 hrs (CET)
Co-hosts: H.E. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Eurochild President, President Emeritus of Malta & George Bogdanov, Director of the National Network for Children
In this webinar, we will look at the intersection between children’s rights and democracy. We will in particular, explore the challenges faced in Bulgaria by the children’s rights movement and how the upcoming EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child can help governments to realise their commitment to child rights.
  • Dubravka Šuica, European Commission Vice-President on Democracy & Demography
  • Colin Scicluna, European Commission Head of Cabinet, Cabinet of Vice-President Dubravka ŠUICA - Democracy and Demography
  • Denitsa Sacheva, Minister of Labour & Social Policies, Bulgaria
  • Bruce Adamson, Children & Young People’s Commissioner Scotland; Chair-Elect, European Network of Ombudspersons for Children
  • Doreen Elizabeth Massey, Baroness Massey of Darwen, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly Sub-Committee on Children, Council of Europe; Member of the House of Lord (UK)
  • Milena, Bulgarian Safer Internet Centre; National Network for Children Bulgaria; member of Eurochild Children’s Council
Languages – English, Bulgarian

All webinars will take place online at 8h30 – 10h00 hrs (CET).


Los niños en el centro de la recuperación de Europa

 

Desayunos webinars de Eurochild con motivo del Día Mundial de Niño 2020

18- 20 noviembre 2020; 8:30 – 10:00h

    La pandemia de la COVID-19 y la consiguiente crisis económica están cambiando la vida de niños y jóvenes en toda Europa. Estamos siendo testigos de un fuerte aumento de la pobreza y las desigualdades, que amenaza con profundizar las divisiones sociales existentes. En el verano de 2020, los líderes de la Unión Europea acordaron un ambicioso paquete de recuperación y una dotación presupuestaria para los próximos siete años. Las prioridades y normas que rigen los programas de gasto de la UE se negociarán durante el otoño. En el contexto de la pandemia y la crisis climática, los líderes de toda Europa están buscando formas de garantizar que nuestra economía futura sea más resistente a las crisis y pueda operar de forma global en todo el planeta. Las personas y comunidades vulnerables pagaron sin duda el precio más alto de la pandemia tanto en términos de salud como en su capacidad de sustento. Si bien los niños no fueron la cara visible de la pandemia, han sido los más afectados por su impacto. Los países que sufrieron menos son aquellos con sistemas de salud pública sólidos, una distribución más equitativa de la riqueza y más confianza en las administraciones públicas. Invertir en los niños y dar prioridad a su bienestar es esencial para construir sociedades más inclusivas y resilientes. Por esa razón, Eurochild, junto con sus filiales nacionales, está organizando una serie de seminarios web para trasladar la perspectiva de los derechos de los niños a la recuperación de Europa. Los eventos se han organizado en torno al 20 de noviembre, Día Mundial del Niño, que marca el trigésimo primer aniversario de la adopción de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos del Niño. En cada seminario web, líderes nacionales, europeos e internacionales explicarán cómo el respeto por los derechos del niño es clave a la hora de tomar decisiones para salir de la crisis. Niños de toda Europa, algunos de los cuales forman parte del Consejo Infantil de Eurochild, aportarán el punto de vista de la infancia a las mesas redondas.  

18 de noviembre: ¿Qué es una "economía del bienestar" y por qué y cómo prioriza a los niños? Coanfitriona: Hanna Heinonen, CEO de Central Union for Child Welfare Organizado en colaboración con la OCDE Con foco en los argumentos económicos para invertir en la infancia, este seminario web también destacará los esfuerzos de Finlandia para dar prioridad a los derechos de los niños y por qué esto tiene todo el sentido desde el punto de vista de la economía..
  • Angel Gurría, secretario general de la OCDE
  • Krista Kiuru, Ministra de Asuntos Familiares y Servicios Sociales de Finlandia
  • Profesora Jennifer Davidson, directora ejecutiva de Inspiring Children’s Futures, directora fundadora de CELCIS
  • Representante de la unidad de la OCDE sobre bienestar infantil (pendiente de confirmación)
  • Eetu (miembro del Consejo Infantil de Eurochild y del Parlamento Infantil de la ciudad de Tampere)
Idioma: inglés  

