The children's version
The European Union (EU for short) is a group of 27 countries that work together. The EU wants to make sure that children can have a good life.
Recommendation is a policy document that advises European governments what they should do.
This recommendation explains how adults can work better together to keep children safe.
It is part of the EU Strategy of the rights of the child, which makes stopping violence against children and protecting them a top priority for the EU itself.
More than 1,000 children gave their views to prepare this recommendation through the EU Children’s Participation Platform.
GOALS
- Protect all children from all forms of violence.
- Get everyone to work together to keep children safe.
- Encourage EU countries (governments, regions and cities) to improve their rules and how they protect children.
- Help keep children safe all around the world.
- Show how EU laws, policies and money can help EU countries protect children.
MAIN MESSAGES
Listen to children and
start from their needs
EU countries should:
- find ways for children to share their views, be taken seriously and have clear information.
- promote the EU Children’s Participation Platform to engage with children and hear their views.
- protect all children from any form of violence, physical or mental.
- meet children’s needs and work for every child, with special attention to children who are most at risk of violence.
- protect children from any discrimination based on religion, gender, origin, disability, their beliefs or whom they like.
- make children safe at home, in school, in sport and other activities.
- make children safe online, for example by teaching children and families how to stay safe when using online tools, and by making sure internet is safe for children.
Protect children's health
and prevent violence
EU countries should:
- have a national plan to support children’s mental health.
- have support services for children who have mental health challenges.
- take steps to stop all forms of bullying.
- support children’s health (e.g healthy food, sport, no addiction).
- take steps to stop violence before it happens (e.g. ban adults from hitting children and provide support for families).
- make clear how children can report violence and be helped quickly.
Work together
to protect children
EU countries should:
- have national plans to stop violence against children and make sure there is enough money and staff to make the plan work.
- teachers, medical staff, the police, social workers, judges and other professionals should be trained and know how to work together to protect and support children.
- meet the needs of children who are not living with their families and make sure they live in a stable family or community.
- adapt justice system to children, find ways to make sure everyone is treated fairly.
- protect children who are migrants, especially those who have come without their families.
- collect good information about child protection.
- use EU tools, laws, policies and money to better protect children.
Protect children
across the world
EU countries should take steps to:
- protect children in their policy in the world.
- stop child labour.
- protect children in armed conflicts.
- protect children from climate change and environmental harm and involve them in finding solutions.
