Child strategy committee appointed

The government has appointed a committee to prepare a National Child Strategy.

The strategy will be based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and span across government terms and different administrative sectors, said a government press release.

The committee is chaired by Family Affairs and Social Services Minister Krista Kiuru.

The aim of the strategy is to enhance the goal-oriented, sustainable and long-term nature of child, youth and family policies.

The vision of the preparatory work is that the wellbeing and rights of children and young people in Finland will be fully realised so that Finland will be child-friendly and family-friendly and respect the rights of the child.

Studies have shown that most children and young people in Finland enjoy a good level of wellbeing. Nevertheless, the development of inequality is visible among children and young people.

“We know that the rights of the child are not realised equally in different areas and for different groups of children in Finland. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child requires that the rights of the child be realised fully for all children and groups of children throughout the country. This is why we need a comprehensive Child Strategy,” said Minister Kiuru.

The Child Strategy will be prepared in two stages. The long-term objectives and actions that will be promoted across government terms will be recorded in the actual Child Strategy. This will be carried out as parliamentary committee work during 2020.

In the second stage, an implementation plan for the Child Strategy will be developed and carried out, in which the objectives and measures for the government term and the resources available for them will be recorded.

The committee preparing the Child Strategy is one of the five parliamentary committees appointed during this government term. Parliamentary preparation is aimed at ensuring long-term policy preparation across electoral terms. The members of the committee represent all parliamentary groups.