Cyprus has managed to achieve the national goal of reducing child poverty set for 2030 as early as 2022, recording a further reduction in 2023, Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Marilena Evangelou, said at the annual conference of the National Network Against Poverty (EDEF )-Cyprus, held on Friday at Frederick University. However, in 2023 around 29.000 children were recorded as still being at risk of poverty and social exclusion.
In her welcome, the Deputy Minister said that children growing up in poverty and social exclusion are less likely than their better-off peers to develop to their full potential as adults, as they face higher risks of unemployment and poverty.
He noted that the policies and actions of the Republic of Cyprus are guided by the sanctioning Law of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the relevant community acquis, while he stated that tackling child poverty has always been among the highest priorities of the state.
He highlighted the progress achieved in Cyprus in this field, as seen in the first two-year report on the implementation of the National Action Plan for the establishment of a European Child Guarantee, which was published in March 2024. Citing the relevant data, he said that there is a steady reduction in the revised risk of poverty or social exclusion index for children under 18, with Cyprus achieving the national target set much earlier.
Specifically, the national target was to reduce the number of children under 18 who are “at risk of poverty or social exclusion” to 32.000 by 2030, from 35.000 children in 2019. “This national target of Cyprus has already been achieved , after children under 18 who are "at risk of poverty or social exclusion" fell to 31.000 in 2022, recording a further decrease in 2023 when they reached 29.000. That is, the percentage decreased from 20,3% in 2019 to 16,7% in 2023, while the European average reaches 24,8%," he said.
In addition, he said that according to an announcement by EUROSTAT on 16/9/2024 on the "Severe material and social deprivation in the EU" index for 2023, Cyprus with a rate of 2,4% shows the second best performance in Europe.
The Deputy Minister noted that the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare is the coordinating body for the implementation and implementation of the National Action Plan for the establishment of the European Guarantee for children in 2022-2030. This includes a total of 93 actions in six pillars, aimed at preventing and combating social exclusion and child poverty.
In particular, he said that the Government proceeded with targeted reforms in terms of social protection, adopting policies to deal with child poverty. He gave as an example the increase of the child allowance by 5%, the inclusion of students from large families in the child allowance with 50% of the benefit and the increase of the allowance for mothers with many children.
He also mentioned the increase in beneficiaries of the Tuition Subsidy and Child Feeding Plan so that all beneficiaries of the child benefit become beneficiaries of the plan as well and the extension of the age limit of the children participating in the Plan.
He added that the most important policy tool for tackling poverty in Cyprus is the Minimum Guaranteed Income, to provide a social safety net, the amount of which is based on the formation of a minimum living basket. He also pointed out that, in collaboration with the Ministry of of Finance, started a process of rationalization of all social benefits.
He also referred to the First National Strategy and the Action Plan for Pre-Primary Education and Care in Cyprus, as well as the creation of Multipurpose Centers for children and Child Care Centers, with funding from the SAA, as well as the provision of social care services to vulnerable groups of the population.
"Tackling child poverty and stopping the intergenerational transition of poverty require integrated and long-term strategies that combine prevention, with adequate income support for families and with quality and affordable services. Investing in children we believe is highly necessary as it has multiplier benefits at all levels", he concluded.
In her turn, the Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights, Despo Michailidou, acknowledged that significant improvements have been made in the matter, but made reference to her recommendations, noting that there is much more that can be done.
In particular, he referred to the non-existence of funds for children in the framework of the allowance policy, noting that their needs are not taken into account, since there are no specially formulated policies. She also referred to her intervention to exclude children with mild or moderate disabilities from EE, noting that under-resourced families with children with disabilities are being excluded from the system, due to an "artificial" categorization of disability.
In addition, he said that a recommendation was made not to exclude children from benefit plans due to their residence status or length of stay in Cyprus, but also to exclude single parents from receiving EEE due to allegations of cohabitation.
Finally, he drew attention to the fact that the use of numerical data on incidents involving children increases the anxiety of society and creates a feeling of xenophobia and insecurity, leading to the social exclusion of children. "Children are not numbers and statistics. Children are independent entities, they have an opinion and dreams," he said, asking that no one invoke them, without listening to their voice.
