It is incumbent upon the European Parliament to ensure that its legislative and non-legislative work is informed to respect, promote and safeguard the rights of the child and to advance children’s lives both within the EU and in its relations with the outside world.

Article 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union establishes the objective for the EU to promote protection of the rights of the child. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights guarantees the protection of the rights of the child by the EU institutions and by EU countries when they implement EU law.

Children’s rights (2019 - 2020)

The rights of the child are part of human rights: rights that the EU and its Member States must respect, protect and fulfil. The Treaty on European Union establishes the objective for the EU to promote protection of the rights of the child. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU guarantees the protection of the rights of the child by the EU institutions and by EU countries when they implement EU law. Over the years the European Parliament has been instrumental in pushing children's rights to the core of European policies, particularly through its Intergroup on Children's Rights.

On 14 November 2023, the Civil Liberties Committee adopted its position on new measures to protect children online by preventing and stopping child sexual abuse. The draft Parliament position was adopted by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs with 51 votes in favour, 2 against, and 1 abstaining. Inter-institutional negotiations were authorised with 48 in favour, 2 against, and 4 abstaining.

To protect children online, the new rules would mandate internet providers to assess whether there is a significant risk of their services being misused for online child sexual abuse and to solicit children, and to take measures to mitigate these risks. MEPs want mitigation measures to be targeted, proportionate and effective, and providers should be able to decide which ones to use.

They also want to ensure that pornographic sites have adequate age verification systems, flagging mechanisms for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and human content moderation to process these reports. To stop minors being solicited online, MEPs propose that services targeting children should require by default user consent for unsolicited messages, have blocking and muting options, and boost parental control.

Children’s rights

EP Plenary session - Strengthening children’s rights in the EU - 35th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

EP Plenary session - International Day on the Rights of the Child

LIBE - Vote on Laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse

DG EXPO Poldep and DROI workshop ' Forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children: responses and accountability measures '

EP Plenary session - The rights of children in Rainbow Families and same sex parents in particular in Italy

EP Plenary session - EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine

EP Plenary session - Short presentation of the following report : Protection of the rights of the child in civil, administrative and family law proceedings

EP Plenary session - Use of technologies for the processing of data for the purpose of combating online child sexual abuse

Plenary Session - Breach of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and the use of minors by the Moroccan authorities in the migratory crisis in Ceuta

30th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child - ' Light the World in Blue on 20 November '

DROI / FEMM committee meeting - Joint hearing on Child Marriages

Plenary session Week 9 2017 in Brussels - Tackling the disappearance of migrant children in Europe

Plenary session in Brussels - Week 05  2017Cross-border aspects of adoptions

GRIESBECK, Nathalie (ALDE, FR); CORAZZA BILDT, Anna Maria (EPP, SE); CHINNICI, Caterina (S&D, IT)

Intergroup on Children's rights meeting: ' emergency lessons ' campaign

Extra maternity paternity leave (extra time off for young mothers and fathers)

MEPs discuss the wellbeing and the protection of children in Europe, marking the International Day on the Rights of the Child. The Parliament also debate how to strengthen the Child Guarantee, two years after its adoption in 2021. MEPs discuss a report to reduce inequalities and increase social inclusion in times of crisis for children and their families. In the text, Parliament calls for better integrated social, educational and employment services to help break the vicious circle of poverty and to protect children and their families at risk of poverty, in particular in times of crisis. Closing statement by Sandra PEREIRA, Rapporteur and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography

International Day on the Rights of the Child: closing statement by Sandra PEREIRA, Rapporteur and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography

MEPs discuss the wellbeing and the protection of children in Europe, marking the International Day on the Rights of the Child. The Parliament also debate how to strengthen the Child Guarantee, two years after its adoption in 2021. MEPs discuss a report to reduce inequalities and increase social inclusion in times of crisis for children and their families. In the text, Parliament calls for better integrated social, educational and employment services to help break the vicious circle of poverty and to protect children and their families at risk of poverty, in particular in times of crisis.

International Day on the Rights of the Child: MEPs debate

MEPs discuss the wellbeing and the protection of children in Europe, marking the International Day on the Rights of the Child. The Parliament also debate how to strengthen the Child Guarantee, two years after its adoption in 2021. MEPs discuss a report to reduce inequalities and increase social inclusion in times of crisis for children and their families. In the text, Parliament calls for better integrated social, educational and employment services to help break the vicious circle of poverty and to protect children and their families at risk of poverty, in particular in times of crisis. Opening statement by Sandra PEREIRA (The Left, PT), Rapporteur and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography and Ewa KOPACZ (EPP, PL), on behalf of the FEMM Committee. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Joint debate International Day on the Rights of the Child: opening statement by Sandra PEREIRA, Rapporteur and Dubravka ŠUICA, VP of the EC in charge of Democracy and Demography and by Ewa KOPACZ, on behalf of the FEMM Committee

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, opens the plenary session in Strasbourg with introductory remarks on the International Day on the Rights of the Child (20 Nov.). This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Introductory remark by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, on the International Day on the Rights of the Child (20 Nov.)

Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES), Rapporteur, gives a statement about the Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) voting a proposal to lay down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse online. The proposal suggests that service providers should be obligated to evaluate the substantial risks of their platforms being used for online child sexual abuse and grooming. It also proposes granting judicial authorities the authority to issue time-limited orders for detecting and removing such materials and establishing an EU Center for Child Protection. This center, among its various responsibilities, would serve as the primary complaint channel for the entire European Union. This news item shows extracts from the vote in the Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) and a statement of Javier Zarzalejos, Rapporteur on the proposal for laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse.

