Recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world. Although everyone has a general idea of what human rights are, the exact definition differs in every country, culture, and background. In the European Union human rights are widely appreciated and protected. 

    As far as children are concerned, great progress has been made with the hope of securing their rights and creating a friendly environment where they can not only feel safe but also have the opportunity to be healthy and educated. As declared by the European Commission, the EU countries must respect, protect and promote children's rights. All EU policies that have an impact on children must be designed in line with the best interests of the child. However, do these practices really apply in the modern reality of the European Union?

    It cannot be denied that the majority of children in the European Union are protected by the law while living under decent conditions. Nevertheless,  there are unfortunately many cases of children, especially in the poorest European countries, that are exposed to social morbidity phenomena, poverty, lack of education, etc. This article will analyze the problem of poverty in modern Europe that can negatively affect the assurance of children's rights as well as the way the European Union contributes to the solution of this issue. 

    First of all, child poverty is one of the main problems Europe has to deal with. Children living in poverty are deprived of their rights to survival, health and nutrition, education, participation, and protection from harm, exploitation and discrimination. As a result, they are not able to fully enjoy their time as children, be educated, and live a decent life. Although this problem is particularly acute in third-world countries, Europe is also suffering. In 2019, an estimated 22.5 % of children (aged less than 18 years) in the EU-27 were at risk of poverty or social exclusion compared with 21.5 % of working-age adults (aged 18-64 years) and 18.6 % of older people!

    Brando Benifei, S&D MEP responsible for the European Child Guarantee, recently said "One in five children in Europe goes to bed on an empty stomach has no roof over their head, or their parents cannot afford to pay for childcare, school supplies, or essential medicines. Especially during the ongoing pandemic, European and national public intervention is more urgent than ever.'' 

   Although the pandemic has definitely made the situation worse, child poverty is neither inevitable nor immune to efforts to address it. As many countries have already shown, it can be reduced and even eradicated through continual attention and action. With the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), nations agreed for the first time in history to end extreme child poverty. The SDGs call for multidimensional child poverty to be halved by 2030, building a world in which all children have what they need to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential. In addition, the European Union has taken many actions to tackle the issue of poverty by giving allowances to poor families while supporting them. Furthermore, a recent action, The European platform against poverty and social exclusion, is one of seven flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth. It is designed to help EU countries reach the headline target of lifting 20 million people out of poverty and social exclusion, including children. 

    In conclusion, child poverty is one of the most important and at the same time most difficult problems that the EU has to face. The ongoing covid-19 pandemic has made the situation even worse as one out of five children now suffer from poverty. It is high time we all understood the negative effects poverty can have on children's development as it does not allow them to be educated, eat enough and stay healthy. Further actions must be taken against the deprivation of human rights, children's rights. Children are the only hope to make this world a better place