Question
summarize the text below
The role of families, and family support provisions in attaining rights for children
Having examined the conceptualisation of families, and the role of parents, this Briefing affirms the role of families and family support provisions in vindicating rights for children. Informed by the 1989 UNCRC, this Briefing centres children’s rights to ‘protection, provision and participation’ within their families and communities as well as society more widely. The UNCRC defines ‘a child’ as all aged under 18 years which likewise informs the age-range of concern in this Briefing. The UNCRC establishes civil, social, economic and political rights for children as independent citizens beyond their parents and families. It affords children special status and protections because ‘societies depend on adequate child development and well-being’ and because of their vulnerability and ‘marginal social status’. Further, it stipulates higher risk groups
A framework for child and family support in Europe | 13
require additional protections and provisions including children who are refugees and asylum seekers and children affected by disability, involved in the state care system and living in institutions. The rights for children specified in the UNCRC seek to improve provisions for their welfare and raise their social status. They place ‘protection, provision and participation’ duties on deemed responsible for the care and welfare of children (e.g., parents and nation states) (Sandbæk 2017). Seeking to promote universal rights alongside recognition of cultural and social diversity, the UNCRC allows for children’s rights to be pursued in diversity ways among nation states; and places emphasis on the participation of all groups in shaping national reforms and the rights of all to cultural heritage.
Informed by the children’s rights approach, social policy and family support initiatives that promote ‘positive parenting’ perspectives is particularly of interest in this Briefing:
“Positive parenting refers to parental behaviour based on the best interests of the child that is nurturing, empowering, non-violent and provides recognition and guidance which involves setting of boundaries to enable the full development of the child.”(Council of Europe, Rec 2006).
Section 3: Child, parental and family welfare in context
In this section, consideration is given to the social trends and contexts which influence children’s, parental and family welfare; and inform family support debates.
Social Trends
As Family support provision requires the attention of policy makers and diversion of stateresources toensure thattheneeds offamilies andchildrenare met, itis important to consider social trends across the European context (Abela et al., 2021). The national compendium of reports provides an overview of these social trends in context which arepresented below todemonstratethebreadthof social issues to which Family support provisions are relevant. These can include:
Changing Demographics: In recent years, many European countries have witnessed similar macro-social changes and challenges (e.g., changing family structures, falling fertility rates, increasing maternal employment, and increase in lone parent households) (Abela et al., 2021). Changes and developments in family demographics and dynamics is an area that needs attention in policy development.
A framework for child and family support in Europe | 14
Social Exclusion: Abela and colleagues (2021) examined a large set of indicators to provide both a country level and a comparative overview in the field of social exclusion and welfare. These included: at-risk-of-poverty rateboth forthe overal population and children (0-17); severe material deprivation rate for the overall population and children. This analysis revealed that while some regions struggle with high poverty rates (e.g., Western Balkan Group followed by the Eastern European Group & Southern Group) a key trend is that across Europe (including in the Scandinavian, Central Western groups), is that the at risk of poverty rates tend to be higher for children indicating a need to attend to the circumstances of families to address this issue. This analysis also revealed that certain social groups, such as people with disabilities, lone parents, and in particular Roma have a higher risk of social exclusion (Abela et al., 2021).
Social Issues: Differential treatment of marginalised groups is also a concern as Slovenia reports unequal access to rights for immigrant, Roma, poor and LGBT groups, and Malta notes that the percentage of persons with disability who have a job is still very low when compared to that of the general population. Gender equality remains an issue in many countries (Lithuania, Malta, Croatia, Sweden) while domestic violence is also an area of concern (Poland, UK, Malta) (Abela et al., 2021).
Educational outcomes: European countries can also vary in terms of equitable educational outcomes. Early school leaving rates are high in the Southern countries and are above the EU target, with the exception of Portugal. Early school leaving is also an important problem in Bulgaria and Romania (14-15%) in the Eastern Group, and Hungary (12%) in the central group, but rates are below 10% in all the other countries in these regions.
Adequate Housing: is also a key provision for healthy child development. Overcrowding rates are also very high in Eastern Central countries exceeding 20% (with the exception of Czechia), and also 35% in Poland and Croatia. In the Balkans, the overcrowding rate exceeds 40%, and even 60% in Albania and Montenegro. In the Southern countries, overcrowding rates are low, also compared to Scandinavian countries. An important exception is Italy, where the overcrowding rate is 28% (Abela et al., 2021).
