Children

1/4 of Flemish children lives in a house with no toilet facilities,heating and water. This situation is showed in the "Barometer of deprivation", which also estimates that 10% of Flemish people live below the poverty line

In Belgium, 6thousand French-speaking children don’t live with their biological parents. Among these, half are in facilities such as orphanages or specialized centers, while the others are in care with foster families. The survey was conducted by the King Baudouin Foundation.

81% of Belgian children practice a sport chosen by parents. This is what emerges from a survey by Crioc consumers association.

In Belgium, in the first six months of 2010, 279 children were victims of domestic sexual violence. The Federal Police's data show a slight increase compared to the same period in 2009, when they were 243.

Mixité (heterogeneity) at school can increase instead of diminishing the problem of segregation. This is, in short, the out come of a research that I have been carrying out by comparing in Belgium two schools with different organizational models: the first one with a multicultural population and the other with [...]

Fortunately, the hope accompanying the article published on January 17 on this newspaper turned into reality. The Luxembourgian government, indeed, has officially explained the changes made to the article of the Penal Code concerning indecent behaviour towards children. After the bitter controversies generated by the declaration of the President of [...]

Last Thursday afternoon, the closing speech of Deputy Prosecutor Bob Piron was sharply interrupted by the President of the criminal Chamber of the Court of Luxembourg, Prosper Klein, who, astonished, jumped on his chair, goggled his eyes and asked his colleague to better explain what he was saying. That day, [...]

Who does not have a relative who late in life after discovering the magical world of the Internet does not abandon the PC’s screen? Well, it's the same effect that technology has on the more elder European teachers. It seems, in fact, that teachers and professors between 46 and 55 [...]

Not all children who do not want to go to school are lazybones. In Austria, in fact, it was discovered that among the cases of pupils' absenteeism, apart from those due to sheer laziness, is hiding more and more often what, however, can be considered a true phobia. Mainly due [...]

In Austria, 3 out of 5 parents administer medicines to their child at least once a month without first consulting the doctor. This is the outcome of the study by the Association of Pharmacists that reports that moms and dads are having less and less scruple to resort to drugs [...]

1 French child in 10 has practiced at least once the "Choking Game". We are talking about to tighten around the neck a scarf going apnea. Sometimes up to fainting. The survey, conducted by Ipsos, also reveals that the majority of young people between 6 and 15 years old played [...]

In France, 25% of people sentenced for crimes of sexual nature are recidivist. An alarming phenomenon on which the authorities beyond the Alps have decided to investigate. Accused are the health workers who by law are responsible for caring for these people after they have served their sentence in prison. [...]

In France, 1 child of 8 finishes primary schools without being able to read. This is shown in a world study conducted by the Boston College. Since it is proven that those who have this type of deficit may have more difficulties in future school career, the French Government has [...]

In France the health of children aged 5 / 6 years is lower in the north and east than elsewhere, according to the National Institute of Health Surveillance. These are the results of a survey of 23,500 children in kindergarten between 2005 and 2006 which demonstrate how social inequalities [...]

Often occur, but for cowardice or to preserve a quiet life it is more simple to close the eyes. Sexual violence on their own children continue to be a veritable taboo for French families. To the point that to combat this phenomenon  the Haute Autorité de Santé published last July, [...]

Nearly half a million children under 3 years old are at risk of poverty. Alarming figures, particularly because they do not refers to a developing country, but to the queen of the European economy: Germany. The phenomenon is particularly pronounced among the inhabitants of Berlin and Eastern regions. Just think [...]

Eventually good news about the fight against pedophilia. On a sample of 11.400 anonymous Germans it resulted that in the last twenty years sexual abuses on underages, that go from exhibitionism to out-and out rape, have decreased from 8,6% to 6,4% for women, and from 2,8% to 1,3% for men. [...]

Mom and dad who do not send their sons to nurseries will be rewarded. Merkel's government, has established a bonus for those parents who choose to deal exclusively with the education of their offspring. Since 2013 those who cannot or will not enroll their children in a "kita", will receive [...]

In Germany children are now going to discover the past of their nation, chapter about nazi-socialism included, starting from the early age of 4. From the Wilhelm I Empire until today, the book “Die Strasse” by Christa Holtei and Gerda Raidt offers a view over 100 years of German history [...]

In Paris and Berlin the multilingualism has its advantages. Especially for those with a migration background. If a team of researchers in France found that for the children of immigrants to learn the language of origin facilitates the learning of French, Germany, focuses on foreign languages from an early age. [...]

A Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector was established this week in Ireland with the aim of ensuring that primary schools can cater for children of all religions and none. Up until now, the range of primary schools on offer has certainly not been diverse, with vast [...]

100,000 children across Ireland are enduring neglect as a direct result of their parents’ alcohol troubles. Moreover, according  to Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI),  one in very six cases of child abuse could be attributed to alcohol.

38% of Irish parents entrust their children to grandparents because they cannot bear the costs of nursery or day-care centers.  That is the main finding of a report published by the Dublin Trinity College with the Economic and Social Research Institute. 

In Europe, fathers who are not married do not have the same rights as mothers towards their children. This is the case of Ireland for instance. The European Court of Justice confirmed this principle with a judgement issued on Monday 5 October, which recognizes the compatibility of the Irish regulation [...]

In 2002, European  executives during the Barcelona Summit decided to guarantee access to kindergartens to at least the 33% of children under the age of 3, within 2010. At the end of the first decade of the new millennium, what are the results? Few places available, difficulties to access, financial [...]

