Here you will see news from Europe, from civil society, from research, highlighting emerging trends from local to international level relevant for families of today.
As part of the European Semester, the Joint Employment Report 2025 emphasises that participation in ECEC under three is improving but at a very low pace, calling for renewed efforts in line with the European Child Guarantee, the European Care Strategy and the Council Recommendation on ECEC.
All across Europe, COFACE members continuously work to contribute to positive outcomes for diverse types of families in a changing society, including single-parent households. Organisations such as La Ligue des Familles and Single Parents Foundation have both recently and respectively put a spotlight on concrete ways to support and empower single parents in Europe from Belgium to Hungary.
In November 2024, COFACE member organisation APF France launched its second season of the short TV programme "Tous en scène pour le Handicap" (All on Stage for Disability)”. After the success of its first season in 2023, 10 new artists and public figures have taken the stage to humorously share real-life stories experienced by members of APF France.
KMOP along with six other organizations from Italy, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, and the Netherlands, have conducted desk and field research on the subject of bullying as part of the Erasmus+ project “Like father, like son.” The initiative aims to equip parents and guardians of children aged between 10 and 15 with knowledge and tools to help them explain the various aspects of diversity to children and young people.
Have you ever been inside a prison? For many children in Europe the inside of a prison is a reality when they go visit their imprisoned parent, some children even live together with their parent inside the prison. Children with imprisoned parents are often ‘invisible’ or ‘forgotten victims’ of the criminal justice system.
The Network of European LGBTIQ* Families Associations (NELFA), COFACE member, is very worried about the recent developments in Bulgaria and Italy. The Supreme Administrative Court in Sofia decided to leave “Baby Sara” at risk – against the CJEU judgement in December 2021. And the government in Rome forces liberal cities to stop their co-mother recognition.
The European Network Against Racism (ENAR) along with 50+ other civil society organisations have written an open letter to European Commission President and European Parliament President condemning attacks on anti-racist civil society organizations in Europe. The letter highlights the importance of protecting and supporting anti-racist efforts and organisations, especially in the midst of rising hate speech and racism in society.
In March 2023, the European Parliament passed the resolution on Minimum Income ensuring active inclusion and approved the Pay Transparency directive. COFACE Families Europe welcomes both initiatives as they both promote non-discrimination and address the gender pay gap.
Finland is known around the world as a champion of sexual and reproductive health and rights. As the anti-sexual rights movement gains momentum around the world, COFACE Member Vaestoliitto (the Family Federation of Finland) calls on the Finnish government to strengthen its role and put sexual rights at the forefront of its development policy.
