NGO Forum 2024: Fully implement children's rights!

Discussions took place in working groups on the topics of protection against violence, child poverty, education/inclusion, child health and the environment/participation. "It was important to everyone that children and young people have their say as experts in their own lives," said Elisabeth Schaffelhofer-Garcia Marquez from the Children's Rights Network. The results and demands of the working groups will be published later.

On the second day, Ombudsman Achitz invited representatives of all parliamentary parties to a panel discussion and asked for their assessment of the NGOs' proposals on the one hand and asked where there was the greatest need for action on the other.

Gruber-Pruner (SPÖ): Direct financial aid is needed to combat existential hardship

In the concluding panel discussion, Daniela Gruber-Pruner (SPÖ) said that "the needs of each individual child must indicate what they need most urgently in order to develop better and healthier": "This is a task for society as a whole, which all levels must work on together." Children's rights could do with more publicity, for example by anchoring them more firmly in the training of elementary educators and teachers: "Then children's rights will also reach the children." Violence must be prevented: "Resources for prevention are incredibly important, keyword 'early help'."

To combat child poverty, Gruber-Pruner recommended basic child protection: "Direct financial help is needed for families in need. Removing existential hardship from families works." The transfer of child and youth welfare to the federal states was a mistake: "This should be reversed. There are many cross-provincial cases where the regulations do not fit together."

Ecker (FPÖ): Violence is the most urgent problem - in public and in families

It should not be a question of playing off individual children's rights against each other, said Rosa Ecker (FPÖ), but violence is certainly one of the most pressing problems: "There is violence at school, but also in families and in public." Violence has more facets than just "spanking". "Bullying, discrimination and humiliation etc. are also forms of violence. However, children also perceive violence when they are taken out of the family by the youth welfare office. We need to raise awareness of this!"

Children with disabilities need special protection. The health situation is a challenge for all children: "The psychological strain is enormous and there are too few contact persons that children and young people can turn to."

Hamann (Greens): Children have a right to climate protection and nature

For Sibylle Hamann (Green Party), the greatest need for action is "education in the broadest sense. Education is more than just what we learn in class. School is a social place where children become people, and schools are not currently fulfilling this role. Multi-professional teams need to be massively expanded, which also broadens perspectives. School is the place where children are introduced to participation in society." She criticised the fragmentation of competencies: "The entire elementary education sector should be a federal competence! At the moment, we are not even allowed to pass a framework law for nursery schools in the National Council!"

Naturally, the area of climate and the future is of great concern to her: "Children have a subjective right to the future, climate protection and nature. It must be enforceable at international level and implemented at all levels." It is important to enable young people to have a say and promote self-empowerment: "The only thing that really helps democracy is for children to learn to have a concrete say."

Krisper (NEOS): Psychotherapy on prescription for all!

"There is a negative conflict of responsibility in the ministries - everyone wants to shift responsibility for the implementation of children's rights. Clear responsibilities must be defined here," demanded Stephanie Krisper (NEOS). In the area of child and youth welfare, shifting responsibility to the federal states was a "fatal mistake". The legal representation of unaccompanied refugee minors should be guaranteed from day one - and a corresponding budget for the necessary resources is obviously needed so that there is a willingness to take on this responsibility.

She also draws attention to the precarious health situation of many young people: "Mental illnesses must be equated with physical illnesses," she says and demands: "Psychotherapy on a sick note for everyone!"

Ombudsman Achitz to all parties: Children's rights in the coalition negotiations!

A representative of the ÖVP had to cancel at short notice due to illness. Ombudsman Achitz expressed his hope that "all parties will incorporate some of the results of the NGO forum into the future coalition negotiations. The aim is to implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Austria as soon and as fully as possible."