Eurochild: An EU job worth fighting for – European Commissioner for Children
With the opportunity of a new European Commission, Eurochild has launched a petition to gather signatures supporting a new role at the European Commission – A Commissioner for Children in the next mandate of the European Commission 2019-2024. With a political leader, the EU would prioritise fighting the many challenges faced by children.
Did you know that there is an EU Commissioner for Fisheries but no Commissioner for Children?
European leaders are about to decide on top jobs for the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union. Over the next five years, these European Commissioners are responsible for proposing laws and setting the EU’s political and spending priorities.
While children’s rights are guaranteed by law, a lot still remains to be done.
1 in 4 children are at risk of poverty in the European Union (EU); social protection systems are too weak to support families and children in need; strucutural inequalities have locked children and families into a cycle of disadvantage. In December 2009, the EU recognised children’s rights. 10 years later, there is no single authority in the EU with the responsibility of child-proofing EU policies to enforce this!
With the opportunity of a new European Commission, Eurochild has launched a petition to gather signatures supporting a new role at the European Commission – A Commissioner for Children in the next mandate of the European Commission 2019-2024. With a political leader, the EU would prioritise fighting the many challenges faced by children.
The petition letter to Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, states that the role of a “European Commissioner for Children would be to champion the rights of children within the EU, accession countries and in its external action. The Commissioner would ensure all policies and EU funds have a positive impact on children’s lives.”
Young respondents to the year-long Europe Kids Want survey think that the EU makes their life better and that it can do more. The Bucharest EU Children’s Declaration which was developed with children at the first ever EU Children’s Summit under the Romanian EU Presidency in May this year, also points to children seeking greater participation in public decision-making. Eurochild envisions this role to respond to the demands of children, civil society and other actors seeking greater political attention to children’s rights.
Sign the petition to join the call for a European Commissioner for Children. There is limited time to make our voices heard!
Learn more on www.commissionerforchildren.com
Read the job description as we imagine it, and sign the petition here!
