MEPs back Special Place for Children - 2009-02-19

CHILDREN'S voices must be heard and children's rights considered in EU all actions, Labour MEP GLENYS KINNOCK today urged.

Euro-MPs today gave their backing to a report authored by GLENYS KINNOCK calling for the EU to ensure adequate funding to protect and promote the rights of the world's most vulnerable citizens.

The report also stresses the importance of meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in order to safeguard children's rights.

It also urges:

Free basic education
More food distribution and social welfare services
The EU to firmly pursue the elimination of all forms of discrimination against girls
The participation of children in decisions about their future
A commitment to address child labour, child trafficking, child soldiers, children affected by armed conflict and all forms of violence against children, including sexual exploitation and harmful traditional practices

Speaking from Brussels, GLENYS KINNOCK said:

"Most of the world's two billion children face a daily struggle against poverty and vulnerability. Today, it is they who are most severely feeling the impact of the financial crisis, as budgets for health and education are threatened.

"That's why we need to see a political commitment to children at the highest level. The Commission has made important steps forward towards an EU strategy on the Rights of the Child but much remains to be done to put those commitments into practice.

"To identify that special place for children we need to see actions intended to match the ambition. We need substance backing up the rhetoric. And that means resources must be available, and there should be no backtracking by the EU on commitments to fund the MDGs.

"As adults we have the duty to elicit and consider the views of young people when taking decisions which actually affect their lives. "

Notes:

To view the full report please see: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A6-2009-0039&language=EN&mode=XML

For more information please contact Lisa Stevens at the Labour European Office on 029 2022 7654 or 079 7367 8175 or call the European Parliamentary Labour Party press officer, Silke Thomson on +32 479 790 053.

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