Publication of ENOC Synthesis Report on Physical Health

2025 Annual Theme

 

“Not only is children’s right to health important in and of itself, but also the realisation of the right to health is indispensable for the enjoyment of all the other rights in the Convention.”

(Committee on the Rights of the Child, General comment no. 15 (2013) on the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health (art. 24))

 

The right of children to physical health is enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). It extends far beyond access to healthcare, encompassing every child’s right to grow, play, and develop to their full potential in conditions that safeguard their well-being. This includes not only preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative services, but also measures addressing the broader determinants of health such as nutrition, clean drinking water, safe environments, and access to reliable health information.

Despite the existence of an international and European legal framework, significant gaps remain. Disparities in health outcomes persist both within and between countries, pointing to the urgent need for stronger political will, better resources, and a comprehensive approach to child health.

Across ENOC member countries and regions, ensuring children’s right to physical health has been recognised as a central priority. While the principle of the child’s best interests guides national policies and laws, in practice, implementation is uneven and challenges continue.

There are many UNCRC provisions related to children’s right to health. Among those, Article 24 of the UNCRC guarantees every child the right to the highest attainable standard of health, and Article 12 ensures that children’s voices are heard in decisions that concern them. These provisions are reinforced by General Comment No. 15 (2013) of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which highlights the importance of addressing the root causes of health and ensuring children’s survival, growth, and development.

Nevertheless, barriers remain widespread. Many children still face restricted or unequal access to healthcare services, unhealthy living conditions, and inadequate support for their physical and mental development. Issues such as unequal access to nutritious food and limited health education continue to undermine children’s right to health  across Europe. At the same time, respecting the child’s rights, autonomy and physical integrity demand greater recognition, ensuring that health policies are not only protective but also empowering for children themselves.

For these reasons, ENOC members are called to further reinforce child protection systems and to ensure that children’s views genuinely shape the choices that concern their lives. This priority framed ENOC’s annual theme for 2025, which addressed extensively  the protection and promotion of children’s right to physical health.

ENOC 2025 Annual Conference

ENYA 2025 “Let’s Talk Young, Let’s Talk About Protecting and Promoting Children’s Right to Physical Health”

ENOC 2025 Spring Seminar

The work on this theme was coordinated by a dedicated Working Group chaired by the People’s Advocate for the rights of the child in Moldova. Academic and expert contributions were provided by Rodica Gramma, Associate Professor, SUMPh "Nicolae Testemitanu" in Moldova.

The research phase drew on responses from 27 ENOC member institutions and mapped the different systems of children’s right and access to physical care across Europe.

The survey findings explored the level of availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of the services and facilities of the healthcare systems, intended to ensure children's right to health across Europe, as well as the presence of the appropriate legislation, policies and practices for the prevention, treatment and care of health issues affecting children.

The evidence report, divided in four parts, covers :

  • Statistical data on children’s health;
  • Prevention and health promotion, covering nutrition, sports, hygiene, sexual and reproductive health, rest, vaccination, early intervention programmes (e.g. obesity, substance abuse, tobacco/alcohol use, STDs, developmental disorders), and safety regulations;
  • Access to healthcare services, medicines, and support for children with special health needs or in vulnerable situations;
  • Children’s rights in healthcare law, including informed decision-making, consent, confidentiality, complaints, and protection mechanisms.

The preliminary results of the survey were first presented during the ENOC Spring Seminar in Luxembourg, in May 2025. The seminar also offered an exchange space between the members on the area to be covered by the related ENOC position statement.

In parallel, the ENYA 2025 child participation project involved children and young people from 14 member states or regions, who developed recommendations drawn from their personal views, experiences and expectations, with the aim of improving healthcare systems and ensuring better respect for their rights.

The culmination of this year’s thematic work was the ENOC 29th Annual Conference, held on 17-18 September 2025 in Bucharest under the title “Protecting and Promoting Children’s Right to Physical Health.” The conference gathered Ombudspersons and Commissioners for Children, 13 Young Advisors from ENYA, representatives of European and international bodies, Moldovan and Romanian authorities, and experts in the child rights field.

The key outcome of the annual work was the adoption of the ENOC 2025 Policy Position Statement on “Protecting and Promoting Children’s Right to Physical Health.” This statement, shaped both by the research and by ENYA’s recommendations, was formally approved by the 29th ENOC General Assembly on 19 September 2025 in Bucharest.