Social Protection Committee report on Child Poverty and Well-being

The European Commission’s Social Protection Committee (part of DG Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion) adopted, last June 27, its report on "Tackling and preventing child poverty, promoting child well-being." The paper will serve as a benchmark to develop the upcoming Child Poverty Recommendation by the EC later this year.


Among others, the report and its annexes (a summary of stakeholders’ contribution) address issues of access to quality services, children’s participation and policy responses in the context of austerity. From a public health perspective, the more relevant chapters are the ones dealing with the right to health services; children with disabilities; right to adequate standard of living; right to education; and children of minorities.

Key messages from the Social Protection Committee on Tackling and preventing Child Poverty are:

1. Developing holistic approaches, combining prevention and remediation.

2. Access to adequate income through supporting parents’ participation in the labour market and providing adequate income support through a combination of benefits.

3. Access to quality services in education, health, housing and child protection.

4. Children’s participation.

- Social Protection Committee Advisory report to the European Commission on tackling and preventing child poverty, promoting child well-being.

- Annex to the Social Protection Committee ad-hoc group advisory report - "Tackling and preventing child poverty , promoting child well-being", adopted on June 7

EPHA related articles

- WHO Report shows health and well-being inequalities of children and adolescents

- Council of Europe calls for more participation of children and young people in decision making

- Why healthy ageing starts with a childhood free of inequality

- Unicef’s report on The State of the World’s Children 2012: Children in an Urban World

- New Council of Europe Strategy on the Rights of the Child

- The European Commission and OECD boost co-operation on early childhood education and care.

- EPHA Briefing on Children’s Health

- EPHA Press Release: MEPs lead urgent plea from health community to prevent health crisis in Europe

- Briefing notes - The economic crisis & EPHA fact & figures on the impact of the financial crisis on health

- The role of social protection in combating the financial crisis - Working for Equity in Health report

- Health and social affairs ministers focus on children’s health

Last modified on July 18 2012.