On 4 October 2022, the European Union adopted the first Youth Action Plan (YAP) in EU external action to strengthen engagement with young people and children worldwide. The YAP is guided by three pillars of action that will help shape the EU's partnership to engage, empower and connect young people and children in partner countries worldwide. European Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography Dubravka Suica said: “We need to empower children and young people across the world, ensure that they have concrete opportunities and promote the effective engagement of young people and children as a right, ensuring no one is left behind. We share the collective responsibility to build more democratic, equal and peaceful societies, also for future generations.”
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The European Commission published a set of ethical guidelines for educators on the use of AI and data in education. The guidelines are intended for primary and secondary teachers and can be used by educators with little or no experience with digital education. They clarify popular and widespread misconceptions about artificial intelligence (AI) that might confuse people and cause anxiety over its use, especially in education.
Step into the shoes of a national minister and experience EU decision-making by negotiating on real topics that matter for you. Agreeing on a common charger for your devices, banning single-use plastics or supporting the transition to electric cars and greener buildings – it's all in your hands. Play EUcraft – a digital simulation game. Available on web and mobile (15+).
On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, Missing Children Europe honoured Her Majesty Queen Paola of Belgium for her extraordinary commitment to the cause. For 20 years members across Europe have been striving to find missing children and fight against their sexual exploitation. What started off with enthusiastic attempts to work together and speak the same language has evolved into a stable and effective structure for ongoing cross-border cooperation and exchange. The organisation dedicated its 20th anniversary to the Ukrainian children being forcibly deported to Russia.
New EMN inform explores the situation of all unaccompanied minors reaching adulthood who are classified as unaccompanied minors in the Member States and Norway – including, to the extent possible, both those who do and do not apply for asylum.
The conflict in Ukraine and the subsequent increase in the cost of living has brought unbearable challenges in the life of millions of children. Families and children in vulnerable situations are among those most exposed to the daunting impact of rising inflation. Skyrocketing costs risk plunging financially stable families into poverty and sinking millions of vulnerable children into deeper poverty. Collecting data and testimonies from Save the Children’s teams working in 12 European countries, the policy paper delves into the devastating choices families must make, mental health issues, education, and leisure services.
Since the escalation of conflict in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, more than 1,000 children have been killed or injured in the country. This is tragic and likely an underestimation. By October 2022, nearly one-third of the population was displaced and more than 7.6 million refugees from Ukraine were recorded across Europe. Thousands of children and families are still being forced to flee, while violence and fighting make it hard to access essential healthcare and education. Save the Children research with more than 1,000 children and caregivers in eight European countries, shows that children who have left Ukraine face significant challenges adjusting to their new environment.
This report highlights the recommendations and priorities that EU decision-makers and national governments can do to support the most vulnerable children and prevent widening inequalities. Based on input from Eurochild national members from 22 countries across Europe, the report provides feedback on the 2022 European Semester Country Reports and Country Specific Recommendations; the development of the Child Guarantee National Action Plans and further analysis of the situation regarding child poverty and social exclusion; and members’ knowledge and experiences of EU funding programmes.
The European Commission released the results of its seventh evaluation of the Code of Conduct on countering illegal hate speech online. This year's results unfortunately show a decrease in companies' notice-and-action results: the number of notifications reviewed by the companies within 24 hours dropped as compared to the last two monitoring exercises, from 90.4% in 2020, to 81% in 2021, and 64.4% in 2022.
This year, the Slovenian Charter put particular focus on the role of women in the workplace and organised two separate events together with the Diversity Charter Croatia on the topic.
Besides the events organized by Charter signatories to promote inclusion & diversity at workplace, events to support LGBT+ community and D&I conference with Charter presentation, the Slovak Charter organised specific happenings on Women in Leadership and the impact the war in Ukraine has on our attitude towards refugees.
Last year we started to have Pepp Hours, where we meet for an hour to inform and inspire each other, to be prepared for Diversity Month. This year we hade Jana Kukuckova from the EU Commission. She inspired us, how to use the Diversity Month material. We also find it useful to give our members a feeling that they are a part of something big.
On the occasion of the EU Diversity Month, the Romanian Diversity Charter organized o range of actions with the aim to engage Charter’s signatories in the celebration of the second edition of the EU Diversity Month in Romania, by creating at the same time a solid ground for debating and informing about the benefits of diversity and inclusion at the workplace.
The European Diversity Month 2022 brought with it new exciting partnerships and milestones!
The Polish Diversity Charter celebrated the European Diversity Month as part of the year-round celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Diversity Charter in Poland, coordinated by the Responsible Business Forum.
During the European Diversity Month (in the run-up to the Dutch Diversity Day on October 4th 2022), SER Diversiteit in Bedrijf (Dutch Diversity Charter) organized an Inspiration session together with their partners a few weeks ago. The central question of the session was: How do we ensure that difference will enrich us?
This year Fondazione Sodalitas - as promoter of Italian Diversity Charter -, developed different initiatives during the European Diversity Month, the annual event held in May and organised by the European Commission to raise awareness of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and societies.
The Diversity Month 2022 organised by the EU Diversity Charter Hungary was joined by numerous Charter signatories and partners, so Hungary had a colorful programme of 55 events to offer (2021: nearly 30). 38 organizers of 55 events engaged with further 86 co-organizers and speakers and involved 10000 participants to spend 135 hours on diversity and inclusion and its subtopics.