Save the Children Europe

We are deeply horrified by reports that a children's hospital in Kyiv has been bombed. Hospitals should always be safe havens, especially for the most vulnerable. No child should ever have to endure such trauma. We must stand together and advocate for the protection of all children, ensuring their safety and well-being in times of conflict.

The EU Heads of State are gathering to decide on the names for EU top jobs: President of the Council of the European Union, President of the European Commission, and High Representative for the Union in Foreign Affairs and Security Policy European External Action Service, and will also adopt the strategic agenda for 2024-2029. As we look to the future, children's rights must remain at the forefront of these discussions and at the center of the EU political agenda. Despite significant progress, many complex challenges persist, and we must continue to push for meaningful change. Our latest publication, "The Future is Now" is packed with actionable recommendations that EU policymakers can use to drive change for millions of children around the world. Check out the video for a sneak peek! And click here to see it: https://bit.ly/SC_EUGuide Let's make children's rights a priority. Their future is now! 🌟🌍

📢 📰NEWS: The Council of the European Union, with the support of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2024, has published updated 🇪🇺 Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict. This crucial update prioritizes the well-being, protection, and reintegration of children affected by armed conflict, addressing the disproportionate impact and victimization they suffer. Children represent up to half of the population in conflict zones and are particularly vulnerable. The 2023 Annual Report of the UN Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict revealed 33,000 grave violations affecting over 22,500 children, with a 35% increase in the killing and maiming of children, underscoring the urgent need for these measures. We urge the EU Commission to ensure these guidelines shape future actions to mitigate the long-term impacts of armed conflicts on children. Plan International EU Office World Vision EU Representation

EU member states are discussing ways to regulate child sexual abuse online. We believe a strong child sexual abuse Regulation is needed. It's crucial to ensure a safe digital environment for children. The EU has a responsibility to promote and protect children’s rights in this digital age, and we call upon important actors, like European Commission and the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2024 to uphold this responsibility.

It’s #WorldRefugeeDay. In 2023 alone, 1 in 4 people seeking protection in the EU were children, fleeing war, hunger, forced marriage, poverty, and climate disasters. These children face unimaginable dangers, and their hopes for a better future are often met with inhumanity. We call on the EU to create a more compassionate Europe. It is crucial to eliminate violence at the borders by implementing an independent and effective border monitoring mechanism and adopting a child-friendly approach to migration management. Ensuring a safer, more humane future for these vulnerable children is crucial.

Happy International Day of Play! Play is a fundamental right for children. It fuels curiosity, sparks creativity, and inspires a life-long love of learning. Thanks to our funding from DG ECHO (EU in Emergencies) we are able to run programs that truly have a significant impact on children's rights. We are sharing two stories today: in Mozambique, we are deploying our Education in Emergencies ambulances to make sure that children can catch up on missed education and return to formal schooling as soon as possible, whilse being safe; in Ukraine we are ensuring child-friendly spaces where children can be children again, playing together and having safety and security.

The results of the #EUElections2024 will make or break the future of children’s rights in the EU. The election shows that the shift in power and fragmentation in the new European Parliament may affect the EU political system, making it crucial for decision-makers to put children at the centre of their political agendas. Our statement ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eEs5Xube

🔔 Friendly reminder 🔔 Vote for a Europe that defends children’s rights, promotes sustainable development, and champions a greener, fairer future that leaves no child behind 🗳️ #VoteForChildren #EUelections2024

For many EU citizens, today is the first #EUelections day. With policy decisions wielding immense influence over children's lives - both within and outside Europe - we must ensure that children's rights remain a priority in the political agenda of the next European Union's mandate. The Good Lobby and UNICEF EU have analysed the election manifestos of nine European political parties and the policies they propose for children. Discover them via this link: https://lnkd.in/dbUKtARf

🚨Just released! “The Future Is Now" – Save the Children's essential guide for EU policymakers. As we stand at the crossroads of this week’s #EUElections2024, the next five years will define the trajectory for children’s rights—both within and outside Europe. Despite progress like the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child and the European #ChildGuarantee, we face compounding challenges. Working in more than 100 countries, we have seen firsthand the transformative impact of EU policies and initiatives on the lives of children around the world. We want to sustain this momentum, champion children’s rights, and ensure a fairer, greener, and stronger EU where no child is left behind. Packed with actionable recommendations to drive change for millions of children in the coming years, this handbook addresses critical issues like child poverty, online safety, climate crisis, and more. Please read, download, and share widely to influence the upcoming European elections. 🌍🗳️