"Local and regional authorities play an important role in the delivery of key services and in combating poverty. Hence the European Commission and Member States should ensure that they are fully engaged in implementing the EU strategy on the rights of the child and the European Child Guarantee." Jari Andersson made these remarks when presenting his opinion for the CoR on the EU strategy on the rights of the child and the European child guarantee.
Andersson, who is member of the Sastamala City Council said that local and regional authorities are uniquely placed to take positive action to uphold the rights of children, to promote their development in a protective and respectful environment where they are treated well, and to act to ensure that children are protected from any form of violence, including abuse and neglect.
The opinion he prepared notes the need to recognise and identify the key role played by local and regional authorities in tackling child poverty and protecting children from any form of violence, and their critical role in preventing discrimination and social exclusion. "This has been evident in local efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, where many regions, cities and municipalities responded quickly and implemented measures to mitigate the negative effects on child poverty, by providing food assistance to families in need in various ways" said the rapporteur. Addressing the plenary session of the CoR, the rapporteur said that the pandemic highlighted many challenges faced by children and young people that could not have been observed under normal conditions.
Andersson's opinion stresses that cooperation between local and regional authorities should be promoted and that the EU should provide support for more effective partnerships between such authorities, in particular with a view to sharing good practices. The opinion calls for information and promotional campaigns set up at local and regional level with EU funding to increase children's awareness of their rights
The opinion recalls chrildren's right to be heard and involved in matters and decisions that affect them. In this regard, it urges the Member States and regions to introduce, improve and provide sufficient resources for new and existing approaches to children's participation at local, regional and national level. The opinion also calls for at least 5% of ESF+ funding under shared management to be earmarked for supporting projects under the European Child Guarantee in particular to fight child poverty..
The opinion prepared by the CoR presents the views of villages, cities and regions on a communication from the European Commission on the development of a strategy on children's rights and on a proposal for a Council recommendation on the establishment of a European Child Guarantee. The two policy initiatives have been put forward by the European Commission to better protect all children, to help them fulfil their rights and to place them right at the centre of EU policy making.
In his remarks, the rapporteur emphasised the willingness of local and regional authorities to participate in future dialogues on child and youth policy and to cooperate with the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, civil society, children's rights associations and other stakeholders.
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