The European Large Families Confederation has raised some important questions about their struggle with COVID-19.
In these days, images of large families struggling with their everyday life have warmed the hearts of many people. And yet, behind the strength and creativity shown by the families with more than three children, lies a series of difficulties that the public is not aware of: episodes of intolerance have been recorded in Germany, where families have asked for a "license" to be able to make their "extra-large" expenses without being suspected of improper supply. In Spain, a father was fined for going with his son to do the shopping for his family of 8 children, two grandparents and great-grandmother; in Latvia, the Government intervened to provide the children of large families with a tablet with which to follow lessons at home: a problem - the unavailability of devices - also raised by the National Association of Large Families.
These are just a few examples of life during COVID19 for large families in Europe, where, according to Eurostat data, 1/3 of children live with at least two siblings.
"We are worried - says Regina Maroncelli, President of the European Large Families Confederation - because even in this emergency families with more children continue to be discriminated and ignored, adding unfairness and difficulty to an already complicated situation, with very serious repercussions also on the economic side".
The European Large Families Confederation:
- invites the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen and Deputy Commissioner Suica to speed up and deepen the discussion for "the child guarantee";
- calls on States to consider the family burden and the number of family members in income support measures and to safeguard the right to study;
- calls on local and national governments to implement and/or strengthen family cards as a tool to support families and economic recovery.
"Never before it has been so important for institutions to listen to the voice of families and involve family associations in the development of the necessary and useful measures to overcome the emergency. Supporting families is an indispensable investment in future that awaits us after the coronavirus."
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