Child-Friendly Municipality Model – Work Steps

With the Child-Friendly Municipality model, UNICEF helps municipalities ensure a good life for every child. The model is international and is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (in force in Finland since 1991). The convention is binding. It guarantees every child in the world special rights, such as the right to life and development, equality, participation, and that the child’s best interests must be a primary consideration in society.

The work steps of the Child-Friendly Municipality model in the municipality are:

1. Applying for the model
2. Familiarization with children’s rights
3. Mapping the current situation
4. Goals and action plan based on the current situation mapping (spring 2021)
5. UNICEF approves the action plan APPROVED IN SUMMER 2021
6. Monitoring on November 17, 2022
7. Evaluation and recognition for the first time in summer 2023

How does the current situation mapping proceed?

The current situation mapping consists of four phases:

1. Gathering the views of children and young people.
2. Collecting indicator data, i.e., self-assessment of the municipality’s situation regarding children’s rights and entering municipality-specific data from national data collection.
3. Summarizing the results with the coordination group, children, and other key stakeholders.
4. Processing and sharing the results within the municipality and with UNICEF.

Because the current situation mapping assesses the entire municipality’s situation, its implementation is done together with children, young people, and broadly with various actors and stakeholders in the municipality.

How are development goals agreed upon?

Based on the initial mapping, development areas are selected together. The influence of children and young people is emphasized in the choices.

On what basis is recognition granted?

UNICEF evaluates both the municipality’s development process and the results achieved.

Receiving recognition requires, among other things:

• commitment from the entire municipality to implement the model and development work
• long-term work aimed at structural changes
• children and young people are strongly involved in the work
• the municipality pays special attention to children and groups of children in vulnerable situations.

Working Group

Sports Director Inkeri Jortikka
Service Coordinator for Integration Services Pirkko Juurus
Acting Education Director Mika Saarinen
Early Childhood Education Director Riitta Ranta
Youth Services Director Sanna Laine
Communications Director Leena Joutsenniemi
LYK Coordinator, Welfare Director Hanna Paikkala
Trustee Piia Aitto-oja
Youth Council representatives Eevertti Warséll and Lyra Sitomaniemi, with substitutes Salene Razi and Iida Huusko
Representative of the organization; Roosa Penttilä from the Janakkala Red Cross youth section

The working group will be supplemented by representatives of organizations and experts as needed.

The activities of the working group are guided by the municipality’s leadership team.