A new book examined the different institutional arrangements, workplace conditions, and gendered work and care practices that affected the conditions for achieving quality of work and quality of life in European countries.
Source: Margareta Back-Wiklund, Tanja van der Lippe, Laura den Dulk, and Anneke Doorne-Huiskes (eds.), Quality of Life and Work in Europe: Theory, practice and policy , Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined the role and agency of care-giving children, based on empirical findings in the United Kingdom and Germany.
Source: Anne Wihstutz, 'Working vulnerability: agency of caring children and children s rights', Childhood, Volume 18 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined the contribution that child maintenance made to the reduction of child poverty in 8 developed countries (including the United Kingdom), representing countries with different child maintenance schemes. The contribution that child maintenance made in reducing overall child poverty was 'modest'. However, it had a relatively large impact in reducing child poverty for those who did receive it. Child maintenance reduced the income poverty gap to the greatest extent in the UK, and lifted most poor children out of poverty in Denmark and Sweden.
Source: Mia Hakovirta, 'Child maintenance and child poverty: a comparative analysis', Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, Volume 19 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined the key characteristics of independent children's rights institutions in Europe. The demand for evidence of their impact was likely to grow, reflecting the growing ambitions of the institutions and the pressures on public funding.
Source: Nigel Thomas, 'The role and impact of independent children's rights institutions in the UK and Europe', Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, Volume 33 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
A new book presented new research related to childcare policies and children's everyday lives in early education and care institutions in Europe. It highlighted the close connexion between (on the one hand) labour market and work-life balance issues and (on the other) development of particular care arrangements for small children.
Source: Anne-Trine Kjorholt and Jens Qvortrup (eds.), The Modern Child and the Flexible Labour Market: Early childhood education and care, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Nov
A new book examined work-life balance issues in European societies.
Source: Sonja Drobnic and Ana Guillen (eds.), Work-Life Balance in Europe: The role of job quality, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Nov
A study examined the competency requirements of staff in early childhood education and care in Europe. High-quality education and care services for young children depended on the right mix of knowledge, practice, and values applied by individual staff – but also by institutions and the education system.
Source: Mathias Urban, Arianna Lazzari, Michel Vandenbroeck, Jan Peeters, and Katrien van Laere, Competence Requirements of Staff in Early Childhood Education and Care, European Commission
Links: Report | European Commission press release
Date: 2011-Oct
An article examined the determinants of fertility rates at the national level of 17 developed (OECD) countries. State policies played a significant role in either helping or hindering fertility levels. Active labour market policies and generous work and family policies encouraged higher fertility rates, while the presence of employment protection legislation hindered the growth of fertility rates.
Source: Allison Rovny, ' Welfare state policy determinants of fertility level: a comparative analysis', Journal of European Social Policy, Volume 21 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Oct
A report examined how to foster inclusive labour markets in the European Union, and how to prevent and tackle child poverty. It considered how these challenges could be best addressed, and highlighted examples of good practice. It sought to identify concrete policy solutions to these challenges that could be applied during implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy.
Source: Policy Solutions for Fostering Inclusive Labour Markets and for Combating Child Poverty and Social Exclusion, EU Network of Independent Experts on Social Inclusion/European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Oct
A paper examined the association in developed (OECD) countries between pre-school education and care (on the one hand) and economic competitiveness and social cohesion (on the other).
Source: Andy Green and Tarek Mostafa, Pre-School Education and Care – A Win-Win Policy?, LLAKES Research Paper 32, Centre for Learning and Life Chances in Knowledge Economies and Societies
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Oct
A paper examined the relationship between education and fertility in European countries. More education caused a substantial decrease in childlessness and an increase in the average number of children per woman.
Source: Margherita Fort, Nicole Schneeweis, and Rudolf Winter-Ebmer, More Schooling, More Children: Compulsory schooling reforms and fertility in Europe, Discussion Paper 6015, Institute for the Study of Labor (Bonn)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Oct
The European Union issued a statement calling on member states to address the 'demographic challenge', including: support for families in order to reconcile family and work life for both women and men; promoting active participation by young and older people in society and the labour market; and supporting the equal sharing of care responsibilities between women and men.
