COFACE working group on single parent families
15 September 2026
9.30-12.30 CET
About the meeting
COFACE Families Europe hosted an online working group meeting on single parent families: this included representatives of parents and youth of single parent families, as well as generalist family organisations advocating for single parent families.
It took place on Tuesday 15th September from 9.30-12.30 CET and focused on the reality of single parent families across different European countries, and how the EU covers single parents in their different initiatives.
We had different keynotes from Egyszulo (Hungary), Women4Women (Czechia) and VAMV (Germany).
Working language of the meeting: English.
Participants:
- This working group was open to all COFACE member organisations representing or supporting single parent families in all their diversity. The first part of the meeting from 9.30-11.30 CET was for COFACE members only.
- The last part of the meeting from 11.30-12.30 CET was a public online exchange open to all single parent family organisations in Europe. Download the leaflet about the public exchange.
Further reading
2026 Research for EMPL Committee – Addressing EU demographic challenges: supporting large families and single parents | Think Tank | European Parliament – the executive summary is available in German, Spanish, French, Italian and Polish
2025 Greater legal recognition for single parents in Macedonia | COFACE Families Europe
2022 Building effective policies to support single parenthood | COFACE Families Europe
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Safe and inclusive activities in COFACE
As a European civil society network dedicated to the values of non-discrimination, gender equality and equality and social inclusion, COFACE and its representatives must practice its values within all operations and activities, both internally within the secretariat and the network and externally when representing COFACE. In 2025, COFACE Families Europe adopted a Common Reference Framework for safe an inclusive activities. You can read it here in English and French, and here in Easy-to-Read language. Please know that we provide a safe space for all types of families without discrimination, and foster pluralistic discussions which acknowledge different viewpoints. It is important that all participants in COFACE activities fully respect these values, acting respectfully, and contributing to creating a safe space for all. If you wish to draw our attention to any difficult situations experienced during a COFACE activity, please write to us using the complaints form.
