Towards a new EU strategy on children’s rights – Vice-President Šuica and Commissioners Reynders, Johansson and Schmit to participate in the 13th European Forum on the Rights of the Child

Vice-President Šuica together with Commissioners Reynders, Johansson and Schmit will participate in the 13th edition of the European Forum on the Rights of the Child, which will start tomorrow, 29 September, and last until Thursday, 1 October. Organised by the European Commission, this annual conference provides a platform for dialogue between EU institutions and experts in the field of children’s rights. The main objective of this year’s forum is to gather input and ideas for a new EU strategy on the rights of the child, to be prepared by Vice-President for Democracy and Demography, Dubravka Šuica, and presented in 2021. The strategy will provide a comprehensive policy framework for children’s rights, and include actions to protect vulnerable children, protect their rights online, foster child-friendly justice and prevent and fight violence. Speaking ahead of the forum, Vice-President Šuica said: “As our schoolchildren settle into the ‘new coronavirus normal’, we must help them to strengthen their resilience, mentally and physically, for an equal start in life; and it is our moral duty to protect their rights. I look forward to exchanges with many children’s rights organisations, national and international experts at the Forum, and particularly to hearing from the 50 children participating, to ensure that they are at the heart of EU policies.” The Commission is currently running a public consultation on the strategy, which is open for feedback until 8 December. Children can also provide their input by taking part in this special survey. Follow sessions live via web-stream on the forum’s website.