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"Children cannot wait. They count on the EU to reverse the situation."
Dear MEPs, dear colleagues - thank you for inviting UNICEF to this roundtable and for the opportunity to underline the importance of International Humanitarian Law as a bedrock to EU humanitarian aid for children. And this is at a time when it is increasingly clear, that children are coming under attack in conflic...
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Why a pro-child long-term budget is one of the best investments the EU can make
The idea that a boy or girl born today will come of age with better opportunities and living standards than their parents is no longer assumed but increasingly in doubt – whether this child is born in a European capital or in the global south. Two-thirds of the Sustainable Development Goals on child well-being are...
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Putting Children at the Heart of the EU’s Next Multiannual Financial Framework
The decisions made by the European Union (EU) – through its legislation, policies, practices, and financing – have a profound impact on every aspect of children’s lives, both inside and outside the EU. With its unique social model and as the largest donor of international aid, alongside its Member States, the EU h...
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UNICEF urges the EU to ensure that protection of child rights is not weakened in the omnibus process
Brussels, 26 February 2025, - UNICEF has previously welcomed the European Union’s initiatives to strengthen human rights and environmental due diligence by businesses, through the introduction of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD...
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Publications and Reports
In our Reports and Publications section you’ll find the resources showcasing UNICEF’s work to advance child rights and well-being on the EU and global levels: from evidence-based research to policy briefs and data-driven insights.
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Take Action
Get involved, Contact us, Have questions about our work or want to learn more about UNICEF’s partnerships with the EU? Reach out to us – we’re here to connect with and collaborate for every child. Girl shows off new online platform on her cell phone, Work with us, Want to help us change the world for the better? W...
Remarks
European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights Public Hearing on the Rights of the Child in the EU External Policy
Good afternoon, dear MEPs and colleagues. Firstly, thank you to DROI Committee chair Mounir Satouri, for hosting this important hearing on children’s rights in the EU external policies and to Vice President Kopacz for championing children’s rights at the Parliament and her words. We at UNICEF are very much encoura...
Blog post
Climate-proofing education
The world is grappling with twin crises in climate change and education – and each threatens to amplify the other. The planet is warming at an alarming rate: 2024 marked the first year the average global temperatures surpassed 1.5 degrees, the tipping point that scientists say will cause severe weather, rising sea...
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Make Children Matter – The way forward for the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive
Ensuring that children’s rights are adequately integrated in the text of the EU Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence and in the following implementation measures will ensure EU legislation aligns with international standards and EU policies, accelerate existing business practice to reach impact at s...
Press release
UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP Representatives in Sudan visit Brussels to raise the alarm and call for more EU support to tackle escalating crisis
Brussels, Belgium – Tuesday, 24 September 2024 –, Country representatives of UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP in Sudan sounded the alarm and urged the EU to step up efforts to help those affected by one of the world’s worst, and most neglected, humanitarian emergencies. As the war in Sudan rages on for nearly 18 months, the ...
Press release
The European Union must put children at the heart of its actions to tackle global and regional challenges
Brussels, Belgium – Monday, September 16 th , 2024 -, The European Union (EU) must invest in children and champion their rights if it hopes to effectively address global and domestic challenges, UNICEF said today as it launched new guidance for EU decision-makers. “Whether it’s war, climate change or the risks exp...
Article
Children and Young People at the Heart of EU Actions
Introduction, The upcoming EU political cycle (2024-2029), following the European Parliament Elections in June 2024, presents a crucial opportunity to place the youngest generations at the heart of the European project, which is essential for their future and the future of Europe. This pivotal moment offers a chan...