Iceland to present first comprehensive plan to tackle child poverty

Iceland’s Ministry of Education and Children is due to present the country’s first comprehensive strategy and action plan to tackle child poverty, mbl.is reports. The presentation and a symposium are scheduled for 8:30 to 10:30 at Veröld – House of Vigdís.

The event will examine how families’ financial circumstances affect children’s wellbeing and participation, which groups face the greatest disadvantages, and how support and equal opportunities can be improved. A discussion will follow the presentations.

About 10,500 children in Iceland live in households below the low-income threshold, according to the ministry. “No child in Iceland should have to go without, go to bed hungry or stay at home while others go to practice,” the ministry said in a statement.

The strategy and action plan were developed at the initiative of the minister for education and children. The symposium is being held in cooperation with the Prime Minister’s Office and the University of Iceland’s Department of Social Work.

The event will also present key findings from a new report on child poverty and the circumstances of families with children. It found that about 30 per cent of children living with a single parent experience poverty, compared with about 8 per cent of children living with two parents. The findings also show links between families’ financial circumstances and children’s health, wellbeing and social conditions, the ministry said.