Justice and Consumers

On 24 March, the Platform’s Advisory Board discussed the implementation of the Work Plan 2025-2026, plans for the 2nd General Assembly and the 15th European Forum on the Rights of the Child that will take place in June. On 25 March, child members of the Advisory Board met Commissioner Glenn Micallef. The meeting was a chance for Board members to discuss the matters most important to them with the Commissioner. This included amplifying children's voices in the EU; concerns about online safety and children's access to harmful goods and practices; mental health of children and young people; access to free, safe after-school spaces and activities for all children; and improving the conditions for children in alternative care. After this meeting, children discussed (cyber) bullying with MEP Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová.

On 10 March, Commissioner McGrath held his first Youth Policy Dialogue in Dublin, focusing on democratic empowerment. The 30 young participants, including two of our young members of the EU Children’s Participation Platform, discussed ways to enhance participation in democracy, contributing to the upcoming Democracy Shield initiative. For a glimpse into the young voices of Ireland, read news from the members of the EU Children’s Participation Platform.

On 28 January 2025, Commissioner Micallef held a Youth Policy Dialogue in Athens. The theme of this dialogue was “All in: Promoting Inclusiveness through Sports and Culture”. The Youth Policy Dialogue, which brought together 28 young people from diverse backgrounds, focused on key topics like fostering access to culture and cultural heritage for young people and the role of sport as a vehicle for inclusion, solidarity and social cohesion.

On 27 and 28 March, more than 100 youth representatives from across Europe gathered to discuss on the best approach for a youth-driven future. The aim of this meeting was to connect the EU with young people and youth civil society, to help the European Commission have a better understanding of the needs and concerns of young people and to strengthen young people’s role in EU policymaking.

The Commission wants to hear what EU citizens think about intergenerational fairness. The Citizens' Engagement Platform is up and running and waiting for input from everyone who has something to say on this important topic.

The European Democracy Shield will address the most severe risks to democracy in the EU and build on the work already done under the European Democracy Action Plan and the Defence of Democracy Package. To further develop and fine-tune this initiative, feedback can be given between 31 March and 26 May 2025.

Discrimination targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people has no place in society, but it is a daily reality for many people in the EU. The Commission is therefore proposing a new strategy to combat the inequalities experienced by LGBTIQ people. The initiative will build on the 2020-2025 LGBTIQ equality strategy and focus on hate-motivated harassment and violence and on banning conversion practices. Take part in the consultations and call for evidence.

The Commission published technical specifications for the EU-wide solution to age verification on its GitHub website. The objective is to develop an EU-wide solution to age verification that reinforces the Digital Services Act (DSA) objective to ensure safe, secure, and trusted digital space—notably Article 28, which focuses on protecting minors. Contributions are welcome to enhance and refine the specifications. If you would like to contribute to this repository, please follow the guidelines explained in the relevant document.

On 11 February, the Safer Internet Day (SID) took place. The aim of this day is to raise awareness of the importance of staying safe online, especially for children and young people. Leading up to this day, AdWiseOnline released materials for families, educators and young people, providing tools to protect YOU(th) from manipulative in-game marketing.

The European Migration Network published a report on the updates and developments at EU and national level relating to migration and asylum covering the last three months of 2024. You can find under the section on ‘unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable groups’ specific updates on developments in Greece and Luxembourg regarding this topic.

Three funding opportunities addressing rights of the child under the CERV programme are currently open. Deadlines 29 April and 7 May.

Share your views on EU funds supporting cross-border education, training and solidarity, young people, media, culture, and creative sectors, values, and civil society. Your input will be taken into account to further develop and fine-tune this initiative.

In support of the Commission’s Recommendation on developing and strengthening integrated child protection systems in the best interests of the child (2024), FRA launched its report, "Towards Integrated Child Protection Systems - Challenges, Promising Practices, and Ways Forward." It builds on FRA's previous mapping child protection systems in the EU and the 27 national reports from country based research. The Commission will be closely working with FRA in supporting Member States moving forward in their plans in strengthening further their child protection systems.

On 4 March Vice-President Ewa Kopacz, the Vice-President of the European Parliament, hosted a seminar on “Empowering Children and Young People to Tackle Cyberbullying”, organised in cooperation with MEP Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, the Vice-Chair of the EP Intergroup on children's rights and Alliance for Childhood European Network Group.

The latest Eurobarometer Flash Youth Survey is now available, offering valuable insights into the perspectives of young people across the EU. Conducted by Ipsos in October, the survey engaged over 25,000 participants aged 16-30 from all 27 Member States.

This guide provides an analytical overview of the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights related to the rights of the child, including areas such as citizenship, birth registration, surrogacy, contact rights, adoption, international abduction, education, healthcare, housing, immigration, sexual exploitation, violence, trafficking, and many other pertinent issues on children and their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights

Share your views on the draft of general comment No. 27 on children’s right to access to justice and to an effective remedy.

Share your views on the Recommendation on Equality and Artificial Intelligence. This Recommendation will provide non-binding guidance for member states and other key stakeholders.

This guide provides a child-friendly introduction to the rights of child human rights defenders (CHRDs), addressing their challenges, rights, and actions, while serving as a resource for children and adults to better understand and advocate for the rights of these young activists.

The Competence Centre on Participatory Deliberative Democracy offers training courses on citizen engagement in policymaking. They are tailored to EU public officials, civil servants and other government professionals working in local, regional and national public administrations, and to future trainers.

The Council of Europe produced a comprehensive guide aimed at enhancing child participation in healthcare decision-making. This guide addresses the complexities of healthcare situations, considering diverse legislative frameworks across Member States, and offers practical advice for healthcare professionals.

UNICEF, UN Women, and Plan International released Girl Goals: What has changed for girls? Adolescent girls’ rights over 30 years. The report highlights progress and challenges since the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, with adolescent girls' voices central to its insights on education, gender-based violence, harmful practices, and health and nutrition.

The Council of the Baltic Sea States Expert Group on Children at Risk organises a training on children’s rights in transnational contexts.The online training on transnational child protection guidance provides guidance and practical tools for addressing transnational child protection cases.

The new programme for government (PfG) in Ireland mentions expansions of Barnahus nationally and strengthening measures aimed at preventing violence against children.