Source: Managing Demographic Challenges Through Better Reconciliation of Work and Family Life, European Union
Links: Statement
Date: 2011-Oct
A paper examined the distinction between child poverty and family poverty in Europe. Two key distinguishing factors were: putting the child at the centre of all policy measures to combat child poverty; and acknowledging the child as a social actor outside the family. The best way to tackle child poverty and social exclusion was a rights-based approach that focused on access to adequate resources, access to quality services and opportunities, and children's participation.
Source: Child Poverty – Family Poverty: Are They One and the Same? A rights-based approach to fighting child poverty, Eurochild
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Oct
A new book examined the treatment of cultural and religious identity (focusing on Islam) in family law in European countries.
Source: Andrea Buchler, Islamic Law in Europe? Legal pluralism and its limits in European family laws, Ashgate Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Sep
A report examined key research issues and policy questions about the family in European countries. It covered 7 cross-cutting themes: care, life course and transitions, doing family, migration and mobility, inequalities and insecurities, media and new information technologies, and family policies.
Source: Marina Rupp, Loreen Beier, Anna Dechant, and Christian Haag, Research Agenda on Families and Family Wellbeing for Europe, FAMILYPLATFORM (European Commission)
Links: Report | Summary | FAMILYPLATFORM press release
Date: 2011-Sep
A new book examined the increasing Europeanization of family law, focusing on the termination by dissolution of marriages and marriage-like registered partnerships.
Source: Nynke Baarsma, The Europeanisation of International Family Law, TMC Asser Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Sep
An article examined intergenerational family structures in 9 European countries. The results indicated that certain demographic scenarios might halt or temporarily reverse the trend towards the further vertical extension of family 'constellations'.
Source: Allan Puur, Luule Sakkeus, Asta Poldma, and Anne Herm, 'Intergenerational family constellations in contemporary Europe: evidence from the Generations and Gender Survey', Demographic Research, Volume 25
Date: 2011-Aug
A paper examined the classification of parental leave takers in the European Labour Force Survey, focusing on cross-country discrepancies and their consequences. Classification rules differed between countries: in some countries parental leave takers were considered to be inactive, whereas in others they were shown as employed but temporarily not working.
Source: Malgorzata Mikucka and Marie Valentova, Employed or Inactive? Cross-national differences in coding parental leave beneficiaries in Labour Force Survey data, Working Paper 2011/45, Centre for Population, Poverty and Public Policy Studies (CEPS/INSTEAD)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Aug
A paper provided an overlap analysis of child deprivation in the European Union, in order to gain insight into the breadth of child poverty and degree of overlap between measures of monetary and multidimensional poverty.
Source: Keetie Roelen and Geranda Notten, The Breadth of Child Poverty in Europe: An investigation into overlap and accumulation of deprivations, Working Paper 2011-04, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre (Florence)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jul
A new book examined different types and dimensions of child and elder care in Europe, highlighting new tensions between them in the context of recent welfare state reforms.
Source: Birgit Pfau-Effinger and Tine Rostgaard (eds.), Care Between Work and Welfare in European Societies, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined types of public family support in the European Union. There were five distinct family policy clusters: a general family support cluster, a dual-earner support cluster, a pluralistic policy cluster, and two low-support clusters. This framework could be used to explain international variation in female labour-market participation, fertility, gender equality, and child poverty.
Source: Monika Mischkea, 'Types of public family support: a cluster analysis of 15 European countries', Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice, Volume 13 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined childcare provision in 15 developed countries. Denmark offered the highest degree of 'dedomestication' to parents of young children, followed by a group of Nordic and western European countries. In English-speaking 'liberal regime' countries, dedomestication remained more limited: it was lowest in the central European countries of Hungary and Austria.
