These days hundreds of thousands refugees from war zones, especially Syria, arrive in Europe. This leads to critical situations especially for those needing special attention such as children and families.

More than two thousand paediatricians, neonatologists, nurses and parentsfrom Europe and the entire world are gathered in the “joined European Neonatal Societies (jENS) Congress consisting of four leading societies, theEuropean Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR), the European Society for Neonatology (ESN), the Union of European Neonatal and Perinatal Societies (UENPS) and the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI). Our aim is to discuss all aspects of newborn health. Therefore, we feel it is our duty to help where we can. In this jENS conference part of the revenues will be donated to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In addition, money will be collected from the participants.

We also want to remind all European governments that they have ratified The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child from 1989, which provides children with the right of the highest attainable standard of health. Children have the highest priority when health care is limited and It should be provided.

Article 24 (Health and health services): Children have the right to good quality health care – the best health care possible – to safe drinking water, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment, and information to help them stay healthy. Rich countries should help poorer countries achieve this.

The Committee on the Rights of The Child has in its General Comment Nr.15 interpreted this right as an inclusive right, extending not only to timely and appropriate prevention, but also to a right to grow and develop to their full potential.

Article 19 states that children must be protected from all forms of violence.

Article 22 states that children have the right to special protection and help if they are refugees

We want to underline that children and pregnant women are the weakest among the refugees arriving to our continent and therefore need special care. According to The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child this is the responsibility of all European governments.