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 – Sharenting: exercise of parental rights or infringement of privacy?
OPINION – Sharenting: exercise of parental rights or infringement of privacy?
While social media are used for many purposes and from all ages, young people constitute a significant proportion of internet users. Unfortunately, as they engage in online activities they may enter dangerous situations such as cyberbullying, online sexual exploitation and other forms of cybercrimes. But what happens when the parents themselves expose their children to these dangers through actions such as sharing information about their children online under the veil of parenting?
OPINION – Making video games fun for families: the crucial role of family settings awareness
OPINION – Making video games fun for families: the crucial role of family settings awareness
53% of Europe’s population between the ages of 6 and 64 plays video games. And, whilst the average age of a player is 32, many players are children. Europe’s video game companies are dedicated to creating games for everyone to enjoy and, also, importantly, to provide safe, responsible environments for those games to be enjoyed in.
OPINION – Digital Services Act: New EU rules to protect and empower minors online
OPINION – Digital Services Act: New EU rules to protect and empower minors online
We can show kids and teens the path and we can even make it safer for them, but we can’t always be there to hold their hands nor keep them from going out into the world - and the world wide web. The environments that children are growing up in today are drastically different from the ones that we have known in the past. However, one thing is still the same: children and teens want to follow their curiosities, learn who they are and connect with other kids. Today they can do this from the palm of their hands.
OPINION – Europe, listen to survivors and stop abuse online
OPINION – Europe, listen to survivors and stop abuse online
Content warning: this article includes material about child sexual abuse that some people might find confronting.
In the 17 seconds you have taken to read this far, footage or images of at least 34 children being abused have been uploaded onto the world wide web. 2 per second. This is the rate of appearance of the kind of material Apple is wilfully failing to detect.
OPINION – Investing in family policies is a win for every child
OPINION – Investing in family policies is a win for every child
Universal Children’s Day on 20th November offers us an inspirational entry point to promote child well-being and build a world fit for children. It is a day of action by children. They are speaking out and imagining a better future. It is important to listen to their ideas and demands. It is also a day for children to ensure their rights and provide a nurturing and safe environment for all from birth on.
OPINION – Digital Media Parenting: How to empower parents online? The European SafeOnline Initiative Model
OPINION – Digital Media Parenting: How to empower parents online? The European SafeOnline Initiative Model
Digital parenting is first and foremost parenting. It involves guiding children to use technology safely and wisely, understanding their online activities, setting boundaries together with children and teaching them to be responsible in a positive and beneficial way.