A thematic seminar was held online on 30 June 2026 for European Centre Board Members and National Liaison Officials to strengthen peer exchange on a topic of shared interest. Countries exchanged experiences and discussed their challenges in monitoring child poverty. Child poverty remains a persistent and multifaceted challenge across the UNECE region, with lasting impacts on children’s well-being and wider implications for social cohesion, equal opportunities and overall economic performance. Despite political commitment, policy responses are often limited in their effectiveness. One (important) reason for this is insufficient monitoring systems, gaps in available data, and methodological challenges in child poverty measurement.
Gathering high-quality data from sub-national levels, as highlighted during the seminar, is a pressing challenge in many countries, especially in federal states, such as Switzerland and Austria. Moreover, countries face obstacles in taking an enhanced “holistic approach” to child poverty that considers access to services and regional/local contexts. Promising practices shared during the event suggest solutions and approaches that could be adapted and transferred to other countries and regions.
The seminar confirmed the need to strengthen dialogue and exchange between our European Centre members. This cooperation will continue through a Bridge Building (BB) Policy review on national action plans on the implementation of the European Child Guarantee, planned for early winter 2026. Discussions between our partners in the Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership countries and beyond will support UNECE countries in further developing their social policies for the benefit of children and families in vulnerable situations, and society at large.
