Eurodiaconia: Diaconia and churches on the front line against child poverty

On the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Eurodiaconia calls on the new European Commission and the EU member states to fully commit to the eradication of child poverty, 30 years after the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Eurodiaconia welcomes the new Commission’s proposals to develop a child guarantee as part of the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and will take an active role along with its members to further promote its implementation at national and local level.
In light of Eurodiaconia members’ direct experience, particular attention should be given to parents’ inclusion into the labour market to break the vicious cycle of financial insecurity and ”in-work” poverty.

The new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), in particular, the European Social Fund+ (ESF+) and the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD), will once again be the cornerstone in implementing measures to support the participation of children and families at risk of poverty and social exclusion throughout the next decade. In particular, measures tackling over-indebtedness are fundamental to overcome the issue of dysfunctional social security systems and to safeguard human dignity.

Heather Roy, Eurodiaconia Secretary General stresses that “In today’s Europe, it is unacceptable that one in four children is at risk of social exclusion and poverty. We are far from reaching the goals adopted unanimously by the UN and now more than ever it is time to join forces and work together against poverty and strengthen social cohesion.

Eurodiaconia is a dynamic, Europe-wide community of social and health care organisations founded in the Christian faith and working in the tradition of Diaconia. It represents more than 51 members working in over 32 countries, including churches, not-for-profit welfare organisations, and NGOs. Together, our members provide services to hundreds of thousands of persons in need across Europe.

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