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)

Parliament has&nbsp;called for the introduction of a minimum age limit of 16&nbsp;for access to social media, and has&nbsp;adopted recommendations&nbsp;on better protecting the victims of online harassment and bullying, and strengthening platform accountability. Background The&nbsp;Digital Services Act&nbsp;(DSA) introduced measures to protect minors online, notably an obligation for platforms to ensure high levels of privacy, safety and security for minors online.

The Commission published&nbsp;guidelines on the protection of minors&nbsp;in July 2025. An&nbsp;EU expert panel&nbsp;is currently reviewing existing protection measures and developing recommendations on child safety online, including on age limits and age assurance, and is expected to publish its final results before the summer of 2026.

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

Children’s rights

Social media/protecting children. On Wednesday, MEPs will discuss solutions to improve the protection of children and their mental health from risks attached to social media use.

Debate: Protecting children from risks of social media

EP Plenary Session - Protecting children’s safety and mental health from the risks posed by social media – our duty to act now

EP Plenary Session - Child sexual abuse online: protect children, not perpetrators

EP Plenary Session - International Women's Day Celebration

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

MEPs vote on different topics such as Political prisoners in Nicaragua (Carlos Brenes, Salvadora Martínez, Brooklyn Rivera); Deteriorating situation of political prisoners in Belarus (Aliaksandra Pulinovich); Crackdown on civic space in Burkina Faso; Waste exports to Switzerland; Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD) and medicine supply risks; Political repression in Cuba; Child recruitment by organized crime; Russia’s drone incursions into Romania, the Baltics, and Finland

Voting Session

MEPs debate on protecting children’s safety and mental health from the risks posed by social media and Glenn MICALLEF, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, replies. MEPs engage in a key debate with Commissioner Glen Micallef on enhancing the protection of children and their mental health from social media risks. Proposed responses by Parliament include setting a minimum age for social media access and strengthening EU action to regulate online platforms.

Commission statement - Protecting children’s safety and mental health from the risks posed by social media – our duty to act now: MEPs debate and reply by Glenn MICALLEF, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport

Political group speakers take the floor prior to the debate on protecting children’s safety and mental health from the risks posed by social media. MEPs engage in a key debate with Commissioner Glen Micallef on enhancing the protection of children and their mental health from social media risks. Proposed responses by Parliament include setting a minimum age for social media access and strengthening EU action to regulate online platforms.

Commission statement - Protecting children’s safety and mental health from the risks posed by social media – our duty to act now: one round of political group speakers

Glenn MICALLEF, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, opens the debate on protecting children’s safety and mental health from the risks posed by social media. The transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please, check against delivery. MEPs engage in a key debate with Commissioner Glen Micallef on enhancing the protection of children and their mental health from social media risks. Proposed responses by Parliament include setting a minimum age for social media access and strengthening EU action to regulate online platforms.

Commission statement - Protecting children’s safety and mental health from the risks posed by social media – our duty to act now: opening statement by Glenn MICALLEF, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport

This news itam shows extracts from the debate on protecting children’s safety and mental health from the risks posed by social media during the plenary in Strasbourg. MEPs urge to act urgently with comprehensive legislation combining platform accountability, age verification, digital literacy, and enforcement to protect children's mental health and safety online.

Protecting children’s safety and mental health from the risks posed by social media: extracts from the debate

Point of order and closing of the ceremony of the International Women’s Day Celebration.

International Women’s Day: Point of order and closing of the ceremony

To mark International Women’s Day, political group speakers take the floor after the testimony of Jackie Fox, who campaigns in memory of her daughter, a victim of cyberbullying. This transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery

International Women’s Day Celebration: one round of political group speakers

To mark International Women’s Day, MEPs hear the testimony of Jackie Fox, who campaigns in memory of her daughter, a victim of cyberbullying. Since her daughter’s death by suicide in 2018 following online bullying, Jackie Fox has campaigned tirelessly for stronger protection for victims. She advocated for the introduction of “Coco’s Law” in Ireland. This legislation makes it an offence to share or threaten to share intimate images on digital devices without consent. It also criminalises severe online bullying. This transcription if the result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

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