Media statement, UN International day of care and support
Brussels, 29th October 2024
In most European countries, there is a lack of adequate community-based services for persons with care needs. In many cases, this gap is filled by family members who frequently face the challenge of balancing their own needs with the demands of caregiving. Moreover, care responsibilities most often fall on women, further entrenching gender inequalities and widening the gender care gap. However invaluable this role may be, non-professional care provided by family members should never replace the duty of national public authorities to provide high-quality, accessible and affordable support and care services to ensure people’s full participation in society. Family carers are Europe’s growing invisible workforce, representing one of its most silenced and socially excluded groups.
In the run-up to the United Nations International Day of Care and Support, the COFACE Disability platform convened in Brussels at the European Committee of the Regions on Thursday 24th October to discuss the current situation of family carers and their key demands. The discussion included an in-depth overview of the European Charter for Family Carers, which outlines ten key principles, including the definition of a family carer, access to respite care, information and training, inclusion in the healthcare system, consideration of the age dimension of care, and more.
Chantal Bruno, COFACE Disability co-chair said: “These key principles guide COFACE Disability work on developing policies at all levels of governance to support family carers. Caring for carers means allowing them to remain parents, children or even brothers and sisters, while the person being cared for must be able to decide for themselves. “
At this crucial moment when the new European Commission College is being auditioned by the European Parliament, COFACE Disability urges President von der Leyen to prioritise the full transposition of the EU work-life balance directive, ensuring adequate payment of carers’ leaves. Furthermore, we advocate for a robust implementation of the European Care Strategy aimed at advancing inclusive early childhood education and care, as well as strengthening professional care services and bolstering support for family and informal carers, in all member states.
Antonia Torrens, COFACE President, said: “Greater investment in 21st century community-based support services and family support measures would contribute positively to the social inclusion, well-being and resilience of families when faced with work and care dilemmas. Family carers must be recognised and adequately supported through a wide range of measures.”
This is also crucial to prevent family carers from falling into a spiral of poverty due to their care responsibilities. In addition to flexible working arrangements, fair remuneration for family leaves, and adequate financial compensation for care, Member States should prioritise the development of public services to support persons with care needs; as well as providing targeted services for their family carers, such as respite care, mental health support, peer support and trainings.
Recognising the diversity of approaches and resources across member states, effective solutions for the overall raising of care standards should be developed via the European Pillar of Social Rights action plan. This requires an integrated approach for care, drawing on different EU policies and funding frameworks, such as the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (by reinforcing its family dimension), the European Child Guarantee (by using a holistic approach to support early childhood intervention for children with disabilities) or the European Social Fund+ (by using different streams to develop services to support family carers).
COFACE Disability stands ready to work with policy makers to help set up effective community-based models of intervention at local and regional level, underpinned by strong national and European coordination frameworks and sustainable budgets.
//Ends
Notes to editor:
- Who Cares: Study on the needs and challenges of family carers in Europe (COFACE, 2017)
- Long-term care: The family dimension (COFACE, 2018)
Breaking silos to better support children with disabilities (COFACE Disability, 2022) - Thematic note on Ageing Family Carers (COFACE Disability,2023)
- Paving the way for a disability-inclusive Child Guarantee (COFACE Disability, 2023)
- European Charter for Family Carers (COFACE Disability, 2024 review)
- The COFACE Disability platform the rights of persons with disabilities and their families was founded by COFACE in 1998 to improve the representativeness of people with disabilities and their families. To-date, it brings together more than 20 national associations, all members of COFACE. COFACE Disability’s mandate is to help persons with disabilities to enjoy their rights throughout the life cycle and in particular within their family context. Its member organisations actively work together to see that a policy for family carers is mainstreamed across all EU policy.
