“The Europe We Want” at centre of today's debate* between children and young people, MEPs, European Commissioner and other high-level representatives

Brussels, 20 November, 2017: Children and young people from across Europe will today join members of the European Parliament under the auspices of its President, Mr. Antonio Tajani for a debate on the theme of “the Europe We Want.”

The event – in which President of Malta, HE Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and other senior officials will participate – is organised by the Parliament's Intergroup on Children's Rights with support from Eurochild and UNICEF.

Marking the 28th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the event has been prepared and will be run with the direct involvement of a delegation of children from Eurochild and UNICEF.

The debate is part of a day of global action marking World Children's Day, with
children “taking over” key roles in media, politics, business, sport and entertainment to speak up against discrimination and injustice, and to voice support for children who are unschooled, unprotected and uprooted.

“The European Parliament is firmly committed to the promotion of children's rights,” said Mr Tajani. “Next year, and on each World Children's Day thereafter we will assess the progress made and what still needs to be done.”

Children and young people are a key constituency in the European Union: many 15-24 year olds (who make up 11% of the EU population) will be able to vote for the first time in the 2019 European elections. Children aged 0-15 years make up nearly 16 per cent of the EU population.

“Europe needs to strive to get closer to children,” said 13 year old Sharon from Malta, one of 18 children and young people taking part in today's debate. “It needs to find new ways to get in touch with the reality of children coming from diverse backgrounds. No child is voiceless- it's just a matter of whether that child is given the chance to use that voice.”

“On World Children's Day, the European Parliament reaches out to children across Europe, to involve them in an open and meaningful dialogue on our shared values,” said Anna Maria Corazza Bildt, Co-Chair of the EP Intergroup on Children's Rights.

“Children should be given a chance to be informed on the role of the EU and children's rights. We want to empower children to have a say with decision-makers on the Europe they want. The Intergroup of Children Rights is committed to make their voice heard.”

*Members of the media are welcome to attend the debate which will take place today, 20 November 2017, from 16:30 – 18:30 at the Yehudi Menuhin Space, European Parliament.

Contacts:

Emilio Puccio, European Parliament emilio.puccio@ep.europa.eu ;+32 (0)2 48 57128
Prerna Humpal, Eurochild Prerna.Humpal@eurochild.org; 048 635 5083
Simon Ingram, UNICEF singram@unicef.org; 049 190 5118

#WorldChildrensDay #EuropeWeWant #KidsTakeOver

About the organisers:
European Parliament Intergroup on Children's Rights represents the first formal body in the EP that will mainstream children's rights and assess the impact of legislative and non-legislative work on children. It is a cross-party, a cross-national group of committed MEPs, who will work together with child-focused organisations to keep children's rights on top of the EU agenda.

UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children visit www.unicef.org.

Eurochild advocates for children's rights and well-being to be at the heart of policymaking. The umbrella network, has over 165 members working with and for children in 33 countries, striving for a society that respects the rights of children. www.eurochild.org