Child Friendly Cities Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

‑

CFCI celebrating CRC@302

Germany: Child Friendly Cities SummitThe German National Committee for UNICEF facilitated the organization of the very first Child Friendly Cities Summit, which was co‑hosted by UNICEF’s Private Fundraising and Partnership Division and the City of Cologne. The Summit, organized from 15 to 18 October in Cologne, Germany, brought together more than 600 participants from more than 250 cities and communities, including mayors, local leaders, technical experts, children and young people. Participants discussed innovative approaches to advance child rights through local commitment and identified and exchanged good practices.

Two main outcomes of the Summit are:

1. Cologne Child Friendly Cities Mayors’ Declaration: More than 160 cities and communities have signed the Mayors’ Declaration. The Declaration is open for signatures for all cities and communities globally that are committed to child rights and creating inclusive, participatory and child‑friendly cities and communities.

2. Child & Youth Manifesto: More than 120,000 children and young people from more than 160 countries contributed to the creation of the Child and Youth Manifesto. The Manifesto calls for mayors and local leaders to create cities that are safer, more inclusive, healthier and greener.

One of the highlights of the Summit was a video statement by Chancellor Merkel, who welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of the programme "Kinderfreundliche Kommunen" (CFCI) for the creation of a socially conscious society in which children are protected and their concerns are respected. Chancellor Merkel also complimented the general work of cities and communities to

strengthen children's rights at the local level. UNICEF’s Executive Director Henrietta Fore also welcomed the participants with a video.

© UNICEF/UNI216441/Wogram

© UNICEF/UNI217441/Wogram

Cov

er p

hoto

cre

dits

: City

of

Bes

anço

n, C

ity o

f N

ancy

, City

of

Le H

avre

CFCI celebrating CRC@304

Germany Dialogue forum in Dormagen

The second Forum of Child Friendly Cities Initiative took place in Dormagen with the participation of 23 communities. It served as an exchange platform for the Child Friendly Cities in Germany who presented their experiences during the process as well as their promising practices. The newly joined cities profited from the experiences of more advanced communities and sustained dialogue among each other. Dialogue forums became a key pillar of the CFCI recognition process in Germany. This enables and sustains continuous dialogue between the communities on implementing CRC at the local level. The alliance “Integrate Children's Rights in the

Constitution!”

All children have rights ‑ and these should be integrated into the German Constitution. Thus, in July this year, together with 20 mayors from all over Germany, the alliance “Integrate Children's Rights in the Constitution!” consisting of the Deutscher Kinderschutzbund, Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk, Deutsche Liga für das Kind and UNICEF called upon the German Federal Government with the following demand: (...) "The participation of children and young people is a central value of a democratic society. This maxim should be the guiding principle for both state and social action throughout Germany. From our municipal experiences, we have learned that children are to be respected as independent personalities with their own rights and important agents for a social, fair and democratic society"(...). On 26th of November this year, Federal Minister of Justice Christine Lambrecht brought forward a bill based on the recommendations of a working group, in order to allow the inclusion of child rights in Article 6 of the Constitution.

Child Friendly Cities Summit in Cologne. © UNICEF/217553/Wogram

CFCI celebrating CRC@306 CFCI celebrating CRC@30 7

CFCI Child and Youth Advisory Board celebrates the AnniversaryFollowing the Summit, members of the CFCI Child and Youth Advisory Board have also been actively involved in celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Convention. For example: • Advisory Board members from Germany organized a child rights

demonstration and met with the German Federal President Steinmeier to discuss child rights.

• Advisory Board member from United Kingdom ran a workshop about child participation at an event celebrating child rights in Cardiff.

• Advisory Board members from Belarus participated in UNICEF Talks organized by UNICEF Belarus to mark the 30th Anniversary.

• Advisory Board members from France spoke at an event at the Pantheon and the OECD and met with the Mayor of Paris to discuss child rights.

• Advisory Board members from Kyrgyzstan joined other UNICEF volunteers to organize a concert for 600 children.

• Advisory Board member from Iceland was actively involved in celebrations organized in the City of Kopavogur, Iceland.

