This November, SIOP Europe marked International Children's Rights Day, in collaboration with CCI Europe, with a milestone policy event, hosted by MEP Loucas Fourlas (EPP, Cyprus) at the European Parliament. The event brought together 70 in-person participants and 20 online attendees, including EU decision-makers, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and researchers, with the common goal of addressing the critical issue of equal access to care and research for children with cancer across Europe.
The event highlighted the persistent inequalities in paediatric oncology and called for urgent measures to bridge the gaps in care. Speakers like Prof. Gilles Vassal (SIOPE Board Member, Gustave Roussy) and Prof. Ruth Ladenstein (ERN PaedCan Coordinator) underlined the challenges of providing high-quality care and access to clinical trials across borders, while also putting the spotlight on initiatives such as the ERN PaedCan, which aims to expand treatments in resource-limited regions.
Participants emphasized the importance of maintaining the momentum beyond International Children’s Rights Day. MEP Vlad Voiculescu (RE, Romania) announced an upcoming intergroup on cancer and rare diseases, where SIOPE will play a leading role in shaping policies for paediatric cancer patients.
This event placed childhood cancer at the heart of the EU agenda, underlining the community’s ongoing mission to cure more, cure better, and reduce inequalities.
If you are curious to know more, you can watch the event recording on the SIOPE YouTube Channel, or you can visit the SIOPE website to stay tuned for updates on the efforts being made by our organization to secure a brighter future for children with cancer.