Source: Teppo Kroger, 'Defamilisation, dedomestication and care policy: comparing childcare service provisions of welfare states', International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Volume 31 Issue 7/8
Links: Table of contents
Date: 2011-Jul
A report examined the 2011 'national reform programmes' of European Union member states from the point of view of child poverty and well-being. It said that there should be greater recognition in the programmes that measures to tackle poverty and social exclusion – and child poverty in particular – would contribute to achieving other Europe 2020 headline targets. The Europe 2020 strategy needed to be backed up by specific national strategies on social inclusion that had a specific chapter on child poverty, coupled with implementation plans. Targets on poverty reduction should be strengthened and supplemented by specific child poverty targets. National reform programmes should not only recognize child poverty as a challenge but also commit to its widespread reduction. A more comprehensive approach was needed to fully tackle child poverty, both at national and at EU level, involving a wide range of policies that reached out to the most vulnerable groups and improved child well-being.
Source: Analysis of the 2011 National Reform Programmes (NRPs) from a Child Poverty and Well-Being Perspective, Eurochild
Links: Report | Eurochild press release
Date: 2011-Jul
A paper examined a number of candidate measures of cumulative deprivation to monitor child well-being in the European Union. Some measures were considerably more sensitive than others. Relative measures of cumulative deprivation were problematic: not only were they very sensitive to changes in methodological decisions, but they were also more difficult to interpret. However, in order to monitor cumulative deprivation there was also a need for child-specific indicators (rather than household-level indicators) over a wider range of well-being domains.
Source: Geranda Notten and Keetie Roelen, Monitoring Child Well-Being in the European Union: Measuring cumulative deprivation, Working Paper 2011-03, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre (Florence)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jul
A paper examined reproductive decision-making in Europe. Three factors formed a strong barrier to the realization of fertility desires for many women and couples and often forced them to make a difficult (and unnecessary) choice between a work career and parenthood: policies in many countries remained tailored to the 'male-breadwinner' model; couples in most countries continued to have a very uneven division of household and childcare work; and dominant norms in many countries strongly sustained the traditional (patriarchal) view that women should not work when their children were small.
Source: Tomas Sobotka, Reproductive Decision-Making in a Macro-Micro Perspective (REPRO): Synthesis and policy implications, European Demographic Research Papers 1 (2011), Vienna Institute of Demography
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined the relevance of different types of support for satisfaction with work-life balance, based on a survey of service sector workers in 8 European countries.
Source: Anja-Kristin Abendroth and Laura den Dulk, 'Support for the work-life balance in Europe: the impact of state, workplace and family support on work-life balance satisfaction', Work, Employment and Society, Volume 25 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
The European Union published a policy statement on work and family life. It called on member states to promote men's role in the family, equality between women and men, and the reconciliation of work and family life; and to take into consideration the different needs and preferences of families – in particular vulnerable families, including large families and lone-parent families – when designing and implementing relevant policies. It asked the European Commission to support the promotion of the well-being of all families and equality between women and men in all aspects and flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy.
Source: Reconciliation of Work and Family Life in the Context of Demographic Change, European Union
Links: Statement
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined how managers in three European countries (including the United Kingdom) talked about the utilization of work-life policies. Managers' discourses stressed disruption and dependency considerations. The lack of resources for replacing staff on leave created disruption and reduced managers' capability to support the use of work-life policies, even if they were statutory or if managers were inclined to be supportive.
Source: Laura Den Dulk, Bram Peper, Nevenka Cernigoj Sadar, Suzan Lewis, Janet Smithson, and Anneke Van Doorne-Huiskes, 'Work, family, and managerial attitudes and practices in the European workplace: comparing Dutch, British, and Slovenian financial sector managers', Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society, Volume 18 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
An article highlighted a gap in the capabilities of individual parents in Europe to exercise their rights to a better work-life balance, and to utilize the available options.
Source: Barbara Hobson, 'The agency gap in work-life balance: applying Sen's capabilities framework within European contexts', Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society, Volume 18 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
A report examined the risks faced by children using the internet, as well as the policy responses of governments and other stakeholders in developed (OECD) countries aimed at improving the protection of children online.
