Children’s rights

Children’s rights are the responsibilities of adults

Children’s rights apply to every child. They are set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Finland ratified in 1991. The four cornerstones of the Convention on the Rights of the Child are non-discrimination, the right to a good life, the right to participation and to be heard, and the best interests of the child.

Read the full text of the Convention here (Unicef.fi).

What do we do?

We work to ensure that the rights of the child are known and implemented in our society. The rights of children from minority and immigrant backgrounds and children with disabilities play an important role in our work. We contribute to the realisation of children’s rights through our statements, opinions, campaigns and other advocacy efforts.

We coordinate communications activities on children’s rights in Finland and organise an annual week-long children’s rights event in schools, early childhood education institutions and leisure activity groups.

We are also involved in international collaboration regarding children’s rights and compile an alternative NGO report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

The implementation of the rights of the child is the responsibility of several different authorities. The Central Union for Child Welfare does not have the competence to resolve individual cases or take a position on them, but the contact details of the bodies that provide support can be found on the Ombudsman for Children website.

You will find more information on our theme page on children’s rights in Finnish.

Get to know children’s rights

The Central Union for Child Welfare coordinates a national children’s rights communications network, which consists of a wide range of NGOs as well as governmental and municipal bodies and partners working within the church. Information about children’s rights can be found on the website maintained by the union in Finnish or Swedish.

Lapsenoikeudet.fi (in Finnish or Swedish)

Children’s Rights Week

The Children’s Rights Week is a theme week held in November every year. The purpose of the theme week is to enhance children’s and young people’s awareness of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and their own rights. Read more on our website in Finnish or Swedish.

Lapsenoikeuksienviikko.fi (in Finnish or Swedish)

Child Strategy

The national Child Strategy was published in February 2021. The Strategy is based on human rights treaties, and its vision is to create a Finland that is genuinely child and family friendly and respects children’s rights. Read more in English on our website.

Lapsistrategia.fi