One in five children in Europe say they are growing up unhappy and anxious for the future

One in five children in the European Union said growing up unhappy and anxious for the future, according to the Notre Europe report, published this Tuesday by ChildFund Alliance, Eurochild, Save The Children, UNICEF and World Vision in collaboration with the European Commission.

The study, for which 10,000 children aged 11 to 17 were consulted, is intended to be a reference to shape the design of the next European Union strategy on the rights of the child and the guarantee for the child .

The document states that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused children and young people in Europe and elsewhere to feel pressure and uncertainty.

Specifically, one in ten children surveyed indicated that they were living with mental health problems or symptoms such as depression or anxiety, with girls feeling more at risk than boys, while minors older people reported higher levels of problems.

A third of the children interviewed admitted to having suffered discrimination or exclusion, a situation which 50% of disabled children, migrants, ethnic minorities or the LGTBQ + collective have suffered.

According to the report, three-quarters of children surveyed also said they were happy at school, but 80% of 17-year-olds said they felt the education offered did not prepare them well for the future.

In this sense, the majority of children stressed that they would like to make changes in their school life.. Specifically, 62% chose to have less homework and 57% to have more interesting lessons.

Asimismo, casi un tercio ha incidido en que les gustaría influir en el contenido del currículo escolar, con más actividades deportivas –33 por ciento–, aprendizaje sobre derechos de infancia –31 por ciento– y más asignaturas artísticas –31 percent–.

On the other hand, cThus, all the minors interviewed indicated that they had heard of the rights of the child., while 88 percent said they were aware of climate change and its impact on the community; 8 percent more or less aware and 4 percent were not sure.

“This consultation with children is a turning point for us at the European Commission and represents an important step towards greater participation of children. Children are experts in the issues that concern them and this consultation shows once again that they are already important actors in the here and now, ”said European Commission Vice-President Dubravka Suica.

For its part, representatives of the ChildFund Alliance, Eurochild, Save the Children, UNICEF and World Vision called the report “historic”, since it is the first time that “so many children and young people can directly influence and shape the policies of the European Union”.

“It couldn’t have happened at a more important time, just as children are faced with the psychological and concrete consequences of the pandemic, which has forced them to adapt to a new reality in the years to come,” said organizations.

Also, the European commissioner for employment and social rights, they say, Nicholas Schmit, welcomed “this consultation with great satisfaction” and thanked the thousands of children who made their contribution. “Your voices are heard,” he stressed.

“The development of a comprehensive strategy for the rights of the child must include all relevant areas, from health to social inclusion, including education, child-friendly justice, migrant children and participation to the democratic process. It is of the utmost importance to listen to children and to know their opinions on these issues ”, also insisted the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders.

The initiative will serve to put ‘children at the center’ of the next EU strategy on the rights of the childcia, which, according to the co-chair of the European Parliament’s intergroup on the rights of the child, David Lega, will go in the right direction ”.

With information from Europa Press

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