Why a report on children? What reaches adults does not always reach children  50 % of population  50 % of people in absolute poverty = children = 600 million children  100 million out of school (60% girls)  150 million – malnutrition  10 million die of preventable diseases Poverty strikes at the very roots of children’s their potential for development – their growing bodies and minds. Today’s poor children are often tomorrow’s poor adults – time to break poverty cycles

Why a report on children? Follow up on “Invisible Children” (2002) Follow up on “A world fit for Children” (2002) Are children, and issues relating to child poverty, highlighted in policies, strategies, evaluations and other documents that relate to the eight MDGs within EC development cooperation? Are children’s issues considered from a child rights approach within EC development cooperation?

How was the report done? The EC staff working paper reporting on the EC achievements towards the MDG’s Regulations Communications Programmes of action Annual reports Regional strategies Guidelines on different stages of the programming cycle Evaluations and A sample of 9 Country Strategy Interviews

Findings DPS 2000 has not been implemented – The four mainstreaming issues have been reduced to three – with children’s rights being left out Mainstreaming has failed to deliver outcomes for children No comprehensive strategic approach to childhood poverty. Children are relegated to the status of a ‘vulnerable group’. In 2003, just 2.3 percent of social sector spending allocated to ACP countries was spent on basic education Children, and especially orphans, are among those worst affected by poverty diseases - not translated into a priority at programming level. Children are not very visible in EC policy regarding HIV/AIDS and other poverty diseases.

Findings Children are absent in policy documents about development assistance, trade, debt and other issues in relation to MDG 8. In policies and action plans on health, HIV/AIDS and poverty and food security there are few references to children and in documents that relate to environment, trade and debt, children are virtually absent. Framework for Country Strategy papers - children Resources allocated ? EC Guide for evaluations - children But + ECHO guidelines Guidelines on Children in Armed conflict EIDHR opens for projects on Children’s Rights

Why are children left out? 1.Not knowing! 2.Children’s rights are seen as part of the human rights 3.Knowledge is limited about both mainstreaming and what a child rights-based approach entails - and how they should be applied in practice. 4.Confusion on what is included in the concept for children’s rights. 5.The crosscutting themes are too numerous.

Recommendations 1. Implement a child focussed development policy and a cross cutting children's strategy. - a political lead giving clear signals of commitment - - develop the necessary tools for implementation. - Children’s rights must be included into existing frameworks, guidelines and other planning instruments. - References to children’s rights in relevant budget lines should be strengthened and implemented. - A high level post for children’s rights should be created in the Commission. - Internal co-ordination in the Commission services on children’s rights needs to be strengthened 2. The revision of the EC 's development policy should demonstrate an explicit focus on child poverty and children’s rights.

Recommendations 3. Increase official development assistance (ODA) to an EU average of 0.6% GNI to ODA by 2009 setting to meet the target of 0.7% by 2013 at the latest. 4. End user fees for education and essential health services, to be compensated by increased aid as necessary, by Prioritise support for the care and treatment of orphans and vulnerable children in EC HIV/AIDS policy 6. Support for the poorest nations to build sustainable healthcare strategies 7. Education for all, including children in conflict areas