Former President and Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society Founder and Chair Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca has been chosen to head Eurochild for a second term.

Eurochild is a prestigious children’s rights advocacy network of organisations that work with and for children across Europe, aiming for a society that respects the rights of children.

The network’s Secretary General Jana Hainsworth said Eurochild was delighted that Ms Coleiro Preca had been re-elected for a second three-year mandate as President.

“Throughout her career, Ms Coleiro Preca has championed children’s rights and we are fortunate to be able to harness this experience and commitment for the benefit of the children’s rights community across Europe,” Ms Hainsworth said.

She added that “At this critical moment in its history, Europe needs a strong voice for children.”

“Under Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca’s leadership, the Eurochild network will consolidate its impact and influence, to ensure no child gets left behind,” Ms Hainsworth remarked.

Ms Coleiro Preca has served as both Family and Social Solidary Minister and also as President of Malta, while also dedicating her focus in recent years to alleviating children’s rights in Malta and on a European Union level through the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing Society.

She was honoured to have been re-elected president, and she also highlighted the importance of the European network at the present time.

“We are operating in the most challenging of times, which makes our work with and for children across Europe all the more important,” she said.

“We are determined to continue working tirelessly to safeguard children’s rights,” she added.

Ms Coleiro Preca also emphasised how Eurochild is “developing” and “approving its new strategic plan”, that will see the network adapt to the current situation even more.

She concluded by saying that “We are determined and resolved to continue working in the best interests of all children living in Europe.”

Through both the Malta Foundation for the Wellbeing and Society and the Malta Trust Foundation, Ms Coleiro Preca has placed an intensified focus on child participation, also setting up the Children’s Rights Observatory Malta (CROM) in collaboration with the University of Malta’s Faculty of Social Wellbeing.

She has also pushed politicians to follow and build on the core principles of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Eurochild describes itself as a network of organisations and individuals that are “striving for a society where all children and young people grow up happy, healthy, confident and respected as individuals in their own right.”