Vote on Laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse online: extracts from the vote and statement by Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES), Rapporteur

The draft report of the European Parliament on EU strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse welcomes and shares the European Commission's proposal’s main aims. Yet the draft report includes a number of new elements. For instance, it includes in its scope search engines and other artificial intelligence systems and limits CSA scanning in E2E encryption to metadata analysis in order to detect suspicious patterns of behaviour without having access to the content of the encrypted communication. Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES) Rapporteur, Paul TANG (S&D, NL), Hilde VAUTMANS (Renew, BE), Patrick BREYER (Greens/EFA, DE) and Cornelia ERNST (The Left, DE), shadow rapporteurs, hold a press conference on the proposal for a Regulation laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES) rapporteur, Paul TANG (S&D, NL), Hilde VAUTMANS (Renew, BE), Patrick BREYER (Greens/EFA, DE) and Cornelia ERNST (The Left, DE): Proposal for a Regulation laying down rules to prevent child sexual abuse

The internet provides many opportunities for kids to learn and explore, to be creative or to interact with their friends and family, but it also entails many risks such as cyberbullying, age-inappropriate content, disinformation and sexual abuse. In May 2022, the European Commission published a new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+). The new strategy contributes to the vision for the EU's digital transformation by 2030 and reflects the principle, 'Children and young people should be protected and empowered online'. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Creating a better internet for kids

An extraordinary joint meeting of the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs takes place to discuss the risk of illegal adoption of Ukrainian children from institutional care. The EP Coordinator on Children's Rights VP Ewa Kopacz addresses the MEPs on the legal and social policy aspects of adoption and the need to ensure international and European legal norms. Extract with Theoni KOUFONIKOLAKOU, Aaron GREENBERG, Anna KRAWCZAK, Katarina IVANKOVIC KNEZEVIC

The risk of illegal adoption concerning Ukrainian children from institutional care fleeing from war: extracts from the exchange of views - JURI and EMPL Committees

Voting session on: Medicinal products made available in the UK with respect to Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Ireland and Malta; Increased pre-financing from REACT-EU resources; Security of gas supply and Conditions for access to natural gas transmission networks; The Schengen evaluation mechanism; Human rights situation in North Korea; The situation of the rule of law and human rights in the Republic of Guatemala; Increasing repression in Russia, including the case of Alexey Navalny; Right to repair; Parliament’s estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2023; Situation in Afghanistan, in particular the situation of Women’s rights; EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine; Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 24-25 March 2022: including the latest developments of the war against Ukraine and the EU sanctions against Russia and their implementation.

Voting session, including the motion for resolution on the EU sanctions against Russia and the Security of gas supply and Conditions for access to natural gas transmission networks

MEPs discuss what the EU can do to protect children fleeing war in Ukraine, in particular from trafficking and exploitation, following the activation on 3 March of the temporary protection status for refugees from Ukraine, which gives them temporary residence rights and access to education and the labour market. Closing statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs.

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: closing statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

MEPs discuss what the EU can do to protect children fleeing war in Ukraine, in particular from trafficking and exploitation, following the activation on 3 March of the temporary protection status for refugees from Ukraine, which gives them temporary residence rights and access to education and the labour market. Third part of the debate.

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: MEPs debate (part 3/3)

MEPs discuss what the EU can do to protect children fleeing war in Ukraine, in particular from trafficking and exploitation, following the activation on 3 March of the temporary protection status for refugees from Ukraine, which gives them temporary residence rights and access to education and the labour market. Second part of the debate.

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: MEPs debate (part 2/3)

MEPs discuss what the EU can do to protect children fleeing war in Ukraine, in particular from trafficking and exploitation, following the activation on 3 March of the temporary protection status for refugees from Ukraine, which gives them temporary residence rights and access to education and the labour market. First part of the debate.

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: MEPs debate (part 1/3)

MEPs discuss with Council and Commission what the EU can do to protect children fleeing war in Ukraine, in particular from trafficking and exploitation during a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Following the activation on 3 March of the temporary protection status for refugees from Ukraine -which gives them temporary residence rights and access to education and the labour market-, the Commission and the French Presidency of the Council are working on a 10-point plan to enhance the European common response.

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: extracts from the debate

MEPs discuss what the EU can do to protect children fleeing war in Ukraine, in particular from trafficking and exploitation, following the activation on 3 March of the temporary protection status for refugees from Ukraine, which gives them temporary residence rights and access to education and the labour market. Opening statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography. This transcript is a resul of an authomatic process. Please check against delivery.

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: opening statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission for Democracy

MEPs debate and vote on the impact of intimate partner violence and custody rights on women and children during the plenary session in Strasbourg (4 - 7 october 2021). Statements by Elena KOUNTOURA (The Left, EL) and Luisa REGIMENTI (EPP, IT), co-rapporteurs, extracts from the debate (04/10) and result of the final vote

The impact of intimate partner violence and custody rights on women and children: statements by Elena KOUNTOURA (The Left, EL) and Luisa REGIMENTI (EPP, IT), co-rapporteurs, extracts from the debate (04/10) and result of the final vote

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate the impact of intimate partner violence and custody rights on women and children. Opening statements by Elena KOUNTOURA (The Left, EL) Luisa REGIMENTI (EPP, IT), co-rapporteurs and by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality.

The impact of intimate partner violence and custody rights on women and children: opening statements by Elena KOUNTOURA (The Left, EL) Luisa REGIMENTI (EPP, IT), co-rapporteurs and by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate the impact of intimate partner violence and custody rights on women and children.

15 results