MPs Esmah Lahlah (GroenLinks-PvdA) and Don Ceder (ChristenUnie) are putting forward a new law designed to permanently reduce child poverty. The proposal is expected to be opened for online public consultation as early as next week.
The proposed law would legally require the government to at least halve the number of children living in poverty by 2035. Lahlah and Ceder highlight that more than 100,000 children are currently living in these conditions, with the ultimate goal being to wipe out child poverty entirely.
A Legal Mandate for Change
Rather than telling the government exactly which methods to use, this private member’s law focuses on the end result. It mandates that a clear, joined-up policy must be created and that progress must be tracked openly. If the results fall behind, the government would be legally required to make changes to its approach. “Poverty policy will no longer depend on the political whims of each changing government, but will become a legal duty that must be managed and reported on every year,” the MPs stated.
From Manifesto to Law
The plan to write child poverty targets into law was a key pledge in the election manifestos of both GroenLinks-PvdA and ChristenUnie. By introducing this bill, the MPs aim to ensure that helping vulnerable children remains a priority regardless of which parties are in power.
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