Source: Kristina Irion, The Protection of Children Online: Risks faced by children online and policies to protect them, Digital Economy Paper 179, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jun
A report highlighted the problems in Europe associated with an ageing population, and with birth rates that were below the level needed to dramatically change the balance between young and older people.
Source: Stijn Hoorens, Jack Clift, Laura Staetsky, Barbara Janta, Stephanie Diepeveen, Molly Morgan Jones, and Jonathan Grant, Low Fertility in Europe: Is There Still Reason to Worry?, RAND Corporation
Links: Report | Summary | Rand press release
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined the effects of economic recessions on fertility in the developed world. In most countries, the recent global recession had brought a decline in the number of births and fertility rates, often marking a sharp halt to the previous decade of rising fertility rates.
Source: Tomas Sobotk, Vegard Skirbekk, and Dimiter Philipov, 'Economic recession and fertility in the developed world', Population and Development Review, Volume 37 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
The European Union published a policy statement on child poverty and child well-being. It called on member states to adequately emphasize child poverty issues within their national policies, and to consider it when drafting national reform programmes – backing them up with adequate targets where appropriate. It asked the European Commission to ensure that combating child poverty and promoting children's well-being were mainstreamed across all policy areas, and to consider them as one of the priorities of the social dimension of the Europe 2020 strategy.
Source: Tackling Child Poverty and Promoting Child Well-Being, European Union
Links: Statement | Eurochild press release
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined the variability in intergenerational family solidarity within and between west European countries.
Source: Pearl Dykstra and Tineke Fokkema, 'Relationships between parents and their adult children: a west European typology of late-life families', Ageing and Society, Volume 31 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-May
An article provided an overview of research on the effect of different work-life policies on women's labour market outcomes in European and other developed countries.
Source: Ariane Hegewisch and Janet Gornick, 'The impact of work-family policies on women's employment: a review of research from OECD countries', Community, Work & Family, Volume 14 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-May
A report said that the United Kingdom was almost the least 'family friendly' country in Europe. Financial and work pressures, combined with poor maternity/paternity provision and poor living environments, put UK families among the most pressured in Europe.
Source: John Ashcroft and Sam Barker with David Wong, The Family Pressure Gauge: A measurement of progress towards the goal of making Britain the 'most family friendly' country in Europe, Relationships Foundation
Links: Report | Relationships Foundation press release | Independent report
Date: 2011-May
An article examined the socio-economic conditions and politics of employment-oriented family policy expansions in the United Kingdom and Germany since the 1990s.
Source: Timo Fleckenstein and Martin Seeleib-Kaiser, 'Business, skills and the welfare state: the political economy of employment-oriented family policy in Britain and Germany', Journal of European Social Policy, Volume 21 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-May
An article examined recent fertility trends in European and other developed countries, and the effects of family-friendly policies on fertility. Although these policies did seem to have an impact on fertility, its magnitude was limited.
Source: Olivier Thevenon and Anne Gauthier, 'Family policies in developed countries: a "fertility-booster" with side-effects', Community, Work & Family, Volume 14 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-May
An article examined the relationship between particular work-life policies and mothers' employment outcomes in European countries. Work-life policies were generally associated with positive employment outcomes for mothers, relative to childless women. Work-facilitating policies such as childcare for young children had decisively positive effects on mothers' employment hours and wages. Work-reducing policies, such as parental leave, could have positive effects if the amount of leave were moderate in length.
Source: Joya Misra, Michelle Budig, and Irene Boeckmann, 'Work-family policies and the effects of children on women's employment hours and wages', Community, Work & Family, Volume 14 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-May
A paper examined the effects of parental leave legislation on various labour market outcomes of women in 16 European countries for the period since 1970. Increases were found in participation rates that diminished with the length and generosity of leave schemes.
