Brussels, 07/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 5 February, as part of the 2006 communication, “Towards an EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child”, the European Commission adopted another more specific communication on external EU action on children's rights. In this communication, the Commission outlines the responses the EU can make for improving children's rights in third countries, through cooperation and development and trade policies, as well as through political dialogue and humanitarian aid.
Investing in children and young people means investing in the future. However, throughout the world, many children are the victims of violence, exploitation, trafficking and humanitarian crises, both manmade (armed conflicts) and natural disasters. Many of them receive little schooling and their rights are also closely linked to those of their mothers. The absence of sexual and reproductive health rights, as well as those of mothers, and their lack of fundamental social protection have direct consequences on their children's health and wellbeing. The absence of sexual and reproductive health rights among teenagers leads to earlier sexual relations and forced marriages, as well as non-desired pregnancies and higher HIV contamination rates in developing countries. These observations were taken on board when working out the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Most MDGs, particularly those on health, education, water and nutrition, have a link with wellbeing and the positive development of children and adolescents. They all relate to the key challenges that put at risk the mental and physical development of children in many parts of the world. The Commission notes that “to date, it appears probable that not all countries will be able to reach the MDG targets. Therefore, unless measures are taken to put children at the heart of development policies, the likelihood of achieving the MDGs will be significantly reduced”. This explains why the Commission's new communication aims to implement a vast framework for the EU's approach toward the protection and promotion of children's rights in third countries.
The Commission believes that such an approach “must be based on a holistic and universally applicable view of children's rights and be part of broader development and poverty reduction strategies”. It also considers that the specific situation in each country, sub-region or region demands that each circumstance be individually analysed to ascertain which of a number of possible instruments will provide the EU with the most appropriate response. Therefore the Commission considers that given the fact that in many countries, governments are unable and/or inadequately committed to promoting and protecting children's rights, it is indispensable that effective complemtarity is ensured between the different policy tools and financial instruments of the EU on the one hand, and the European Development Fund on the other. The EU explains that it will maximise and coordinate the use of the available instruments in external action as follows: in countries where financial and institutional capacities are too weak to guarantee children's access to acceptable living conditions and to basic services, the EU should make full use of development cooperation and poverty eradication measures designed to address the root causes of poverty. At the same time, the rights and needs of children and adolescents should be effectively mainstreamed across various national policies. The Commission explains that the promotion of children's rights must be included in EU trade policy as part of a broader agenda on sustainable development. It also points out that in bilateral agreements, the issue of children's rights is covered by labour standards; the EU should systematically insist during dialogue with partner countries on the implementation of commitments in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The same goes for EU actions in international areas; action led at national level should be completed through appropriately implemented action at regional and global levels, addressing issues that have a supra-national character; the EU should address the lack of capacity to meet obligations with regard to children's rights by empowering children and adolescents to play an active role in matters that directly affect them; in countries on the verge of conflict or those in or emerging from conflict, children's needs are often unrecognised or ignored and regularly violated. Humanitarian aid, also provided following natural disasters, will be targeted at three essential aspects of crisis and emergencies: 1) separated and unaccompanied children, 2) children associated with armed forces or armed groups, 3) children's education in emergencies. (O.L.)