How countries protect children across the EU

The mapping is an overview of developments in national child protection systems and the state of play as of mid 2023.

It looks at national laws and policies, child protection procedures, service providers, resources, and accountability and monitoring systems, child participation and more. There is also a dedicated section looking at migrant children. It reveals progress, particularly when it comes to supporting child victims of abuse.

However, countries still vary in the ways they protect children. Practices can also differ within countries with responsibilities for different aspects of care falling to the national, regional, local, municipalities level.

The mapping will feed into the European Commission’s efforts to better protect children through integrated child protection systems. This need is clearly identified in the EU’s Child Rights Strategy and the European Child Guarantee.

FRA will issue a more in-depth comparative analysis of child protection systems across the EU later this year. It will identify existing good practices and how countries can better protect children.

Read report