Which Place for Child Rights in the Future of EC Cooperation?
Discussion details
During its meeting in May, the Foreign Affairs Council adopted its Conclusions on the two communications ‘Increasing the Impact of EU Development Policy: an Agenda for Change’ and ‘The Future Approach to EU Budget Support to Third Countries’. These communications open a new space for mainstreaming child rights in the future of EC.
Relations based on respect of human rights
New aid modalities, and especially budget support, are becoming the main channels for EC funding of country-led development plans and policies that support governance, poverty reduction and sustainable development. In May 2012, following Busan meeting (2011) and given the importance of the new partnership for development, the EU stressed the importance of relations with its Member States and partner countries based on shared values: human rights, democracy and the rule of law, as well as the principles of ownership and of mutual accountability.
An important place for children in the impact of EU development policy and the future of budget support
Children and child rights already have an important place in EU development policy and have been specifically addressed in the European Union’s Action Plan on Children’s Rights in External Action, the EU Guidelines for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child and the EU agenda for the rights of the child.
The two communications reaffirmed this importance. Regarding budget support, it is clearly stated that ‘The objectives […] should be clearly defined so as to address sector specific constraints, promoting sector reforms and improving service delivery to populations. However, assessment of governance in connection with EU sector budget support will need to be carefully balanced against the need to provide and protect the provision of vital basic services, in particular to the poor, women and children.’
Regarding the impact of EU development policy, ‘EU support to governance should feature more prominently in all partnerships. This calls for a rights-based approach, promoting in particular the right to universal and non-discriminatory access to basic services, participation in democratic political processes, transparency and accountability, justice and the rule of law, and with a focus on poor and vulnerable groups […] Further, the rights of, and opportunities for, young people and children should be promoted as it is critical for societies to offer a future to the young.’
Mainstreaming Child Rights in New Aid Modalities
Gender Equality Mainstreaming processes provides key lessons learned on opportunities for CRM in the New Aid Modalities:shifting from an isolated to a more global approach offers opportunities for CRM as a cross cutting issue at the national level into policies, plans and budgets. To this end, the EC is currently developing an online training on mainstreaming child rights in programme and project cycle management with a session on mainstreaming child rights in new aid modalities.
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