19 de noviembre: ¿Por qué abordar la pobreza infantil es un requisito previo para salir de la crisis de manera sostenible? Coanfitrión:  Ricardo Ibarra, director de la Plataforma de Infancia, España Más de uno de cada cuatro niños en la UE está en riesgo de pobreza. Cómo la iniciativa de la Garantía Infantil Europea ayuda a abordar este importante y creciente desafío. Este webinar aportará la perspectiva del gobierno español, que ha hecho de la lucha contra la pobreza infantil una importante prioridad.
  • Pedro Sanchez, Presidente del Gobierno de España (vídeo)
  • Ernesto José Gasco Gonzalo, Alto Comisionado para la lucha contra la Pobreza Infantil, Spain
  • Katarina Ivanković Knežević, Directora, Dirección General de Empleo, Asuntos Sociales e Inclusión, Comisión Europea
  • Petra Mackroth, Jefa de la Dirección General de Familia en el Ministerio de Familia, Personas Mayores, Mujer y Juventud de Alemania.
  • Afshan Khan, Director Regional para Europa y Asia Central de UNICEF
  • Mariam y Ángel: representantes de Cibercorresponsales, la red social de jóvenes periodistas de la Plataforma de Infancia, y asociación Colectivo de acción para el Juego y la Educación (CAJE), España
Idiomas: inglés, español

  Día Mundial del Niño, 20 de noviembre: ¿Por qué y cómo la protección de los derechos de los niños fortalece nuestras democracias? Coanfitrión: George Bogdanov, director de National Network for Children   En este webinar se abordarán las intersecciones entre los derechos de la infancia y la democracia.  En particular, se profundizará en los desafíos a los que se enfrenta el movimiento por los derechos de los niños de Bulgaria y cómo la próxima Estrategia de la UE sobre los Derechos del Niño puede ayudar a los gobiernos a hacer realidad su compromiso con los derechos de la infancia.
  • Dubravka Suica, Vicepresidenta de Democracia y Demografía de la Comisión Europea
  • Denitsa Sacheva, Ministra de Trabajo y Políticas Sociales de Bulgaria (pendiente de confirmación)
  • Doreen Elizabeth Massey, Baroness Massey of Darwen, Miembro del Subcomité para la Infancia del Parlamento, Counsejo de Europa; Miembro de la Cámara de los Lores británica
  • Bruce Adamson, Comisionado para la Infancia y la Juventud de Escocia, y Presidente Electo de la Red Europea de Defensores del Pueblo para la Infancia
  • Milena, miembro del Consejo Infantil de Eurochild , con la colaboración del Bulgarian Safer Internet Centre
Idiomas: inglés, búlgaro

  Todos los webinars tendrán lugar entre las 8:30 y las 10:00h (CET).
¡Regístrese más abajo y añada los eventos a su calendario!


Да поставим децата в центъра на възстановяването на Европа

Уебинари на Eurochild за отбелязване на Световния ден на детето 2020 г.

18 - 20 Ноември 2020 г. 9:30 - 11:00 ч.


Пандемията COVID-19 и последвалата икономическа криза променят живота на децата и младите хора в цяла Европа. Свидетели сме на рязко покачване на бедността и неравенството, което заплашва да задълбочи съществуващите социални различия.   На 10 ноември 2020 г. Съветът на Европейския съюз и Европейският парламент постигнаха споразумение за бюджета на ЕС за периода 2021-2027 г., който е в размер на 1,8 трилиона евро и включва амбициозен план за възстановяване, следвайки предложенията на европейските лидери, направени през лятото. Очаква се Съветът и Парламентът на ЕП да финализират преговорите за приоритетите и правилата, регулиращи разходните програми на ЕС в следващите седмици. По този начин те ще се стремят да гарантират устойчивостта и стабилността на бъдещата ни икономика и социалната тъкан на ЕС.
Уязвимите хора и общности несъмнено платиха най-високата цена на пандемията по отношение на здравето и загубеното препитание. Въпреки че децата не са лицето на пандемията, те понесоха тежестта на нейното въздействие. . Нивото на детската бедност се очаква да се повиши заедно с нарастващите икономически последствия от пандемията, което налага да действаме още по-бързо. Нуждаем се от повече ресурси и усилия, за да се борим и надминем препятствията, които пандемията поставя пред нас, за да сме сигурни, че нито едно дете в Европа няма да бъде изоставено.
Инвестицията в децата и приоритизирането на тяхното благосъстоянието са ключови за изграждането на по-приобщаващи и устойчиви общества. Ето защо Eurochild, в партньорство със своите национални членове, организира поредица от уебинари, за да погледнем на възстановяването на Европа през призмата на правата на децата. Поредицата е организирана така, че да съвпада със Световния ден на детето на 20 ноември, който отбелязва 31-ата годишнина от приемането на Конвенцията на ООН за правата на детето.
На всеки уебинар лидерите от национално, европейско и международно ниво ще споделят как зачитането на правата на децата е информиращо за вземането на решения при възстановяването им след кризата. Деца, активни на местно, национално и европейско ниво, някои от които представители на Детския съвет на Eurochild, ще представят детските гледни точки на дискусиите в панела. В ролята на модератор на трите дискусии ще влезе Дженнифър Бейкър – журналист с ресор Европейски политики с над 20-годшен опит в печатни и електронни медии.