Source: Yusuf Emre Akgunduz and Janneke Plantenga, Labour Market Effects of Parental Leave: A European perspective, Discussion Paper 11-09, Tjalling C Koopmans Research Institute (Utrecht University)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-May
An article examined long-term cross-national trends in paid and unpaid work time. There had been a 'slow and incomplete' convergence of women's and men's work patterns. Women still did the bulk of routine housework and caring for family members, while men had increased their contributions disproportionately to non-routine domestic work – suggesting that gender ideologies remained important features of the division of domestic labour.
Source: Man Yee Kan, Oriel Sullivan, and Jonathan Gershuny, 'Gender convergence in domestic work: discerning the effects of interactional and institutional barriers from large-scale data', Sociology, Volume 45 Issue 2
Links: Abstract | Oxford University press release
Date: 2011-May
An article examined financial support and practical help between older parents and their middle-aged children in the different regions of Europe. Northern and western Europe were characterized by a high likelihood of practical help to and financial transfers from parents, while in southern and eastern Europe these kinds of support were much less likely.
Source: Christian Deindl and Martina Brandt, 'Financial support and practical help between older parents and their middle-aged children in Europe', Ageing and Society, Volume 31 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-May
A report examined work-life balance issues in Europe, including: employment rates for men and women; the impact of children on labour market participation; the various forms of flexibility to support the reconciliation of work and family life; and the satisfaction of individuals with their work-life balance.
Source: Andrea Broughton, Reconciliation of Work, Private and Family Life in the European Union, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
Date: 2011-May
A study examined the feasibility of standardizing national legislation in the European Union on violence against women, violence against children, and sexual orientation violence.
Source: Feasibility Study to Assess the Possibilities, Opportunities and Needs to Standardise National Legislation on Violence Against Women, Violence Against Children and Sexual Orientation Violence, European Commission
Date: 2011-Apr
An article examined the relationship between the time spent on paid work and on childcare by fathers in European countries. Fathers who spent more time with their children earned more per hour and worked fewer hours per week, on average, than those who spent less time with their children.
Source: Alison Smith Koslowski, 'Working fathers in Europe: earning and caring', European Sociological Review, Volume 27 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Apr
A report examined the different ways in which governments in developed countries supported families. Between 2003 and 2007 the United Kingdom had strengthened its position as one of the biggest investors in families: but progress in child poverty reduction had stalled, and social protection spending on families – particularly via family service provisions, as a longer-term solution to poverty risks – needed to be protected.
Source: Doing Better for Families, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Links: Summary | UK note | OECD press release | Gingerbread press release | Guardian report
Date: 2011-Apr
An article examined how the different family policy regimes of 20 OECD countries related to children's well-being in the areas of child poverty, child mortality, and educational attainment and achievement. 'Dual-earner' regimes, combining high levels of support for paid parenting leave and public childcare, were strongly associated with low levels of child poverty and child mortality.
Source: Daniel Engster and Helena Olofsdotter Stensota, 'Do family policy regimes matter for children's well-being?', Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society, Volume 18 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
The European Commission proposed new rules designed to bring legal clarity to the property rights for married international couples and for registered partnerships with an international dimension. The two proposed regulations would help to identify which law applied to a couple's property rights, and the responsible court. The regulations also provided for rules for recognizing and enforcing court judgments in relation to a couple's property in all European Union member states through a single procedure.
Source: Bringing Legal Clarity to Property Rights for International Couples, European Commission
Links: Report | Proposed regulation (1) | Proposed regulation (2) | European Commission press release | ILGA-Europe press release
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined the literature concerning the involvement of European men during pregnancy and childbirth, and considered how this was related to health outcomes – for the men themselves, their partners, and their children.
Source: Lars Plantin, Adepeju Aderemi Olukoya, and Pernilla Ny, 'Positive health outcomes of fathers' involvement in pregnancy and childbirth paternal support: a scope study literature review', Fathering: A Journal of Theory, Research, and Practice about Men as Fathers, Volume 9 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Mar
A European study found evidence supporting the theory that women and maternal kin can be expected (for reasons of evolutionary psychology) to make a stronger investment in children and grandchildren than men and paternal kin.
Source: Mirkka Danielsbacka, Antti Tanskanen, Markus Jokela, and Anna Rotkirch, 'Grandparental child care in Europe: evidence for preferential investment in more certain kin', Evolutionary Psychology, Volume 9 Issue 1
Links: Article
Date: 2011-Mar
A study examined violence against women aged 60 and over at the hands of existing and/or former intimate partners in 6 European countries – Austria, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
Source: Barbara Nagele, Urte Bohm, Thomas Gorgen, and Olga Toth, Intimate Partner Violence Against Older Women, European Commission
Date: 2011-Mar
A paper reviewed studies of reproductive decision-making in Europe. Most of the research supported the idea of a gap between intended and realized family size; and longitudinal surveys clearly showed that many respondents were not able to realize their childbearing intentions.
Source: Tomas Sobotka, Reproductive Decision-Making in a Macro-Micro Perspective (REPRO): Synthesis and policy implications, European Demographic Research Papers 1, Vienna Institute of Demography
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined claims that European welfare states were in the process of creating an 'adult worker' model. There was a strong move towards individualization, as social policy promoted and valorized individual agency and self-sufficiency, and shifted some childcare from the family. Yet evidence was also found of continued (albeit changed) 'familism'. Rather than an unequivocal move to an individualized worker model, a dual-earner, gender-specialized, family arrangement was being promoted.
Source: Mary Daly, 'What adult worker model? A critical look at recent social policy reform in Europe from a gender and family perspective', Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society, Volume 18 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Notes: An 'adult worker' model is one in which it is assumed that both men and women are active in the labour market – in contradistinction to the 'male breadwinner' model.
Date: 2011-Mar
An article examined whether associations between well-being and, respectively, paid work and housework differed between European family policy models, and whether any such differences could be attributed to differences in the experience of work-family conflict. Among both mothers and fathers, work-family conflict appeared to be one important reason why paid working hours were not more clearly associated with high levels of well-being.
Source: Katarina Boye, 'Work and well-being in a comparative perspective – the role of family policy', European Sociological Review, Volume 27 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Feb
The European Commission published an action plan aimed at giving every child a better start in life – including a call for universal access to high-quality pre-school education.
Source: Early Childhood Education and Care: Providing all our children with the best start for the world of tomorrow, European Commission
Links: Action plan | European Commission press release | Eurochild press release | EurActiv report
Date: 2011-Feb
An article examined the role of organizations in mediating the impact of national work-life balance (WLB) policy on employees, in particular fathers, based on a comparison between the United Kingdom and France. Fathers tended to use WLB measures to spend time with their families where measures (such as state policies on paternity leave) increased their sense of entitlement, or where measures offered non-gendered flexibility (reduced working time/organizational systems of flexi-time). Fathers extensively used informal flexibility where this was available.
Source: Abigail Gregory and Susan Milner, 'Fathers and work-life balance in France and the UK: policy and practice', International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Volume 31 Issue 1/2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Feb
The European Union published an action plan for improving children's rights over the period 2011-2014.
Source: An EU Agenda for the Rights of the Child, European Union
Links: Action plan | European Union press release | Eurochild press release | CRIN press release
Date: 2011-Feb
An article examined whether there were differences in public opinion in European Union countries about policy options to fight the problem of childhood obesity. There was widespread support for providing parents with information, education programs in schools, and restrictions on advertising: but there was very little support for imposing taxes on unhealthy food.
Source: Suzanne Suggs and Chris McIntyre, 'European Union public opinion on policy measures to address childhood overweight and obesity', Journal of Public Health Policy, Volume 32 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Feb
A report summarized case law in the child rights field delivered by the European Court of Human Rights.
Source: Compilation of Relevant Case-Law (Summaries) in the Child Rights Field Delivered by the European Court of Human Rights, European Network of Ombudspersons for Children
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jan
A report examined the impact of the economic crisis on children and young people in Europe. It expressed concern that government spending cuts were increasing pressure on services affecting children: universal child allowances were being abandoned or cut, and other benefits affecting children were also at risk. Governments were reneging on past commitments to children and families.
