Justice and Consumers

Dear Readers, In this summer edition, we will share some wonderful memories from the first ever general assembly of the EU Children’s participation platform. And just a day after the general assembly, the rights of the child team lived through more amazing moments –thanks to the European Ombudsperson who awarded our work with children on the EU Strategy on the rights of the child. There are also reminders about the ongoing consultations on the integrated child protection systems, and other opportunities for children and adults to share their voices and opinions. We wish you a nice end of the summer season.

More than 60 children, members of the EU Children’s Participation Platform came to Brussels on 26-27 June. It was the first time children met each other, representatives of the European Commission, European Parliament, EU Member state administrations, civil society organisations and us, the rights of the child team. Over two days children talked about what child participation is and should be, and what would they like the platform to become and do. They also visited the European Parliament, took a tour around Brussels to see its hidden germs and tasted famous Belgian chocolates.

Our thanks to everyone who was there. It was a truly wonderful event and you can see that from the photos and upcoming videos on the platform’s website. The recording from the two plenary sessions is also available.

The rights of the child team! In reality, it’s an award for everyone who worked on the EU Child rights strategy before and after its implementation – and first and foremost, the children who contributed to it! This award is really special – we got it for working with children for children, and received it the day after the first general assembly of the EU Children’s participation platform. We got a lot of congratulations on the work and achievements, and many questions about how, what and with whom we had done all this. Starting from consultations with children, then child friendly versions of the strategy, and guidelines on how to work on child friendly documents, training sessions for EU staff, etc.

In the previous edition of the newsletter, we shared the link to the online survey on what children need to feel safe – t is still open for children until the end of August.

In the EU Strategy on the rights of the child, we promised to propose how to better protect children and bring all relevant authorities and services to work together in a system that puts the child at the centre. The open public consultation and a call for evidence for adults on this initiative are now available on line. Please respond before 20 October 2023.

Last time we informed you about the new Commission document on mental health: a new Communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health. As part of the activities coming out from this document, the Commission started collecting best and promising practices on mental health. Please contribute before 29 September.

In July, Spain took over the presidency of the European Union. They immediately launched an EU-wide survey to collect children’s views on what is important for them. The online survey will be open until 28 August. The findings of these consultations will inform a call to action, developed by children themselves, which will be presented before the Spanish government and other decision-makers in Spain in September 2023.

UN Special representative on Violence against children with over 30 organisations that form a POP network (protection through online participation) would like to know how children and young people use the Internet to access protection. They will use the results of the survey to make recommendations on how to improve online tools.

This report from SOS Children’s Villages explains why it is important to invest in family strengthening in countries across Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It features the components of child protection and family welfare systems that need to be in place for a range of integrated and quality family strengthening services, and showcases programmes in Bulgaria and Latvia.