National Child Strategy
Finland has completed its first National Child Strategy. The goal is a society that respects the rights of children. The National Child Strategy is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
According to the Government Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin's Government, the task is to formulate a vision for a child and family-friendly Finland that spans government terms and crosses administrative boundaries. The Child Strategy is based on information and research evidence, and it will promote the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The National Child Strategy records the current state of the wellbeing and rights of children and young people as well as the key objectives and measures to promote them.
The Government has pledged to assess the child impacts of its decisions, improve child budgeting, strengthen knowledge about child wellbeing and foster the inclusion of children and young people.
- National Child Strategy : Committee report
- Implementation plan for the National Child Strategy
- Read more: Child Strategy
The Convention on the Rights of the Child guides the preparation of the National Child Strategy
The Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international convention on human rights. In Finland, it has been in force at the level of an act since 1991.
The Convention obliges everyone to observe the rights of the child. The Finnish legislation must comply with the rights laid down in the Convention.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child monitors the implementation of the Convention. The committee has recommended that Finland develop a comprehensive policy and plan for the effective implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Preparations during government term 2019-2023
Johanna Laisaari, Master of Laws with court training, has been appointed as Secretary General of the National Child Strategy.
The Child Strategy was prepared in two stages. The long-term objectives and actions that will be promoted across government terms were recorded in the actual Child Strategy.
The Child Strategy was prepared as parliamentary committee work during 2020. The committee was chaired by Krista Kiuru, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services.
In the second stage, an implementation plan for the Child Strategy was carried out, in which the objectives and measures for the government term and the resources available for them were recorded.
Children, young people and adults were invited to participate in preparing the National Child Strategy.
Preparatory work and background materials
Groundwork for National Child Strategy was published 20th May 2020. It is founded on information on children’s rights.
The preparation of the National Child Strategy made use of the preparatory work carried out during the previous government term, which resulted in a vision for a child and family-friendly Finland.