Child poverty is a pressing issue in Europe, affecting millions. Growing up in poverty harms children’s future and costs society. Early childhood experiences are crucial for lifelong well-being.
Institutional care harms children. Many European children live in such settings. The Ukrainian crisis worsened this problem. Eurochild advocates for stronger child protection.
Eurochild’s 2023 report calls for a unified approach to support children in poverty. It emphasizes children’s participation in decisions and early childhood development investment.
Eurochild promotes child participation in EU policies. It secured commitments like the European Child Guarantee. The organization also advocates for stronger child protection and early childhood development.
To create a better future, Europe needs to invest in early childhood, strengthen child protection, and empower children in decision-making. This will build a more inclusive society.
Key statistics:
- 24.8% of EU children were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2023.
- Over 300,000 children lived in residential care in the EU-27 before the Ukraine war.
- 100,000 Ukrainian children were in institutional care before the war.
- Eurochild’s 2023 report involved 38 national members from 26 countries.
- 9,200 children responded to the Europe Kids Want survey in 2024.
Fighting child poverty and creating a more inclusive, safe, and prosperous Europe for all children from their youngest years must be a priority for future European leaders, Eurochild’s blog post says.
Find out key European challenges regarding child poverty and protecting children’s rights here.
