Save the Children Europe

“I am trapped with my children under relentless bombs, rockets, and bullets, with nowhere to run. My mother is paralyzed, and I cannot leave her behind. My brother has been killed, my husband was taken, and I don’t know if he’s alive. Our home was destroyed over our heads, and we survived by a miracle. With no food, no clean water, and constant fear, both my children have developed rashes, and my daughter is passing blood, but there is no medicine, no help, and absolutely nothing I can do. They cry and ask me why we can’t just leave, why their father isn’t with us, why we can’t go back to a normal life.” — Ruba, a mother of two from northern Gaza. Ruba’s words are a painful reminder of the devastating reality facing children in Gaza, particularly in the northern areas, where 130,000 children under 10 have been trapped for over 50 days without food, water, or medical supplies. Despite warnings of imminent famine, humanitarian aid is being blocked. The situation is dire, and children are bearing the heaviest burden, with nearly half of the victims killed in this conflict being children. As the EU, we have a critical role to play in upholding international humanitarian law and ensuring that lifesaving aid reaches those who need it most. For over seven weeks, Save the Children has been unable to deliver food or medical supplies to northern Gaza, despite having 5,000 food parcels and vital aid on standby. The EU has a moral responsibility to step up, impose a definitive ceasefire, ensure that humanitarian access is open, and that aid reaches children like Ruba’s. The time to act is now. Read the full PR here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dFNZaJr9 Ursula von der Leyen Kaja Kallas European Commission

How long will children have to pay the price for global inaction? 🌍 ❌ The new climate finance goal agreed upon at #COP29 fails children, their families and communities on the frontline of the #ClimateCrisis again. The new target figure of $300 billion a year for climate-vulnerable countries by 2035, and the failure to address loss and damage flies in the face of the ambition needed to tackle this emergency. The omission of children’s rights from the text is also a disgrace for the increasing number of children who are speaking up about how escalating extreme weather events are pushing them out of their homes and their schools, reducing the food on their plates and forcing them into child labour or marriage⚠️ Gabrielle, 15, a child campaigner from Vanuatu with Save the Children at COP29, said:  “This decision is unfair and completely neglectful of child rights and human rights. If children are not included in these types of decision and policy making, it makes it very hard to get climate justice for one of the most marginalised groups in the world." Children like Gabrielle deserve better. It's high time leaders stepped up and recognised the climate crisis is a child's rights crisis and provide the financial support they need and deserve. Together we can and must #SaveTomorrow. Read Save the Children's full COP29 outcome statement👉 https://lnkd.in/ebtTniE3

The war on children is getting worse, with children’s rights left at a crossroads. Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Belgium, UNICEF Belgium and Plan International Belgium hosted the international conference ‘Children’s Rights at a Crossroads’ #ChildRightsConference2024 in Brussels—a timely gathering as we mark the 35th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child this week. Her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians opened the conference with thoughtful reflections. Team Save was proud to join the conversation, alongside our experts James Cox, Relinde Reiffers and our partner Aiofe Flemming, to address the urgent challenges children living in conflict face today. The first and sobering realisation: there is not much to celebrate. Save the Children’s latest report, Stop the War on Children – Pathways to Peace, highlights the devastating realities: ➡️ Never before have so many children worldwide been affected by conflict. ➡️ 473 million children – more than one in six – were living in a conflict zone in 2023, a figure that has doubled since the mid-1990s. ➡️ The number of conflicts involving states reached 59, the highest since the end of the Second World War. The opening plenary echoed widespread frustration about the lack of respect for International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHL). Strong IHL and child rights advocates, both within and beyond the EU, are critical to ensuring these rights are not further eroded. Yet, there are reasons for hope: 1️⃣ The children themselves. As Halima, one of the young advocates present at the conference, said: “We are strong, we are powerful!” It’s our shared responsibility to recognise their strength and amplify their voices. 2️⃣ Actionable progress. Examples shared during the conference inspire us to push forward: ✔️ Governments making schools safer for children. ✔️ Efforts to make mental health support more accessible in humanitarian crises. As we look ahead, we are committed to building on the conference’s recommendations and collaborating with partners like the Belgian government and DG ECHO EU in Emergencies to ensure that every child can survive, develop, and thrive.

When children speak out, change happens. This #WorldChildrensDay2024, we celebrated #CRC35 anniversary at the heart of EU decision-making, with 15 incredible children from across Europe, alongside child rights champions Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová Emilio Puccio in the European Parliament. "Small voices can make a big difference when they come together. We have the power to create change and keep hope alive," said 16-year-old Rea, a child rights advocate from Save the Children in Kosovo during the opening exchange. Hear more from Rea as she calls on EU leaders to take action and build a future where every child’s rights are respected, supported and protected.