These social and demographic trends can present challenges for policy, particularly if entrenched poverty and social exclusion are to be addressed (Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Serbia), social assistance infrastructure needs to be developed (Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia) or income inequality persists due to a failure to consider low-income families (Hungary, France, Norway). Attention needs to be paid to emerging family forms given the rise of lone parent families (Malta
A framework for child and family support in Europe | 15
and Czechia) as this has relevance for policy measures designed to combat social exclusion. However, addressing these policy challenges requires adequate resources to be directed towards social provision, and a lack of adequate resources has been cited as an issue in many countries across the European context (Albania, Lithuania, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovina, Ireland & the UK). This can also have implications for service sustainability (Serbia and Bulgaria) (Abela et al., 2021). The global COVID-19 pandemic and its recovery, and the impact of the war in Ukraine continues to impact negatively on the European economy. Ensuring the increasing number of involuntarily displaced children, parents and family members receive the supports required and deserved presents an added challenge for European countries.
Digitalisation of Society: Our contemporary times incorporate rapid digitalisation of all aspects of society. This presents new opportunities but also new risks. There is a need to safeguard children's rights and welfare adequately on digital platforms and in the online environment which presents risks for their welfare and mental health. On the other hand, we have new opportunities to harness opportunities arising from new forms of ‘digital and virtual’ family support (Livingstone et al., 2020; Canário et al., 2022).
The role of families, and family support provisions in attaining rights for children
Having examined the conceptualisation of families, and the role of parents, this Briefing affirms the role of families and family support provisions in vindicating rights for children. Informed by the 1989 UNCRC, this Briefing centres children’s rights to ‘protection, provision and participation’ within their families and communities as well as society more widely. The UNCRC defines ‘a child’ as all aged under 18 years which likewise informs the age-range of concern in this Briefing. The UNCRC establishes civil, social, economic and political rights for children as independent citizens beyond their parents and families. It affords children special status and protections because ‘societies depend on adequate child development and well-being’ and because of their vulnerability and ‘marginal social status’. Further, it stipulates higher risk groups
A framework for child and family support in Europe | 13
require additional protections and provisions including children who are refugees and asylum seekers and children affected by disability, involved in the state care system and living in institutions. The rights for children specified in the UNCRC seek to improve provisions for their welfare and raise their social status. They place ‘protection, provision and participation’ duties on deemed responsible for the care and welfare of children (e.g., parents and nation states) (Sandbæk 2017). Seeking to promote universal rights alongside recognition of cultural and social diversity, the UNCRC allows for children’s rights to be pursued in diversity ways among nation states; and places emphasis on the participation of all groups in shaping national reforms and the rights of all to cultural heritage.
Informed by the children’s rights approach, social policy and family support initiatives that promote ‘positive parenting’ perspectives is particularly of interest in this Briefing:
“Positive parenting refers to parental behaviour based on the best interests of the child that is nurturing, empowering, non-violent and provides recognition and guidance which involves setting of boundaries to enable the full development of the child.”(Council of Europe, Rec 2006).
Section 3: Child, parental and family welfare in context
In this section, consideration is given to the social trends and contexts which influence children’s, parental and family welfare; and inform family support debates.
Social Trends
As Family support provision requires the attention of policy makers and diversion of stateresources toensure thattheneeds offamilies andchildrenare met, itis important to consider social trends across the European context (Abela et al., 2021). The national compendium of reports provides an overview of these social trends in context which arepresented below todemonstratethebreadthof social issues to which Family support provisions are relevant. These can include:
Changing Demographics: In recent years, many European countries have witnessed similar macro-social changes and challenges (e.g., changing family structures, falling fertility rates, increasing maternal employment, and increase in lone parent households) (Abela et al., 2021). Changes and developments in family demographics and dynamics is an area that needs attention in policy development.
A framework for child and family support in Europe | 14
Social Exclusion: Abela and colleagues (2021) examined a large set of indicators to provide both a country level and a comparative overview in the field of social exclusion and welfare. These included: at-risk-of-poverty rateboth forthe overal population and children (0-17); severe material deprivation rate for the overall population and children. This analysis revealed that while some regions struggle with high poverty rates (e.g., Western Balkan Group followed by the Eastern European Group & Southern Group) a key trend is that across Europe (including in the Scandinavian, Central Western groups), is that the at risk of poverty rates tend to be higher for children indicating a need to attend to the circumstances of families to address this issue. This analysis also revealed that certain social groups, such as people with disabilities, lone parents, and in particular Roma have a higher risk of social exclusion (Abela et al., 2021).