18 ноември: Какво е „икономика на благосъстоянието“ и защо и как дава приоритет на децата?   Съ-домакин Хана Хайнонен, главен изпълнителен директор на Central Union for Welfare, организирано в партньорство с ОИСР.
Фокусирайки се върху икономическите аргументи за инвестиране в деца, този уебинар ще подчертае и усилията на Финландия за приоритизиране на правата на децата и защо това има икономически смисъл.
  • Ангел Гурия, генерален секретар на ОИСР
  • Н.пр. Мари-Луиз Колейро Прека, президент на Eurochild, президент емеритус на Малта
  • Криста Киуру, Министър по семейните въпроси и социалните услуги, Финландия
  • Професор Дженифър Дейвидсън, изпълнителен директор на Inspiring Children’s Futures, директор-основател на CELCIS
  • Санна Кулу, старши съветник по Националната стратегия за детето, Министерство на социалните политики и здравеопазването, Финландия
  • Еету, член на детския съвет Eurochild и детския парламент на град Тампере, Финландия

Уебинарът ще се проведе на английски език.

19 ноември: Защо борбата с детската бедност е предпоставка за устойчиво излизане от кризата?   Съ-домакин Рикардо Ибара, директор на Plataforma de Infancia, Испания
Повече от 1 на 4 деца в ЕС са в риск от бедност. Как инициативата Европейска гаранция за децата помага да се справи с това важно и нарастващо предизвикателство. Този уебинар ще представи перспективата на испанското правителство, което постави борбата срещу детската бедност като особен приоритет.
  • Педро Санчес, министър-председател на Испания
  • Н.Пр. Мари-Луиз Колейро Прека, президент на Eurochild, президент емеритус на Малта
  • Ернесто Хосе Гаско Гонсало, Върховен комисар за борбата срещу детската бедност, Испания
  • Катарина Иванкович-Кнежевич, Директор, Генерална дирекция за заетост, социални политики и приобщаване на Европейската комисия
  • Афшан Кан, регионален директор за Европа и Централна Азия на УНИЦЕФ
  • Карлес Лопес Пико, президент на Plataforma de Infancia, Испания
  • Петра Макрот, ръководител на Генерална дирекция за семейни политики, Федерално министерство за семейни политики, възрастни хора, жени и младежи, Германия
  • Мариам и Ангел, представители на Cibercorresponsales, младежка журналистическа мрежа на Plataforma de Infancia, и асоциация Colectivo de acción para el Juego y la Educación (CAJE), Испания

Уебинарът ще се проведе на английски и испански

Световен ден на детето!
20 ноември: Защо и как защитата на правата на децата укрепва нашите демокрации?
Съ-домакин Георги Богданов, директор на Национална мрежа за децата
В този уебинар ще разгледаме пресечната точка между правата на децата и демокрацията. По-специално ще изследваме предизвикателствата, с които се сблъсква движението за правата на децата в България и как предстоящата Стратегия на ЕС за правата на детето може да помогне на правителствата да осъзнаят своя ангажимент за правата на детето.
  • Н.Пр. Мари-Луиз Колейро Прека, президент на Eurochild, президент емеритус на Малта
  • Дубравка Шуйца, Заместник-председател на Европейската комисия по въпросите на демокрацията и демографията
  • Деница Сачева, Министър на труда и социалната политика, България
  • Брус Адамсън, комисар за децата и младежите, Шотландия, и новоизбран председател на Европейската мрежа на омбудсманите за деца
  • Колин Скиклуна, началник на кабинета на Вице-президента за демокрация и деморгафия на Европейската комисия
  • Дорийн Елизабет Месси, Баронеса Месси на Дарвен, член на подкомитет на за децата на Парламентарната асамблея на Съвета на Европа, член на Палатата на лордовете, Великобритания
  • Милена, член на Детския съвет на Eurochild, Българския център за безопасен интернет и Национална мрежа за децата

Всички уебинари ще се проведат онлайн от 9:30 до 11:00 часа българско време. Регистрирайте се, за да не ги пропуснете и добавете събитията към календара си.

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