Local and regional authorities are responsible for the delivery of key services for the well-being of all children. Cities and regions are also in the frontline to make sure that children rights are met and safeguarded in every phase of their development.
Today, the meeting of the Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) of the Committee of the Regions has adopted the opinion on the EU strategy on the rights of the child and the European Child Guarantee drafted by Jari Andersson, member of Sastamala City Council (Finland) and of the EPP-CoR Group.
Last week, the Council of the EU adopted a Recommendation on a European Child Guarantee to safeguard the right of all people under the age of 18 to early childhood education, education, healthcare, adequate nutrition and decent housing. The European Committee of the Regions, representing cities and regions in EU decision-making, stresses that local and regional authorities remain in the frontline not only in providing basic services, but also in combating poverty, exclusion and abuse of children, the most exposed and vulnerable subjects in our society. Therefore the Commission and the Member States must ensure that all levels of government are involved in fully and swiftly implementing the Child Guarantee.
"Every child must have the right to an adequate standard of living and equal opportunities from an early age. Strengthening the socio-economic inclusion of children is essential to reduce poverty and disadvantage between generations. Regions, cities and municipalities have an important part to play in tackling child poverty and abuse and a crucial role in preventing exclusion," rapporteur Jari Andersson said.
The opinion calls for specific measures to ensure access to quality education, including for children from more disadvantaged families. The European Commission and the Member States are urged to step up cooperation with local and regional authorities and to ensure that initiatives supporting the objectives of the EU strategy on the rights of the child are properly funded, particularly through the European Social Fund.
In his opinion, the rapporteur also stresses the need to ensure that children are able to participate in decisions affecting their lives and to be heard in a way that is appropriate to their age and maturity. The specific rights of children must also be safeguarded in the legal system. Moreover, detention of children during migration procedures should only be used as a last resort in exceptional cases, and in any case in the full respect of their condition of vulnerable individuals. The opinion is to be submitted for adoption at the CoR plenary session in October 2021.
Gender equality
The SEDEC commission meeting also discussed about gender equality. During the debate, Borboly Csaba, President of Harghita county Council said: " I'm pleased to see that the CoR is a forerunner in the promotion of gender equality and already quite advanced in the implementation of this strategy. We need to set the example and that we're doing our homework in a very committed way, across all key policy departments of our institution. The change starts at the local and regional level. We can all contribute to it, and help spread this culture of gender equality in politics at home.
Artificial Inteligence
In the debate about Artificial Intelligence the President of the Helsinki Region Markku Markkula highlighted the importance of AI in cities and regions. He stressed that the city of Espoo has a very good experiences in actively embedding this in the city processes. He also made a reference to a key report for everyone to read: “Human and Societies in the Age of AI” by Vladimir Sucha.
Borboly Csaba, President of the Harghita County Council said that "The inclusion of Artificial Intelligence in our productive systems, and more in general in our societies, is a reality we must face without fear or suspicion. The next generation of Europeans will be daily confronted with AI, in a way we can hardly figure out today. This is the very first attempt to set rules on AI in the EU. Thus, for local and regional authorities, an occasion not to be missed."
European Platform on Combatting Homelessness
During the debate on Combating homelessness Borboly Csaba, President of the Harghita County Council, outlined that: "Combating homelessness is a matter of solidarity. Meaning, not only a more human society, but also a more equal, fair, cohesive and resilient one. Above all, we need a pragmatic and direct approach to join forces to stop the current trends and reverse it."