Wrapping up #ChildHealthWeek 2024 with a spotlight on an issue crucial for every child’s survival: routine immunisation 💉 Over the past 50 years, vaccines have saved millions of lives, increasing infant survival rates by 40% globally and over 50% in Africa. Yet today, access to these vital interventions is stalling. We are witnessing the resurgence of diseases like measles and polio and an increase in cholera, dengue and mpox. For too many children in conflict zones, life-saving vaccines remain out of reach. This Child Health Week, we called on the EU, member states, and global health initiatives to act to make sure every child, especially zero-dose children, receives routine immunisations. Marionka Pohl, our Global Head of Policy & Advocacy, Health, and Nutrition, shares key insights from the EU Global Health Policy Forum “Deep-Dive” on Global Health within the next EU long-term budget. 💡 Takeaway: Prioritising routine immunisation is essential. The EU has a pivotal role in making this happen, ensuring every child can survive and #ThriveBeyondFive. Thank you to all our incredible partners and allies (EU in Emergencies, World Vision EU Representation, Plan International EU Office, UNICEF EU, WaterAid, The ONE Campaign, IPPF European Network, Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW), Oxfam EU office, ACTION CONTRE LA FAIM) for making this year’s edition so impactful. For more insights from #ChildHealthWeek, visit our page here: https://lnkd.in/e5TAcy-d

And that’s a wrap for #ChildHealthWeek 2024! 🌍 Every year, from 12th to 19th November, Save the Children celebrates Child Health Week — a time to raise awareness on child survival, call on policymakers to prioritise children’s health in EU and global agendas, and reinforce that every child deserves a healthy start in life. This year, one of our focuses was the profound impact of climate change on children’s health. From natural disasters to poor air quality, children are facing new health risks due to climate crisis, and we are calling for making child health central to climate policies — in Europe and around the world. Listen to Nick Ireland, our Climate Change Division Director, as he shares highlights from the event “Climate Change and Health: What is the Impact on Child Survival?” 💡 Takeaway: Integrate child health in climate policy! Children’s well-being is inseparable from the health of our planet. If we want to secure a safe future, child health must be woven into climate adaptation and mitigation strategies worldwide. 👉 For more insights from #ChildHealthWeek, visit our page here: https://lnkd.in/e5TAcy-d

On the Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse #EndChildSexualAbuseDay, let’s demand stronger regulation to protect our children, especially in the context of emerging technologies. Every half second, a child somewhere in the world makes their first online click, stepping into a vast digital world of incredible opportunities but also unthinkable dangers. In Europe alone, five Save the Children organisations Pelastakaa Lapset ry - Save the Children Finland Salvați Copiii România Save the Children Denmark Save the Children Italia Save The Children Foundation process thousands of reports on child sexual abuse material (#CSAM) each year. These cases reveal the devastating consequences of failing to protect children from online violence. It’s time for action. As the EU negotiates legislative solutions to safeguard children, we urgently need effective policies that would prevent and combat child sexual abuse. This includes a strong child sexual abuse regulation that has been under discussion in EU institutions since 2022. Every child has the right to explore, learn and thrive in the digital world — safely and confidently. 📸 Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko / Save the Children. In the photo: Anya*, 14, and Maryna*, 13, use a laptop to study in the digital learning centre established by Save the Children in their village in Kyiv region, Ukraine.

#ChildHealthWeek is here! Every year, between 12-19 November, we come together to amplify one message: Every child deserves a healthy start in life. But here’s the reality: each year across the globe, almost 5 million children continue to die from preventable causes and diseases that can be treated with basic interventions and medicines. Although child mortality reached a historic low in 2022, our work is far from over. This year, Child Health Week focuses on immunisation and climate change—two critical factors affecting child survival worldwide. We call on the EU leaders and policymakers to prioritise these issues and ensure every child receives the healthcare they need to survive and #ThriveBeyondFive. Learn more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e5TAcy-d European Commission Jozef Sikela Koen DOENS EU in Emergencies Hadja Lahbib EU Environment and Climate Wopke Hoekstra European Parliament Barry Andrews MEP Charles Goerens Mounir SATOURI Anja Hazekamp

One in five* children in Europe face some form of sexual violence, including online. From 2005 to 2020, we’ve seen a 15,000% increase in the amount of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) reported**. This isn’t just a global issue; a significant portion of this material is hosted here, in the EU. Children deserve to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment – both online and offline. They need urgent legislative solutions that would prevent and combat child sexual abuse. This includes a strong child sexual abuse regulation, actively discussed and negotiated in EU institutions since 2022. As part of this work within Save the Children, on the 16th of October, MEP F. Javier Zarzalejos Nieto and Save the Children Europe organised an event on child online safety. One message stood out: “In all decisions, consider the best interests of the child.” A young advocate from Save the Children European Child Advisory Board shared this, emphasising the importance of prioritising children’s safety—especially in digital spaces. Thank you to our host, MEP Zarzalejos, to Emilio Puccio for moderating the event and to all speakers and participants for making the discussion so insightful and constructive. Children need a digital environment that is safe, enriching, and free from fear. Policymakers need to listen to the voices and experiences of children and to ensure EU policies reflect children's needs. * Council of Europe data https://lnkd.in/d5kfJ4FE ** https://lnkd.in/d4qDd5y7

London, Tokyo, Stockholm, Rome and many more. The UNIQLO x Magnum Photos global photography exhibition – PEACE FOR ALL – has reached more than ten countries so far🌟 Expressing a wish for global peace, the exhibition captures the lives of children in Ukraine, Vietnam and Ethiopia. Federica Toscano, Senior Advocacy Advisor, Children on the Move, Save the Children Europe, said: “The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has forced countless children to leave behind everything they know. In times of crisis, providing not just shelter but also emotional and educational support is crucial for their well-being and future. Save the Children’s counselling hubs offer a safe space where children can heal, learn, and rediscover a sense of normalcy.” UNIQLO’s PEACE FOR ALL charity T-shirt project, supports Save the Children International, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and Plan International. UNIQLO and Save the Children have been working together since 2022. Through the PEACE FOR ALL initiative, we’ve supported and will continue to support children globally affected by conflict and emergencies. Explore the exhibition➡️ https://lnkd.in/gMfwkApb