CDU defends state mobilization to guarantee equality for all children

The head of the CDU list in the European elections this Saturday defended the mobilization of public resources to guarantee equal rights for children, regardless of their nationality or socio-economic background.

On World Children’s Day, the CDU organized in the Municipal Jardim of Constantino Paglia in Vila Franca de Xira an initiative dedicated exclusively to children, with a space for paintings, a bouncy castle and a corner for reading fairy tales.

Upon arriving at the garden, João Oliveira exchanged words with several children (one of whom drew a white dove with the word “peace” on it) and watched a Seville dance show.

He then took to the stage to argue for a policy that ensures, from the very beginning of life, that people develop relationships “on the basis of friendship, cooperation and mutual discovery.”

“It is necessary to ensure that all children, regardless of their socio-economic background, nationality and other factors that determine their identity, have equal conditions for happiness,” he said.

João Oliveira argued that the state has a responsibility in this regard, namely to ensure universal access to kindergartens, health care, education and child care, as well as to protect immigrant children, who, in his opinion, require “more attention.”

“The mobilization of state resources and structures should have as its true goal not the replacement of families in the indispensable role they play in ensuring the growth of children, but the provision of these conditions of equality,” he argued.

João Oliveira argued that play should be “seen as a right of children” since it is an important activity that allows “to structure the personality, to establish friendships with others and to build relationships with other children, projecting them into the creativity and discovery of each of them.” .

“This requires such diverse issues as the organization of public space, the availability of a garden, places for recreation and games for children, as well as the organization [do projeto pedagógico] schools themselves,” he said, arguing that “play cannot just be something to do in between classes,” but must be fully integrated into education.

In addition to this role of the state, the head of the CDU list also stated that children’s rights are only realized if the rights of their parents are also guaranteed.

“We cannot think that a child can be completely happy if he submits to the crazy work schedule of his parents (…) or if his parents did not guarantee him the right to decent housing, transport and mobility, to culture,” he said.

The head of the CDU list noted that at the European Union (EU) level, every fourth child is in a situation of poverty, which he explained precisely by “the poverty of their families, low wages, the need to have two or three children.” jobs that guarantee livelihoods.”

“The fight against poverty and social exclusion requires that it be treated as a priority. This requires a policy different from the EU policy, which has led to deepening inequality, injustice, and impoverishment. This requires members of the European Parliament to say this cannot be the way and to indicate an alternative way,” he said.

Before João Oliveira’s speech, PCP MEP Sandra Pereira, who is on the CDU’s list for this election as “number two”, emphasized that in this last term the party produced a report on children’s rights, which was approved in the European Union. Parliament in 2023.

“This was one of the priorities that we highlighted in 2019, despite the fact that it only saw the light of day four years later: it was approved last November by an overwhelming majority, expressing concern and pointing to the reaction that the PKP and the CDU took in plan at the national level,” he said.