The EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child and the European Child Guarantee-Evidence-Based Recommendations for Alternative Care.

Bárbara Mourão Sacur,Elisete Diogo

doi:10.3390/children8121181

Abstract

Protection and promotion of child rights are referred to as a central purpose of the European Union (EU). Therefore in 2021, the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child and the European Child Guarantee were published to enable children to have the best possible life in the EU and worldwide. Member states were invited to implement the directions of both documents into practice. The present study analyses and showcases the evidence on how to progress implementation of the Strategy and the Guarantee regarding alternative care in Portugal. A literature review was conducted based on international literature. Evidence-based recommendations for the Portuguese transition process towards quality, family and community-based care are stated. De-institutionalisation and strengthening specific services—kinship care, special guardianship, and foster care—are advocated, namely specialising the workforce, and promoting training for kinship carers and prospective special guardians. To conclude, the revision and monitoring of the measures for children in need of alternative care are suggested as well as integrating and publishing data from the diverse services of the alternative care system.

Highlights

Protection and promotion of the child’s rights are denoted as fundamental purposes of the European Union (EU)
In 2021, two relevant documents—the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child and the European Child Guarantee—are proclaimed for assuring the best possible life for children
This study aims to analyse and discuss the implementation of the Strategy as well as the Guarantee on alternative care in Portugal

Summary

Introduction

Protection and promotion of the child’s rights are denoted as fundamental purposes of the European Union (EU). In 2021, two relevant documents—the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child (abbreviated form in the present paper: “the Strategy”) and the European Child Guarantee (abbreviated form: “the Guarantee”)—are proclaimed for assuring the best possible life for children. The Strategy pursues the shared responsibility to fulfil the rights of every child and to build together with children equal societies for all [1]. In a constant changing world, children can face several challenges, such as violence, discrimination, online abuse, among others, as is highlighted by the Strategy. Distance learning affected children lacking internet, those with special needs and very young students [1]. The Strategy addresses several challenges and proposes concrete action

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