Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1120087
OPINION 8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 MAY 2019 Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca Untitled-2 1 11/04/2019 15:22 Let's truly put children at the heart of Europe ON Saturday, we will be vot- ing for our new Members of the European Parliament. Over the past few months candidates have presented us with their electoral manifestos. As voters, we have a duty to evaluate their proposals, to ensure that we vote in those candidates who will champion a Europe which is truly and ef- fectively based on the respect of human rights. We need to vote for those candidates that effec- tively believe in ensuring hu- man dignity to each and every member of our society, whoever they are, and wherever they may come from, especially, to the most vulnerable amongst us, in particular, children. We need to ensure that we vote in those candidates who believe that the rights of our children should be at the heart of Euro- pean policy. Earlier this month, as President of Eurochild, I was invited to address the very first Children's summit organised by the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU. This initiative, which set a precedent, placed children's rights and more spe- cifically child participation in decision-making as an integral part of the European agenda, for this term. Through the many contribu- tions by children, coming from across the European Union and from different cultures, we re- peatedly heard that children are being left out of the decision- making processes in their respec- tive countries. We also heard that, where it exists, child participation is still in a preliminary phase, and on a global scale, structured child participation, is just a dream. Children meeting in the heart of the Romanian capital insisted that this status quo needs to change. European children told us that they continue to feel os- tracised from decisions that are directly impacting their lives. On the other hand, their state- ments were evidence that, as adults, we are failing them, as we are not ensuring their fundamen- tal right to enjoy their full dig- nity, their healthy development, and their holistic wellbeing. It is therefore essential that we have a European Parliament that truly listens to children, and ensures a structured child-participation process, that influences decisions that affect our children's lives di- rectly. Unfortunately, cultural atti- tudes that exist view children as passive rather than active con- tributors to our society. The paternalistic mentality, which is still present, many a time overprotects children, rather than helps them reach their full poten- tial. Such cultural attitudes and paternalistic mentalities must be overcome, so that we do not hinder child participation. In this way, our children can become ac- tive citizens, critical thinkers and valid contributors to our society. On the other hand, we are at a critical juncture in child activism history. Child activists like Greta Thunberg; Malala Yousafzai; the 'March for Our Lives' - the student-led demonstrations in support of stronger gun violence prevention measures; the youth climate change protests and other instances of children and youth activism in our times, are highlighting the value added that youth and child participation can bring to our communities, coun- tries and our world, in general. Children are game changers and they have the potential to be effective contributors for the benefit of our entire human fam- ily. In embracing child participa- tion, we must nonetheless make sure that it will not be frivolous, and instead develop meaningful and structured child participa- tion processes. Let us remember that, as the European Union, we are com- mitted, and we have obligations, to ensure child participation, as this is a right enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which this year marks its thirtieth an- niversary. On the 25th May, we therefore need to use our vote to make a difference. We need to elect rep- resentatives that believe in chil- dren's rights and structured child participation so that children will truly be at the heart of European politics. In this regard, initiatives like the #VoteforChildren coalition cam- paign are of significant impor- tance. European children's rights organisations joined forces to re- cruit a new generation of MEPs to be 'Child Rights Champions'. Therefore, I urge all the voters Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca is President Emeritus and President of Eurochild Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca