European

Child
Guarantee
24 March 2021
#EUChildGuarantee
#EUChildRights

EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child Part 2:

socio-economic inclusion, health and education

Children in need
In 2019, 22.2% of children (under 18s) in the EU
were living in households at risk of poverty or SOCIAL
EXCLUSION AFFECTS
social exclusion. That amounts to nearly
18 million children in need. SCHOOL
We have to PERFORMANCE
AND HEALTH
BREAK THE CYCLE
of poverty and social
exclusion across
Around 60% generations DROP
of Roma OUT OF
children live in SCHOO L
severe material
deprivation and 80% are at risk POVER TY
of poverty or social exclusion
LONG-TERM
UNEMP LOYED

European Pillar of Social Rights Children at risk

of poverty or
9
Principle 11: social exclusion
Childcare and support to children are twice as likely
10 [...] Children from disadvantaged to have unmet
backgrounds have the right to specific medical needs
11 than children from more
measures to enhance equal opportunities.
affluent families
12
KE-02-21-322-EN-N

The European Child Guarantee provides guidance and tools for Member States to support children in need:
persons under the age of 18 who are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Member States should take
into account the specific needs of those from disadvantaged backgrounds, such as those experiencing
homelessness, disabilities, with precarious family situations, migrant, minority racial or ethnic backgrounds or
doi:10.2767/204674

those in alternative care.

Member States should guarantee

Free and effective access for children in need to:

early education at least

childhood and school- one healthy
ISBN 978-92-76-32109-5

healthcare
education based meal each
and care activities school day

Effective access for children in need to:

19.9% of learners with

healthy adequate disabilities leave early from
PDF

nutrition housing education and training,

compared to 9% of pupils
without disabilities

EU funds
Member States most affected must spend 5% of their allocated funds under the European Social Fund Plus
on fighting child poverty and social exclusion. Member States can also make use of the European Regional
Development Fund, InvestEU and the Recovery and Resilience Facility to fund measures combatting
child poverty and social exclusion.

Pilot programmes
The Commission has been working with UNICEF on pilot child guarantee programmes in 7 Member States

For example in
Bulgaria…
And in Greece…
they are piloting
a home visiting they are piloting an inclusive education
service for programme ensuring quality education for all
caregivers and children, including those with disabilities, in
pregnant women, with a particular focus families or in institutional care and migrant
on families in precarious situations and children.
children with disabilities.

© European Union, 2021

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