Eurochild publiceert rapport over impact van de crisis op kinderen en gezinnen in Europa

How the crisis is affecting the next generations
Eurochild launches report on the heavy impact on children & young people based on evidence collected through its membership
For more than two years now the crisis is having a heavy impact on the daily lives of millions of families, children and young people. Evidence suggests that the economic downturn affect disproportionally children and families.

Consequences are multiple and of different nature:
Absolute poverty levels are on the rise
Unemployment hits marginalised groups hardest 
Salary cuts increase in-work poverty levels
Young people lack job prospects
Growing Numbers of children at risk or in the public care system
Children’s mental health is suffering
Squeezed family budgets affect children’s diet and health
Family tensions and discrimination is increasing

And the recession continues to claim victims as governments adjust to new financial and economic uncertainty, by cutting public spending to reduce public debt. Eurochild is particularly concerned about cuts to vital benefits and services on which millions of families and children rely, including high quality public education from an early age.
And there are some alarm signs that policy makers tend to ignore the social impact of the crisis and aggravating social policy cuts: Earlier this month, the European Commission published the Annual Growth Survey which focuses exclusively on growth-enhancing initiatives and the need for fiscal consolidation, putting even more pressure on Member States to reduce public deficits quickly. The impact on the growing number of children at risk is disregarded.

The governments’ responses to the crisis should reflect on the type of society we want in the future. Eurochild believes that supporting every child to realise their full potential is not only a moral obligation, but also an economic necessity. Unless children’s well-being becomes a driving force in the inception and implementation of national policies, we risk a ”lost generation”. Or even more.

In order to avoid this scenario, Eurochild is calling to:
Ensure a quality work/family life balance for parents
Strengthen early intervention and prevention services for families
Ensure access to high quality inclusive education for all
Invest and protect children’s mental health and well-being
Protect and increase budgets targeting children and families
Strengthen family- and community-based care for children in alternative care
Children’s well-being and eradication of child poverty must be a priority of government policy in efforts to learn the lessons from the economic crisis.

Eurochild Secretary General, Jana Hainsworth said: ”The evidence from across Europe is extremely worrying. Vulnerable children and families are the biggest losers from current austerity measures and the effects will be felt long into the future. Politicians need to wake to their short-sighted vision and take action to avoid a lost generation.”

Het rapport kan gedownload worden via onderstaande link:
http://www.endchildpoverty.eu/eurochild/fileadmin/ThematicPriorities/ChildPoverty/Eurochild/Eurochild%20Crisis%20paper%20-%20How%20the%20economic%20and%20financial%20crisis%20is%20affecting%20children%20and%20young%20people%20in%20Europe.pdf