Realizing the Rights of the Child through a healthy environment - Panel 2

Madam President,

Today’s discussions have clearly indicated that as regards the environment, children’s rights are indeed indivisible, interlinked and interdependent.

Without a healthy environment a child cannot live or develop. A healthy environment underpins the right of all children to live in dignity. It is fundamental for the full enjoyment of all their human rights.

The EU is currently drafting a Strategy on the Rights of the Child, which should be adopted in early 2021. This strategy will contribute to mainstreaming the rights of the child across EU policies and actions, including environment. The Convention on the Rights of the Child insists that we listen to children and that their views must inform decisions and actions that affect them. In keeping with this obligation, our open consultations on the strategy will include spaces for children to express their views.

Information is not only essential for children and their families to be able protect themselves against the negative effects of environmental harm, but also to be able to seek remedy and redress in cases where their rights have been violated. We are seeing children across the globe showing leadership on environmental issues and demanding that their voices be heard, as they are speaking out for their rights here in the now but also in the future.

These voices and leadership should be celebrated. The current ecological and climate crisis has finally reached the level of attention and awareness that it deserves.

The EU’s response to conserve and safeguard the environment for future generations and ensuring the health and wellbeing of current generations is the European Green Deal. It is a transformative vision extending from the way we produce to the way we consume and sets out a roadmap for a climate neutral continent by 2050.

We want to lead the world towards a global green transition and we want to lead not just by words, but by example. This includes making sure that our policies and actions are inclusive and human rights based. The participation of children and youth in the related decision-making processes is vital, given that our actions and inaction have a deep impact not only on present but also future generations.

With this in mind, we would be interested in hearing from the panellists how we could strengthen an effective intergenerational dialogue and accountability on environmental issues.

Thank you!