Vaasa has been awarded UNICEF’s Child-Friendly Municipality recognition

The Child-Friendly Municipality model is a tool offered by UNICEF to municipalities. It helps municipalities promote a positive childhood for all children, with a focus on the most vulnerable children. The model is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

Five concrete goals achieved

Vaasa set five concrete goals for its Child-Friendly Municipality work: 

1. Creating clear guidelines to support the introduction and systematic implementation of child impact assessments (LAVA). Child impact assessments are conducted by a collaborative team of qualified professionals.  
2. As part of their induction programmes, municipal staff and key stakeholders have received training in children’s rights. 
3. The municipality promotes opportunities for all children and young people to  take part in hobbies  and enjoy meaningful leisure activities. 
4. Public transport routes and timetables, as well as the maintenance of cycle paths, are improved. 
5. The municipality has a range of structures in place to support participation and take into account the views of children and young people of all ages when planning and developing services. 

The recognition is awarded once all the goals outlined in the action plan have been achieved. 

Child-Friendly Municipality work closely linked to the city’s strategy

UNICEF Finland particularly commends Vaasa for the following aspects of its Child-Friendly Municipality work: 

• “Vaasa has integrated the Child-Friendly Municipality work into the city’s 2026–2030 strategy. This is a remarkable achievement that reflects strong political commitment and effective collaboration.”

• “Vaasa has piloted the child impact assessment model, collaborated on it with the Youth Council, provided information and training to city staff, and embedded the model into the city’s operations.”

• “Vaasa has provided a wide range of cultural and sports activities for children from diverse backgrounds. There is a clear focus on supporting children in vulnerable situations.”

• “Vaasa has addressed the issues in local public transport raised by children. We particularly commend Vaasa for the collaboration between the Education and Cultural Sector and the Public Utility Services.”

• “Vaasa has successfully embedded practices that strengthen the participation of children and young people, such as the children’s panel, Children’s Voice Day, and participatory budgeting.”

Children’s and young people’s views taken into account more effectively

Christina Knookala, Vaasa’s recently retired Director of Education and Culture, who was closely involved in the process from the start, is delighted with the recognition the city has received.  

– It has been wonderful to see how enthusiastically the city’s various departments and units have taken part. The development work spans the entire city and all sectors, from urban and transport planning to early childhood education and care, as well as basic education. The Vaasa Youth Council has also been closely involved, Knookala explains. 

According to her, a child-friendly municipality is also a people-friendly municipality:  

– Vaasa is a municipality that takes into account the needs of residents of all ages. Through the Child-Friendly Municipality work, the views of children and young people are now being taken into account more effectively, starting from the planning stage. Vaasa will become an even better place to grow up and live in. 

The work continues

The City of Vaasa began its Child-Friendly Municipality process in 2022. The recognition now awarded, is valid for two years. 

– The recognition does not mean that Vaasa’s work for children’s rights is complete; we remain committed to further developing child-friendliness and promoting children’s rights. We will continue our Child-Friendly Municipality work into a second two-year action plan period, starting with an update of the current status. We will also continue to advance the goals of the first term,  says Coordinator Hanna-Mari Joutsen.