Standard of living

The Committee notes with concern the continued increase in income inequality and in poverty, particularly among children with immigrant background, and the living conditions of children in municipal housing and recommends that the State Party ensure the application of a child rights-based approach, including the principle of the best interests of the child and the right to participation, in the development and implementation of policies and programmes to combat poverty.

The Committee recommends that the State Party make statutory local action plans for combating poverty and conduct a child rights impact assessment of all restrictive measures that impact asylum-seeking families with children.

The Committee recommends that the State Party strengthen the implementation of concrete measures to prevent growing inequality and poverty and ensure that children and their families living in poverty receive adequate financial support and free, accessible services without discrimination and introduce automatic adjustment of child benefit in relation to inflation and wages.