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.
As we embark on this new school year, we find ourselves at an important crossroad. Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant prospect. It is gradually becoming a daily reality in our homes, educational systems, and schools.
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? 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...
It’s difficult to disentangle the energy poverty crisis from all the other crises the world is experiencing. Over 50 million Europeans aren’t able to adequately light, heat, or cool their homes. A number set to be exacerbated by the multiple, interlocking health, climate, and humanitarian disasters we are facing.
Legislative reforms must be driven by evidence, not by a dogmatic belief in self-regulation. It is only if the EU adopts legally binding rules protecting all children from exposure to all forms of cross-border unhealthy food marketing that it will ensure that their best interests are upheld as a primary consideration.
As a parent and child safety expert, I see great value in how the internet can help children grow. Finding relevant information can be transformational but it’s important that this is done in a way that is safe, protects their privacy, and puts minors in control of their data.
In 2020, Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) launched the Play for Change Awards to celebrate toy makers who help kids confidently navigate the world around them. Toy makers know the power their ‘tools of play’ can have over children and they are choosing to use that power for a very positive change.
The toys children play with have a powerful impact on the way they perceive the world. Presenting positive portrayals of children in all their diversity is crucial: toy companies should take a transformative approach to ensure their toys and associating marketing are diverse.
The first few years of a child’s life are a particularly sensitive period in the process of development of the body, brain, and communication. They lay the foundation for cognitive functioning; behavioral, social, and self-regulatory capacities; and physical health. EASPD – the European Association of Service Providers for persons with Disabilities – is strongly committed to developing quality ECI systems across Europe based on the individual needs of the children, families, and carers.
