OPINION: When family carers step in, who steps up for them?
I don’t exactly remember the moment I became a carer. There was no conversation, no handbook.
OPINION: When family carers step in, who steps up for them?
Opinions
About Opinions
Take a look at our Opinion series, with individual voices from inside and outside COFACE, providing different perspectives and insights on topics relevant for families of today.
OPINION – Creating the conditions for families to thrive
OPINION – Creating the conditions for families to thrive
Families are under enormous pressure in today’s society. This is not simply about individual choices or a lack of resilience, but about the conditions in which families are expected to manage everyday life.
OPINION – Integrated services for persons with disabilities in Italy: from theory to practice
OPINION – Integrated services for persons with disabilities in Italy: from theory to practice
For about 15 years, I was active at the National Disability Observatory established by the Ministry of Welfare, and I must say that I found it very frustrating to work on the “restructuring plan” that never came into effect in those 15 years.
OPINION – Building a Fairer Society for Stepfamilies by Supporting Parents, Children, and Communities
OPINION – Building a Fairer Society for Stepfamilies by Supporting Parents, Children, and Communities
Opinion: Building a Fairer Society for Stepfamilies by Supporting Parents, Children, and Communities The Stepfamily Association of Finland (Supli), established in 1996, works actively as an expert organization to promote an equal, child-centered, and...
OPINION – Why do we need a European Charter for Family Carers?
OPINION – Why do we need a European Charter for Family Carers?
Opinion: Why do we need a European Charter for Family Carers? I am co-chair of the COFACE Disability Platform of COFACE Families Europe, and platform which was founded nearly 30 years ago to promote the interests of people with disabilities, their families and...
OPINION – The Future I wish for: reflections from a young mother in Italy
OPINION – The Future I wish for: reflections from a young mother in Italy
Daniela, a young mother, shares her testimony of challenging societal perceptions and finding empowerment through the “We care... but who cares for us?” Erasmus+ project. The initiative supports young parents under 30, helping them engage in democratic life while balancing family responsibilities. Through self-reflection, training, and advocacy, participants gain a stronger voice in shaping youth and family policies.
OPINION – Muting machismo in video games: a necessary step towards equality
OPINION – Muting machismo in video games: a necessary step towards equality
In a world where technology is an inexorable part of our lives, accessing and making use of it on equal terms has become a vital necessity and a right that makes the difference between full participation and discrimination, between socialisation and isolation, between inclusion and social exclusion.
OPINION – Harmonising Personal Insolvency Laws: Supporting Over-Indebted Families Across the EU
OPINION – Harmonising Personal Insolvency Laws: Supporting Over-Indebted Families Across the EU
Harmonising Personal Insolvency Laws: Supporting Over-Indebted Families Across the EU COFACE-Families Europe has been working on tackling over-indebtedness considering its impact on families’ well-being. Besides prevention, personal insolvency laws have a profound...
OPINION – Ethnic segregation of Roma children in Europe’s schools demands real action
OPINION – Ethnic segregation of Roma children in Europe’s schools demands real action
Ethnic segregation is a widespread and systematic practice in many European countries. These practices are illegal yet continue to shape the lives of children and families across Europe. Our rights to education, housing, and health, ostensibly enjoyed by us all, remain divided along ethnic lines. For many Roma, their enjoyment of these rights is severely limited, often with the tacit support of the state.