Queen Mathilde Opens the Eurochild Conference

As Patron of Eurochild, Her Majesty Queen Mathilde was present today, Tuesday July 5, at the opening of the conference “Children’s rights matter: Why Europe needs to invest in children” at the Palace of the Academies in Brussels.

The conference is focused on the issues that affects children nowdays: Eurochild stated that more than 1 in 4 children are growing up in poverty and exclusion. Another problem concerns migrant and refugee children, 30% of asylum seekers in the EU last year were children and 90,000 were unaccompanied. Purpose of the conference is “to take stock of progress, address on-going challenges, share good practice, and bring together different perspectives.”

Speech: Young people, YOU'll make the difference https://t.co/KZlukNVB6c #childrights #EurochildConf @Eurochild_org pic.twitter.com/fBsWDsPseb

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) July 5, 2016

The Eurochild Conference, organized in cooperation with Kind en Gezin (Child and Family) and Office de la Naissance et de l’Enfance (ONE), will last until July 7.

In her speech the Queen stressed the importance to protect the interest and the rights of the children. To do so is important to continue the fight against poverty and take care of issues like education and health. The Queen also praised the efforts made by youth movements and non-profit organisations.

Eurochild is an internationally recognised network founded in 2004 that aims to promote children’s rights and well-being.

Listening to young people and reinforcing #childrights #EurochildConf @Eurochild_org @ONEnfance @kindengezin pic.twitter.com/gCJopME8fG

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) July 5, 2016

Filed under Belgium
Tagged Children, Conference, Patronage, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians.