Innocenti Social Monitor 2009: Child well-being in Central and Eastern Europe

The study examines the evolving and diverging challenges for the well-being of children after two decades of transition in Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The report is based on information from administrative and survey sources to identify critical economic and social trends and assess the impact of policies on children in the period immediately preceding the current crisis. It analyses the changes in the economic and demographic context in which children are growing up as well as at trends of public social expenditure that influence public policies that affect children. As the report shows, important improvements in living standards of children took place in the region. However, disparities in the distribution of benefits and in particular the vulnerability of children to the process of change persist, one of the reason being the difficulties of policy makers to reach population groups most at risk and to provide adequate support to reduce inequalities and exclusion. The report is meant to encourage policy makers to have a greater focus on child well-being, to support those children most in need, to promote social inclusion and to give all children the opportunity to develop their full potential.

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