Nat’l Child Strategy made to institute children’s rights

Finland has completed its first National Child Strategy with the view to respect the rights of all children.

The parliamentary committee which was responsible for preparing the strategy formed a common view of the vision for a child- and family-friendly Finland that spans government terms, said an official press release on Tuesday.

The strategy is based on three key ideas: to respect the rights of all children, take due account of children in society, and support the wellbeing of children.

The strategy will create a genuinely child- and family-friendly Finland that respects the rights of the child.

The rights and status of children will also be mainstreamed, ensuring that children are consistently taken into consideration in all activities alongside with other members of society. Children will be informed of their rights.

The status of children in a vulnerable position will be secured and their needs will be recognised better.

The National Child Strategy will guide the preparation of an implementation plan for each government term.

The implementation of the strategy will ensure that the rights of all children are realised as fully as possible. It will also support the inclusion of all children and their right to a future.

The strategy must be implemented through cross-administrative collaboration, involving a wide range of stakeholders in society, the civil society, as well as children and adults of different ages and representing a variety of population groups.

The strategy applies to all children and young people under the age of 18. In addition, the families in which children live and young adults in the transitional stage between childhood and adulthood are taken into account in the strategy and its implementation.

One of the objectives of the strategy is to increase the inclusion of children and young people. An event about the child strategy will be held for children and young people on 17 March.

“I am very pleased with the work carried out jointly by all members of the parliamentary committee and with the fact that we formed a common political will. We had a clear vision of how the child strategy will help build a Finland that respects the rights of all children and be a good place for children to be born and grow up in,” said Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru, who also served as chair of the committee.