A Child Friendly City is a local system of good governance
committed to fulfilling children's rights
Switzerland
Child Friendly Municipality – UNICEF Switzerland
The purpose of the Child Friendly Municipality initiative in Switzerland is to promote the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child at the municipal level. In 2004 UNICEF Switzerland created a working group of Child Friendly Municipalities, a title which a city can gain after undergoing an evaluation process assessing availability of services to children and other actions. To obtain the title of Child Friendly Municipality, seven steps have to be followed: 1) The development of a situation analysis based on the questionnaire elaborated by the working group and through the collaboration of municipal offices. 2) Feedback on the results during a meeting where strengths and areas for improvement are identified and analyzed. 3) A municipal decision expressing the city’s wish to be a candidate for the title “Child Friendly Municipality”. 4) Implementation of a laboratory where children and adolescents can express their views, wishes, and proposals to improve their city and living conditions. 5) Development of an action plan for the next four years based on the results of the questionnaire and the children’s and adolescent’s views. 6) Approval of the self-assessment report, child participation activities, and the action plan by the evaluation committee. 7) After the approval by the evaluation committee, the distinction “Child Friendly Municipality” is granted for four years.
After two years the city submits a mid-term report to UNICEF to provide information on progress. After four years, the city needs to show evidence of the implementation of the plan of action and is required to undertake a new situation analysis and to develop a new plan of action, including the organization of an additional child participation workshop.
For more information, please visit: www.kinderfreundlichegemeinde.ch
Contact
UNICEF Switzerland
Baumackerstrasse 24
8050 Zurich
Telephone : 044 317 22 71
Fax : 044 317 22 77
E-mail : kfg@unicef.ch
