One of the principal stated objectives of the European Union is to establish European citizenship, including fundamental rights. Yet the existing competence of EU does not take children’s rights into account. European NGOs are campaigning to achieve a legal base for children in the Treaty.
The current legal status of the child in the EU Treaty is unclear, according to the European Children’s Network (Euronet), a network of NGOs campaigning for the rights of children within the European Union. "If children’s health is to become a real priority in Europe, their rights must be clearly stated and implemented," says Diana Sutton, European Officer for Save the Children, a member of Euronet.
Children’s rights are set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has been ratified by all EU member states. However, the EU has no obligation to respect the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In practice, children are only considered in an ad hoc manner in EU legislation despite the fact that EU legislation may affect children in a negative way. Euronet wants to see an amendment to Common Provisions Article 6.2 so that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is added, and new measures introduced to ensure that the impact of EU policies are in the "best interests" of the child.
"The change to the Treaty would make a difference," says Diana Sutton, "because children’s rights would be mainstreamed into all appropriate areas of EU policy." The Euronet statement says: "Animals have been given rights before children in the current EU Treaty."
Health in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Article 24
1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health. States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services.
2. States Parties shall pursue full implementation of this right and, in particular, shall take appropriate measures:
(a) To diminish infant and child mortality;
(b) To ensure the provision of necessary medical assistance and health care to all children with emphasis on the development of primary health care;
(c) To combat disease and malnutrition, including within the framework of primary health care, through, inter alia, the application of readily available technology and through the provision of adequate nutritious foods and clean drinking-water, taking into consideration the dangers and risks of environmental pollution;
(d) To ensure appropriate pre-natal and post-natal health care for mothers;
(e) To ensure that all segments of society, in particular parents and children, are informed, have access to education and are supported in the use of basic knowledge of child health and nutrition, the advantages of breastfeeding, hygiene and environmental sanitation and the prevention of accidents;
(f) To develop preventive health care, guidance for parents and family planning education and services.
3. States Parties shall take all effective and appropriate measures with a view to abolishing traditional practices prejudicial to the health of children.
4. States Parties undertake to promote and encourage international co-operation with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the right recognized in the present article. In this regard, particular account shall be taken of the needs of developing countries.
