Investing in Children Alliance calls for implementation of Commission’s Recommendation

Date: 7th July 2015
Category: General principles, General measures of implementation

The UK Alliance asks UK governments to give a voice to disadvantaged children and families and to hold the UK Government to account on the objectives of the 2013 European Commission recommendation 'Investing in Children - Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage'.

Children in Scotland, Children in Wales, Children in Northern Ireland and Children England have, since 2013, led the UK Alliance for Investing in Children, urging both the UK government and the devolved governments to implement the 2013 European Commission (EC) recommendation 'Investing in Children - Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage'.

The Recommendation includes that the standards and principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) must continue to guide EU policies and actions that have an impact on the rights of the child. It also advocates for a children's rights approach to tackling child poverty and social exclusion.

The Recommendation encourages member states to protect funding for services that support children and their families, even in the context of implementing policies of austerity. The Alliance reports that new UK government is committed to pursuing policies and introducing legislation that will result in severe and profound reductions in welfare expenditure and in the public services that support children and their families.

The UK Alliance urges all newly elected representatives at Westminster, and devolved governments, to take every opportunity to protect children and to implement fully the EC Recommendation. The organisations ask them, in particular, to "give a voice to disadvantaged children, young people and families, to hold the UK Government to account on the objectives of the recommendation, and to demand that the new government engages with the reality of the UK's child poverty crisis."

• Read UK Alliance's briefing paper here.

A European Parliament Written Declaration is expected on the Investing in Children Recommendation. A written declaration is a text of a maximum of 200 words which has to be signed by a majority of MEPs (377 in total) during a period of three months. It's not binding the Parliament but it can be a powerful tool to create momentum and put pressure on the European Commission and Member States.

Eurochild (a network of organisations and individuals working in and across Europe to promote the rights and well-being of children and young people) has referred to the expected Written Declaration as a great opportunity for a follow-up to the Investing in Children Recommendation.

The Written Declaration is expected to be launched on 7 September 2015. To make it a success Eurochild is calling for anyone with contacts in the European Parliament to help reach the necessary 377 signatures.

• Find out more about the expected Written Declaration here.