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.

Its latest resolution, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the UNCRC, emphasised the importance of focusing on both the external and internal aspects of children's rights across all portfolios. The plan for a comprehensive strategy on the rights of the child, including actions to protect vulnerable children, protect their rights online, foster child-friendly justice, and prevent and fight violence.

In the context of a worrying increase in the volume of child abuse material on the internet, during the July session MEPs endorsed a temporary regulation that allows web-based service providers to continue fighting child sexual abuse material online on a voluntary basis.

This legislative change was necessary to allow web service providers to continue applying voluntary measures to combat and prevent the spread of child sexual abuse content on the internet, following the full application of the EU Electronics Communications Code in December 2020. The Commission intends to propose a more permanent solution to address this problem in the course of 2021.

Children’s rights

The European Parliament works to ensure that its legislative and non-legislative work respects, promotes and safeguards the rights of the child and advances children’s lives both within the EU and in relation to the outside world.

The EU school fruit, vegetable and milk scheme lasts throughout the school year in the participating EU countries.

Aimed at promoting healthy eating habits among children, the EU school scheme includes the distribution of fruit, vegetables and milk products, as well as dedicated educational programmes to teach pupils about the importance of good nutrition and to explain how food is produced.

#EUelections2019 - Children’s rights

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

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 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

rights of the child (T)

Videos

EPRS - Creating a better internet for kids

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, 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

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

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

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

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

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

Photos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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