• Advisory Board members from Finland discussed child rights on a local radio channel.

• Advisory Board member from Austria shared his experience of the Summit at an event celebrating newly recognized Child Friendly Cities.

• Advisory Board member from Belize participated in a Special Sitting of the Children’s Parliament in Belize.

CFCI celebrating CRC@308

© UNICEF Comité Español/2019/Hugo Palotto

SpainTo mark the 30th Anniversary of the Convention, 70 Local children’s councils engaged in the activity proposed by UNICEF Spain, #PorTodosMisCompañeros, under the umbrella of the National Committee’s integrated fundraising campaign. This activity focused on participation: each group defined a problem related to child rights and worked on a project to address it.

The activities also involved the government: eight children from four local children’s councils presented their analysis of children’s rights after 30 years to the Minister of Justice.

Four children from different children´s council presented the main results of the Barometer of the children’s opinion survey that reflects their concerns in political and social issues. More than 8,500 children and adolescents between 11 and 18 years of age answered the survey. The data was collected through an individual and anonymous survey in 133 schools.

More than 350 participants attend to the 2‑day National Conference of Child Friendly Cities in Madrid, titled “Children and adolescents as agents of change”

Moreover, regional parliaments were also actively engaging with children and young people: more than ten actions were organized with local children’s councils.

CFCI celebrating CRC@3010

CFC Conference, United Kingdom. © UNICEF/Bye19

United KingdomCFC Conference

UNICEF UK’s Child Friendly Cities & Communities team held the first of what will become a series of annual events for the programme on 23 May in central London. The event saw around 130 delegates celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Convention, while shining a light on the reality of life for children and young people growing up in the UK in 2019.

Speakers included Solomon O.B, National Poetry Champion and care leaver, Amal Salman Al‑Doseri from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Ashley John‑Baptiste, BBC News presenter and care leaver, and 12 inspiring children and young people from across the country that are using children’s rights to create lasting change for their peers.Together with experts from the children’s rights sector and representatives from local government, academia and the arts, they explored what a child rights‑based approach means, and how it can improve the effectiveness and legitimacy of the local decisions, services and spaces that shape children’s lives.

Liverpool Discovery Day

The UK’s CFC team were in Liverpool on World Children’s Day, as the city reached the Discovery Day stage of their journey. Liverpool city is the first city in the North West of England participating in the programme, and launched its partnership in March 2019.

Held in the city’s central library, children and young people of Liverpool explored the breadth of their experiences and views of their neighbourhoods, together with professionals, local stakeholders and key members of the community.

Over the day the CFC team led creative exercises to help groups share ideas on making the city more child‑friendly. As mixed groups they spoke about their favourite parts of the city, such as the parks, diversity and creative community. They also discussed how important it is to transform the city into a greener, safer and fairer place, and how this should be done. These discussions will inform which badges – or priority areas – Liverpool will focus on over the coming years.

CFCI celebrating CRC@30 13

Meeting with the mayor of Szczecin, Poland. © UNICEF Poland

CRC@30 banner in Poland. © UNICEF Poland

PolandConference - Practical implementation of child rights at the local level

On 20th November, UNICEF Poland organized a conference in Warsaw titled “The right to the childhood. 30 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child ‑ practical implementation of children's rights”. The Conference was addressed to local governments, government, media, business, non‑governmental organizations and representatives of public institutions.

The aim of the Conference was the practical implementation of children's rights at the local level through the Child Friendly Cities Initiative involving various stakeholders: local government, media, business partners, NGOs, etc. As part of the conference, discussion panels were organized for example on how business could and would like to work with the local government to improve the quality of children’s lives (representatives from business), what CFCI means for local government (representatives from local governments), etc.

Involvement of local governments in the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Convention

UNICEF Poland prepared a special program for cities to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This program contained:• undertaking communication and marketing activities (outdoor

campaign, press release, UNICEF spots ‑ all visuals prepared by UNICEF Poland with space for the city's logo);

• organizing a special event for children during which they will be able to say what they would like to change in their city, to make their lives better;

• presenting the view of children during the Extraordinary Meeting of the City Council with children’s participation;

• light up public buildings in blue;• cooperation with schools involved in World Children’s day (3,000

schools engaged) and organization of joint events.

