First Years First Priority is a Europe-wide campaign set up to advocate for prioritization of early childhood development in public policies, with a particular focus on families and children who are at greater risk of discrimination and exclusion. The campaign aims to ensure that all young children aged 0 to 6 have equal opportunities to safe, healthy and optimal development.
Where they operate
Organization Type
Main Areas of Work
What They Do
The Campaign focuses on prioritizing children from birth to 6 years, with a special attention to the first 1,000 days. The Campaign is rooted in an understanding that, from the day they are born, all children are rights holders despite their dependency status. We will advocate for more political visibility and resource allocation to early childhood in general. Within that overall framework, we will focus on children who are most vulnerable such as Roma and Traveller children, children with disabilities, migrant and refugee children, children at risk of entering, or in, alternative care, and those living in extreme poverty. We will look at how policies and public investment can tackle inequalities from the earliest age.
The campaign aims to ensure early childhood development (ECD) stays high on the political agenda by building a strong community of advocates at the EU and national level. We want policy makers, in the countries engaged in the campaign and in EU institutions, to better understand how ECD promotes inclusion and to commit to adopting an integrated and multi-sectoral approach to ECD.
Organization Resources
First Years First Priority is a Europe-wide campaign set up to advocate for prioritization of early childhood development in public policies, with a particular focus on families and children who are at greater risk of discrimination and exclusion. This briefing provides a description of the policy context in which the 'First Year, First Priority' campaign is launched.
