Child-friendly Hamina

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS

The Convention on the Rights of the Child came into force in Finland in 1991. It has over 50 articles and applies to all children under the age of 18. In Finland, the Convention on the Rights of the Child has been enacted into law, so it is valid in Finland as a law and is therefore also binding. 

It is the duty of adults to ensure that children's rights are realized in the lives of as many children as possible in an adequate and good way. Decisions affecting children and young people are mostly made in municipalities by officials, committees, councils and city governments. Therefore, municipal decision-makers are in a key position when it comes to the realization of children's rights in municipalities. 

HAMINA, A CHILD-FRIENDLY CITY

Video duration: 13.03

Hamina received UNICEF recognition for promoting children's rights on December 22.12, 2025.

Development work started in 2022

UNICEF's Child Friendly Municipality model in two minutes

Hamina was approved for inclusion in UNICEF's Child Friendly Municipality development model in December 2021. To ensure the development work, the city government appointed a Child Friendly Municipality coordinator for the task, who, together with the coordination group, planned, developed and implemented reforms, which were reported to UNICEF.

The Child-Friendly Municipality development work was guided by an action plan drawn up based on a survey of the current situation. The objectives and measures recorded in the action plan concern the best interests of the child, inclusion, equality and the implementation of children's rights in the municipal structures:

1. The municipality's communications promote the visibility and implementation of children's rights.
2. Child Impact Assessment (LAVA) is being introduced. Clear guidelines are in place in the municipality to support the systematic implementation of LAVA. 
3. Municipal officials, elected representatives and key stakeholders are educated about children's rights. Children's rights are part of the municipality's education programs.
4. Inclusion is realized in the everyday environments in which children and young people grow up. Promoting inclusion is a guiding principle for those working with children and young people.
5. Official information regarding vulnerable groups of children is sought, analyzed and applied in decision-making.

We have been working to achieve the above goals until the early autumn of 2025. At that time, UNICEF experts took our report and work for evaluation. As a result, in December, we received thanks and recognition for the work done.

Although the recognition has now been received and we are officially a Child Friendly City, the promotion of the well-being of children and young people and the implementation of children's rights still continues. There is still work to be done, and that work applies to all areas of the city.