16 cities throughout Poland (including Gdynia, Sopot, Poznan, Szczecin, Gdansk, Wroclaw, etc.) took part in the program giving UNICEF Poland the opportunity to expand UNICEF’s message on child rights. A lot of different events and activities were organized: outdoor campaigns, meetings of children with the local governments, special meetings of the City Council, “blue marches” with children led by the president or mayor, consultations with children, lighting up public buildings, broadcastings UNICEF’s spot in local cinemas, etc.

CFCI celebrating CRC@30 15

Copenhagen Central Station in Denmark. © Danske Statsbaner

DenmarkAt the World Children’s Day event in the UN City in Copenhagen, delegations from the three pilot CFCI cities in Denmark joined for a day‑long programme. The programme included an internal “get‑to‑know‑each other and briefing meeting” as well as a public panel discussion, which had both children and grown‑up representatives from two of the pilot municipalities on the panel together with Louise Thivant, CFCI Advisor. The panel was attended by more than 100 guests and there was lively discussion and interest in the subject of children’s involvement in municipalities. The Mayor and two children from one of the new pilot municipalities also participated in an interview at UNICEF’s media zone on World Children’s Day.

AustriaOn 26 November, all the new ‘Family Friendly Communities’ (honoured by UNICEF Austria’s implementing partner, Familie und Beruf Management GmbH) and ‘Child Friendly Communities’ recognized in 2019 received their certificates during a festive event in Vienna. The certificates were handed over by the Austrian federal minister of family and youth, Ines Stilling, the president of the association of Austrian municipalities, Alfred Riedl and the Executive Director of UNICEF Austria, Gudrun Berger.

On this occasion, UNICEF’s CFCI focal point David Hagen held a speech about the Convention, followed by Lukas (the Austrian youth delegate to the Child Friendly Cities Summit) and Andrea Watzl, member of the city council of Kitzbühel (who also participated in the Summit), who told the audience about the Child Friendly Cities Summit. Finally, Lukas and UNICEF presented the core content of the CFCI Child & Youth Manifesto. Furthermore, a German translation of the manifesto was given to all members of the audience (consisting of mayors and other representatives of municipalities, overall almost 400 people).

© UNICEF Denmark

CFCI celebrating CRC@3016

ItalyTo mark the 30th Anniversary of the Convention, UNICEF Italy produced an Italian adaptation of the Child Friendly Convention icons, as poster and flyer versions. These, alongside a translated version of the ‘Passport of your rights’ was spread all over Italy through volunteers and local governments.

422 cities throughout Italy went blue for UNICEF by lightning up prominent buildings or monuments in the city. These include famous monuments such as the leaning tower of Pisa, four bridges over the Po river in Turin, the City Hall of Venice and the Senatorial Palace in Rome.

Basilica di San Miniato al Monte, Firenze, Italy. © UNICEF Italy

CFCI celebrating CRC@30 19

Villefrance‑sur‑Saone celebrating the Anniversary. ©Le Progrès ‑Gilles Noel DOMAS

© City of Mouans‑Sartoux

FranceEverywhere in France, UNICEF volunteers and local partners (cities, departments, municipal departments, associations and companies) were mobilized around the celebrations for the 30th Anniversary. Discussions, games, workshops, concerts, debates, arts… Several cities organized different activities around 20 November, some of which are highlighted below. Visit UNICEF France’s blog for all Anniversary activities.

Villefranche-sur-Saône

Following consultations with children and young people, local leisure centers organized several activities proposed by children and young people. The children facilitated activities enthusiastically, finishing with a release of balloons.

Mouans-Sartoux

With the help of the local UNICEF team, more than 100 children in the local leisure center presented and advocated for their rights through speech and dance. With the help of facilitators, they also created drawings and paintings presenting the 54 articles of the Convention. Auxerre

The first youth forum welcomed the departmental council of Yonne. More than 175 children and young people came together to exchange and advocate for their rights with teachers, representatives of departmental services and UNICEF volunteers.

