Declaration on children with Down syndrome

The European Parliament adopted a declaration on children with Down syndrome (the commonest genetic causes of learning disabilities), signed by 386 members.

Members recall that it is estimated that the chances of a child being born with Down syndrome are between 600 and 1000 to 1. It also recalls that children with Down syndrome can suffer from numerous congenital disturbances, the most frequent being heart disease.

Parliament calls on the Commission, the Council and the Member States to:

• contribute to the social inclusion of children with Down syndrome by means of awareness-raising campaigns at national and European level;
• promote pan-European research into the treatment of this condition;
• draw up a Europe-wide strategy for protecting the rights of children with Down syndrome in the EU.