High Representative Federica Mogherini, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides and Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourova welcomed in a joint statement global support to the UN Convention on the rights of the child and recalled that children are at the heart of EU policy.

“Today as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the rights of the child, we wholeheartedly welcome the unprecedented global support for this important Convention,” the statement said.

“This year we celebrate the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the young Pakistani activist for female education Malala Yousafzai and to the Indian child right’s activist Kailash Satyarthi. Both have fought courageously for the girls’ right to education which the EU considers as the best investment we can make in development.

“Children have always been and remain at the heart of EU policy. Inspired by the Convention, the EU promotes children’s rights through specific Guidelines as well as through the EU Agenda for the rights of the child for internal action,” the statement said.

The full statement is available online.