MEPs commit to ending child poverty
On 7th December 2015, 428 MEPs signed the European Parliament’s ‘Investing in Childhood’ Written Declaration, an essential step in the fight against child poverty, and a step that was made possible thanks to the commitment of members of the Eurochild network, including Apprentis d’Auteuil.
Did you know that in the EU more than one in four children (27.7%, to be exact), is at risk of poverty or social exclusion? This means 26 million boys and girls likely to be in poor health, failing at school, unable to enjoy their childhood and look forward to their future.
To combat these inequalities and follow the recommendation of the European Commission to “invest in childhood in order to break the vicious cycle of inequality”, Eurochild members, including Apprentis d’Auteuil, sprang into action. They asked MEPs to sign the “Investing in Childhood” Declaration, and in this way engage and educate the various EU stakeholders on legislation, funding and actions to implement or follow, in order to fight childhood poverty and ensure the emotional well-being of children.
The Declaration signed on 7th December 2015, to protect children and their families, is now a priority for the 28 Member States of the European Union. And is still, more than ever, the stated mission goal of Apprentis d’Auteuil.
Eurochild : the best interests of the child. Eurochild is a Europe-wide network to defend and promote children’s rights. It has 124 members (organisations and individuals) actively fighting against child poverty and mobilising for their development and well-being throughout Europe.