Source: How the Economic and Financial Crisis Is Affecting Children and Young People in Europe, Eurochild
Links: Report | Eurochild press release
Date: 2011-Jan
A report examined the factors that were likely to have an impact on family well-being in Europe in the period to 2035. The report highlighted the importance of intergenerational solidarity and communities, the importance of sufficient time for families, and the issue of unpaid work/care arrangements.
Source: Olaf Kapella, Anne-Claire de Liedekerke, and Julie de Bergeyck, Foresight Report: Facets and Preconditions of Wellbeing of Families, FAMILYPLATFORM, European Commission
Links: Report | FAMILYPLATFORM press release
Date: 2011-Jan
An article examined the intra-household allocation of time in households headed by heterosexual couples, in order to show gender differences in childcare (in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain). There was a 'clear inequality' in childcare between fathers and mothers, with this disparity being more evident in Mediterranean countries. Caring tasks were mainly influenced by the presence of young children in the household, by the total non-labour income, and by the ratio of mothers' non-labour income to families' non-labour income.
Source: Inmaculada Garcia-Mainar, Jose Alberto Molina, and Victor Montuenga, 'Gender differences in childcare: time allocation in five European countries', Feminist Economics, Volume 17 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
The final text was approved of a draft Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women – the first binding text in Europe to focus on all forms of violence against women.
Source: Draft Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs, Council of Europe
Links: Draft convention
Notes: The draft convention was due to be considered by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in March 2011.
Date: 2011-Jan
A paper examined the effect of being a housewife on the well-being of women, using European Values Study data (2008) for 36 European countries. The effect of homemaking on well-being was positive overall, although it varied between countries. Three possible explanations of this variation were examined.
Source: Malgorzata Mikucka, Homemaking and Women's Well-Being in Europe: Effect of divorce risk, selection and dominating gender-role attitudes, Working Paper 2011/09, Centre for Population, Poverty and Public Policy Studies (CEPS/INSTEAD)
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jan
An article examined childcare packages offered by European Union countries, highlighting their different understandings of 'proper' care, as well as of 'proper' behaviour by mothers and fathers. An integrated research agenda, focusing on the outcomes for both labour markets and children's well-being, was necessary in order to develop policies that addressed the complex issues of choice, rights, and social inequality involved in childcaring patterns.
Source: Chiara Saraceno, 'Childcare needs and childcare policies: a multidimensional issue', Current Sociology, Volume 59 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
An article examined how to interpret the 'best interests' of children, based on experiences in the United Kingdom and Norway. Legislators should not write substantive assumptions about what was best for every child into their laws: rather, they should indicate a non-exhaustive list of key relevant considerations that decision-makers could review and evaluate in each and every case. The child's own perspective should be imperative in all deliberations about best interest.
Source: David Archard and Marit Skivenes, 'Deciding best interests: general principles and the cases of Norway and the UK', Journal of Children's Services, Volume 5 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
A survey examined the role and mandate of children's ombudspersons in Europe in safeguarding and promoting children's rights.
Source: Rachel Hodgkin and Peter Newell, The Role and Mandate of Children's Ombudspersons in Europe: Safeguarding and promoting children's rights and ensuring children's views are taken seriously, European Network of Ombudspersons for Children
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jan
A journal issue examined demographic change and the family in Europe.
Source: Veronika Herche (ed.), Demographic Change and the Family in Europe, FAMILYPLATFORM Online Journal, Volume 3, FAMILYPLATFORM, European Commission
Links: Journal
Date: 2011-Jan
A new book examined cash-for-care systems for mothers of small children in Nordic countries. It presented a comprehensive overview of the theoretical debates and controversies concerning cash-for-care systems, and explored their potential as a useful tool of contemporary social policy.
Source: Jorma Sipila, Katja Repo, and Tapio Rissanen (eds.), Cash-for-Childcare: The Consequences for Caring Mothers, Edward Elgar Publishing
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Jan