© City of Mouans‑Sartoux ©UNICEF89

CFCI celebrating CRC@3020

The Palace of Dukes and States of Burgundy in Dijon went blue to mark the 30th Anniversary. ©City of Dijon

AlèsThe City of Alès, a UNICEF Child Friendly City for 10 years, celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the Convention with a day of activities for children and young people, including games, discussions and a flash mob, all aimed at reminding participants of the importance of child rights. See video. Lille

Following an idea from the local children’s council, the entrance hall of the City Hall was inaugurated and renamed Hall of Child Rights.

Reims

A UNICEF exposition for the 30th anniversary at the City Hall of Reims. Nancy

More than 9,000 people were present at the warm‑up for the league 2 football match between l’AS Nancy and FC Paris on 29 November, played under UNICEF colours.

Paris

UNICEF volunteers and members of the CFCI Child and Youth Advisory Board met with the Mayor of Paris to discuss child rights and organized an event on child rights at the Panthéon.

©City of Reims

©City of Reims

The Revolution Square with UNICEF colours and the participation of 280 children in Besançon, France

CFCI celebrating CRC@3022

FinlandUNICEF Finland asked Child Friendly Cities to participate in the World Children’s Day celebrations by:• lightning up in blue the most remarkable or famous buildings or

landmarks blue on 20 November;• sharing UNICEF Finland’s celebration post in social media on 20

November;• informing the city’s stakeholders about child rights, World Children’s

Day and the work the city has done to advance child rights in collaboration with UNICEF.

Cities were actively participating in the activations proposed by UNICEF. Many cities also organized their own activities to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Convention.

IcelandBoth of the two Icelandic cities participating in the CFCI organized events to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Convention. The City of Akureyri organized an event called “The week of the child“ – the week leading up to 20 November they hosted different activities for children and families. For example, city council members had meetings with children in each of the schools of the municipality, access to the swimhall was free for children and families and there were art exhibits created by children on display.

The City of Kopavogur had an extensive program on the 20th of November. The city hosted an event called „Dance for rights“ where children and young people came together to dance for the rights of children. The city also organized a forum where children expressed their wishes for their municipality, and where children could create banners and different products with slogans related to children‘s rights. © City of Kopavogur

© City of Hämeenlinna

CFCI celebrating CRC@3024

South KoreaThe Korean Committee for UNICEF celebrated the 30th anniversary of the CRC with CRC30: National Summit for Children to encourage government officers, lawyers, professors and children to strengthen their commitment to advancing child rights in Korea. Although the event was not directly driven by the CFCI, it provided the following key implications for making child‑friendly cities and communities.Child participation was integral to the event. Three children presented on a panel at one of the two sessions and raised their voice on the meaning of meaningful and inclusive education and participation. Nine children aged between 12 and 15 joined a roundtable discussion with two congressmen to exchange ideas on diverse thematic issues ranging from fair chance, play and leisure, healthy and safe environment to climate change. They reaffirmed their commitment to further demonstrate positive results for the better lives of children. UNICEF introduced the eight emerging issues from the open letter from Executive Director Fore and emphasized the importance of the role of a city and community in addressing those issues. Child participation was once again stressed as a key element to child‑friendly cities.

Local leadership was recognized as one of the core elements in advancing child rights. Head of the Korean ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) Office was invited on stage to illustrate the importance of local leadership and commitment in tackling climate crisis. The Director of the Child Rights Advocacy Department of the Korean Committee pointed out the CFCI as one of the leading advocacy projects to successfully implement the CRC. CFCI municipalities were invited to the event, and there were a considerable number of local child‑friendly team officers interested in implementing the CRC.

Diverse stakeholders gathered to examine the necessity of a child rights‑based approach in mapping a child‑friendly city and community under two chairpersons who have actively worked on the evaluation of CFCIs in Korea. The Summit brought the public and private sector, lawyers, and academia working on the CFCI, the SDGs, and the CRC for a call to joint action and partnership to ensure the implementation of the CRC and a timely response to newly emerging issues.

© Korean Committee for UNICEF

© Korean Committee for UNICEF