Milan opens the doors of its kindergartens to the children of immigrants without residence permit. This is one of the main changes contained in the municipal circular letter which establishes the criteria for the registration of children in the nursery schools for the year 2012/2013. In the text of the [...]

In Italy, bitter controversy is arousing because of a recent judgment by the Supreme Court. According to which, it is possible to grant house arrest to people who are investigated for the offense of gang rape against a minor child. Nevertheless there are serious indications of guilt. The Supreme Judges [...]

There is little to do. For the Italian Supreme Court, between custodial mothers and fathers with visitation rights the latter are always wrong. This time it is the case of a Polish man, whose former wife had brought away their son, when she moved to Italy in order to live [...]

Italy’s important step towards in the recognition of the educational qualifications of the young immigrants. A recent circular letter from the Ministry of Education, in fact, states that foreign students enrolled in high school, have the right to take the final exam, even if they do not have obtained a [...]

According to data of the State Police updated at 30th June 2011, 779 minor children have disappeared in Italy and not yet found. A number which has dramatically increased if compared to 171 in 2007. To be noted that they are mostly foreigners aged between 15 and 17 years. At [...]

The new education law that has just entered into force in Romania will see the number of years of compulsory education rise  from 9 to 10.

In 2002, European  executives during the Barcelona Summit decided to guarantee access to kindergartens to at least the 33% of children under the age of 3, within 2010. At the end of the first decade of the new millennium, what are the results? Few places available, difficulties to access, financial [...]

7680 children will benefit from the new project of the organisation  Save the Children Romania aimed at combating early school leave and  integration and re-integration in schools.  The project will last 3 years and will see the opening of 32 centers of school and pre-school preparation all over Romania. The [...]

Mabel Escuer is not Mabel Escuer. She is 59 years old and two years ago she found out she was adopted. She brought her case before the court on July 29, 2011 and, only two weeks later, the Judge decided to dismiss it. The name “Escuer” is part of a [...]

Overcoming the trauma after the earthquake in the classrooms. This is the aim of the initiative promoted for the first time by the city of Lorca in Spain, hit by the earthquake last May. Specifically, the project, in collaboration with the Order of Psychologists of the Murcia region, involving almost [...]

In Spain, among children who have made a crime in 2010 3 of 4 were born in the Iberian Peninsula. The National Statistics Office also makes known that on the total number of young offenders, 84% is male and has committed a theft. Compared to 2009, then, their number has [...]

Living in a family setting culturally elevated  allows to develop  excellent verbal, mathematical and logical skills. A thesis by no means original, however, finally it has been confirmed in a detailed scientific study by a team of Spanish researchers coming from different University throughout the Iberian country. The survey, conducted on more than 2000 children, is based on a test similar to the one that calculates the average IQ, but in this [...]

Up to 45% of Spanish children aged 6-9, turned out to be overweight. Most of the children hail from families that are socially disadvantaged or with a low educational background. These data were published in a report from Agencia Española de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición (AESAN).

Between 2008 and 2010 almost 5,000 British children under 16 have got a gun license. A veritable army of children armed to the teeth, that has nothing to envy of the country where this phenomenon is well known: the United States. But how is it that the so rigid Albion [...]

In the United Kingdom, since 2000, there were 74 official cases of child abuse linked to witchcraft. According to the latest official study, three quarters of the known facts occurred in London and the children were mostly of African ethnicity. The alarm is raised by the African group Unite Against [...]

Two-thirds of English parents said they struggled with their children's science queries and they felt frustrated. According to the experts, the best thing parents can do is work with their children to find the answers. It is revealed by some researchers who, durinf the Big Bang Fair interviewed 2,000 parents [...]

Compared to the 60s English children who walk to school alone fell by 85%. In fact, today only 5% of children between 6 and 11 years old are autonomous. The data is linked to an international project, called "La ciudad de los Niños", which aims to promote the use of [...]

An English child of 4 was placed himself on a diet. Among the under 10, 28% were bullied because of their weight. 26% regularly skip meals hoping to lose kilos. These are the alarming figures of a research conducted by the TV program Dying To Be Thin.

In the world the cases of online child pornography are about 68.000. 6.500 only during November. This is what the report published by the International Observatory of Rainbow Phone denounces, which also says that Europe, Holland in the lead, is the region with the highest supply of online pedophilia.

Would you like to know how many exploited and underpaid people does it take to make the clothes you wear? Or the jewellery you buy? Or the food you eat? Now you can. In fact, thanks to an American initiative it is possible to calculate on-line your own slavery footprint. [...]

Terre des Hommes has launched the campaign "I Protect Children" 2011, with the aim of preventing all forms of violence against minors in Italy and worldwide. Anyone wishing to support the initiative, may make a donation by sending a SMS to 45501 until 20th November 2011. Watch the videos:

Bombing schools and hospitals constitute a gross violation against children. This is what the UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted in a Germany-led new resolution, notably the n.1998 (2011). The resolution, aimed to guarantee more protection for children in armed conflicts, called for perpetrators of such violence to be [...]

Every year the Afghan unaccompanied minors arriving in Italy are about 1,000. They are willing to do anything in order to reach the old continent, making a long and perilous journey just to get to what is considered the Promised Land. About 6,000 km through Iran (or Pakistan), Turkey and [...]