Loukas Antoniou, member of the Board of Directors of EDEF-Cyprus, presented the keynote speech, in which he cited data on child poverty in the world, the EU and Cyprus. Citing data from UNICEF, he said that 50% of the world's children live on less than $2,5 a day. In total, 333 million children live in conditions of absolute poverty, while 1 billion children are multidimensionally poor, meaning they lack basic goods such as nutritious food and clean water. According to UNICEF, even in the richest countries, 1 in 7 children still live in poverty.
Furthermore, according to data he cited from the UN, 45% of child deaths under the age of 5 are due to poor nutrition, which corresponds to 1,3 million children a year.
As Mr. Antoniou said, children living in marginalized ethnic groups, children of large families, children living in conflict areas, refugee and displaced children, children growing up outside the household, in institutions, shelters and those who migrate, as well as children with special needs, due to the additional cost of living and loss of income opportunities from additional caring responsibilities. She also noted that poverty increases the vulnerability of girls and people belonging to the LGBTI+ community.
He noted that in 2023 the rate of child poverty and social exclusion in Cyprus fell to 16,7%, below the EU average. However, he stressed that we should not dwell on the numbers, as these figures refer to households and do not capture the children living in shelters, unaccompanied minors, etc. On the other hand, he said that in the index for the material deprivation of children, with data from 2021, Cyprus was in 5th place in the EU, with a percentage of 23,4%.
Accordingly, in the index of state investment in social protection in 2021 and 2022, Cyprus was again below the average, while, he noted, in more recent data for 2023, Cyprus has the second largest increase.
In conclusion, Mr. Antoniou said that countries that have adopted appropriate and adequate policies have greatly reduced child poverty rates. "Poverty is a matter of political decisions. When Governments are committed to such an eventuality and undertake appropriate policies, then child poverty can be tackled," he said.
Indicatively, he suggested that strong political will is needed to promote the well-being of all children and the full implementation of their rights, equitable distribution of the country's income and wealth with an equitable and progressive taxation system, a comprehensive, multidimensional and inclusive plan on child poverty and well-being, a commitment to providing universal access for all regardless of child to essential well-being services, and integrating child care into all aspects of policy.
As he said, the goal should be zero poverty, and Cyprus could achieve it.
The conference came to life with the intervention of the Group of Adolescent Counselors of the Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of the Child. Naya Nomikou and Lukas Simeon, started with an interactive activity with balloons and questions and then presented the children's views on the issue of child poverty.
Specifically, they said that, according to the children, child poverty can lead to a miserable psychological state, violence, lack of material goods, while in many cases there is no access to the doctor, there is no possibility for entertainment to the same extent and children are "forced to grow up faster, they become victims of bullying, they become isolated."
Analyzing individual sectors, they said that in terms of health, medicines are not free, while some children are not registered in the National Health Service, while they also highlighted the difficulty of transporting the child to the doctor. They proposed the evaluation and improvement of the NHS, that all medicines and services be provided free of charge to children and that all children be automatically enrolled in the NHS.
Regarding healthy eating, they noted that children could have breakfast and lunch at school, and that free drinking water should be provided in all schools.
Regarding education, they said that the education system is not based on the needs of each child, while they noted that tutoring schools lead to two-speed students, as not everyone can attend them. They proposed that clothing and stationery be given at the beginning of each year, that extra lessons be given to children who need it, and to do this "investment in military equipment should be reduced and investment should be made in education".
They also highlighted the role of municipalities and communities in the issue, noting that children said there are areas that are not clean or in which they do not feel safe.
The President of the Board of Directors of EDEF-Cyprus, Eleni Karaoli, in her greeting said that child poverty is one of the most serious problems facing today's societies, while she also emphasized the establishment and operation of a group of people experiencing poverty and social exclusion, in order to take part in decision-making on issues that concern them.
He said that one of the main goals of the Network is the participation of children in its actions, noting that a parallel goal is the mobilization of state apparatus. "The policies of the Republic of Cyprus are focused on the needs of adults, we forget the children. Let the conference be the beginning to discuss the issues holistically and seek solutions that are favorable to children," he said.
For her part, Frederick University Council President, Natasha Frederickou said that the consequences of deprivation become more apparent when children become adults. He pointed out that at Frederick University they support students who have financial difficulties, as they recognize that the degree is decisive for their future.
Source: KYPE