Social Issues: Differential treatment of marginalised groups is also a concern as Slovenia reports unequal access to rights for immigrant, Roma, poor and LGBT groups, and Malta notes that the percentage of persons with disability who have a job is still very low when compared to that of the general population. Gender equality remains an issue in many countries (Lithuania, Malta, Croatia, Sweden) while domestic violence is also an area of concern (Poland, UK, Malta) (Abela et al., 2021).
Educational outcomes: European countries can also vary in terms of equitable educational outcomes. Early school leaving rates are high in the Southern countries and are above the EU target, with the exception of Portugal. Early school leaving is also an important problem in Bulgaria and Romania (14-15%) in the Eastern Group, and Hungary (12%) in the central group, but rates are below 10% in all the other countries in these regions.
Adequate Housing: is also a key provision for healthy child development. Overcrowding rates are also very high in Eastern Central countries exceeding 20% (with the exception of Czechia), and also 35% in Poland and Croatia. In the Balkans, the overcrowding rate exceeds 40%, and even 60% in Albania and Montenegro. In the Southern countries, overcrowding rates are low, also compared to Scandinavian countries. An important exception is Italy, where the overcrowding rate is 28% (Abela et al., 2021).
These social and demographic trends can present challenges for policy, particularly if entrenched poverty and social exclusion are to be addressed (Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Serbia), social assistance infrastructure needs to be developed (Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia) or income inequality persists due to a failure to consider low-income families (Hungary, France, Norway). Attention needs to be paid to emerging family forms given the rise of lone parent families (Malta
A framework for child and family support in Europe | 15
and Czechia) as this has relevance for policy measures designed to combat social exclusion. However, addressing these policy challenges requires adequate resources to be directed towards social provision, and a lack of adequate resources has been cited as an issue in many countries across the European context (Albania, Lithuania, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia Herzegovina, Ireland & the UK). This can also have implications for service sustainability (Serbia and Bulgaria) (Abela et al., 2021). The global COVID-19 pandemic and its recovery, and the impact of the war in Ukraine continues to impact negatively on the European economy. Ensuring the increasing number of involuntarily displaced children, parents and family members receive the supports required and deserved presents an added challenge for European countries.
Digitalisation of Society: Our contemporary times incorporate rapid digitalisation of all aspects of society. This presents new opportunities but also new risks. There is a need to safeguard children's rights and welfare adequately on digital platforms and in the online environment which presents risks for their welfare and mental health. On the other hand, we have new opportunities to harness opportunities arising from new forms of ‘digital and virtual’ family support (Livingstone et al., 2020; Canário et al., 2022).
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
This Briefing examines the critical role of families and family support systems in upholding children's rights, as outlined by the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The UNCRC emphasizes children's rights to protection, provision, and participation within their families and communities, noting that children, defined as those under 18, require special protections due to their vulnerability. It recognizes higher-risk groups, such as refugees and children with disabilities, necessitating additional support.
The Briefing underscores the importance of "positive parenting," which encompasses nurturing, non-violent behaviors that prioritize the child's best interests. Additionally, it highlights various social trends affecting families, including changing demographics, social exclusion, educational disparities, and inadequate housing, all of which complicate policy development.
The analysis reveals that while poverty rates are high for children in certain regions, overall support for families is crucial to mitigate these issues. Recently emerging trends, like increasing lone-parent households and digitalization, add further challenges that require strategic policy responses and resource allocation across European contexts. The ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, further complicate the welfare landscape for families and children.
The Briefing underscores the importance of "positive parenting," which encompasses nurturing, non-violent behaviors that prioritize the child's best interests. Additionally, it highlights various social trends affecting families, including changing demographics, social exclusion, educational disparities, and inadequate housing, all of which complicate policy development.
The analysis reveals that while poverty rates are high for children in certain regions, overall support for families is crucial to mitigate these issues. Recently emerging trends, like increasing lone-parent households and digitalization, add further challenges that require strategic policy responses and resource allocation across European contexts. The ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, further complicate the welfare landscape for families and children.