Child-Friendly Hämeenlinna Programme
Hämeenlinna is Finland’s first Child-Friendly City. We are committed to realizing children’s rights and to the everyday wellbeing of children and young people.
Children’s rights and promoting the wellbeing of children and young people are an important part of the City of Hämeenlinna’s strategy. This work is guided by the Child-Friendly Hämeenlinna Programme, which is valid until 2030.
The programme develops services for families with children using a phenomenon-based approach. It draws on national work on child strategy and its background materials. The starting point is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the idea that every child has the right to a good life.
At the heart of the programme are five areas of wellbeing, through which the development of children’s and young people’s wellbeing is monitored. The areas of wellbeing are:
- learning
- relationships
- health
- participation
- safety
Monitoring is carried out using the city’s own reporting tool, which shows how wellbeing develops across different age groups.
UNICEF’s Child-Friendly City model
Hämeenlinna has taken part in UNICEF’s Child-Friendly City model since 2012. The city received Finland’s first Child-Friendly City recognition in 2013. The recognition has since been renewed in 2015, 2017, 2021, and 2025.
The recognition is granted to a municipality that demonstrates its commitment to realizing children’s rights, strengthening the participation of children and young people, and building a child-friendly culture.
Alumni phase
With its most recent recognition, Hämeenlinna has moved into the alumni phase of the Child-Friendly City model. In this phase, the model’s goals and measures are incorporated into the municipality’s own programmes and documents. In Hämeenlinna, these goals are included in the Child-Friendly Hämeenlinna Programme.
Child-Friendly Hämeenlinna goals and measures
Learning
Adults who work with children and young people, such as early childhood educators, teachers, and youth service employees, receive continuing education on children’s rights. This ensures that children’s rights are reflected in everyday work.
Relationships (in Finnish)
The city’s child and family services provide support for parenting. The aim is to strengthen families’ wellbeing and children’s safe relationships.
Health
Hämeenlinna promotes the mental wellbeing of children and young people. In the city’s services for children and young people, positive mental health—that is, mental wellbeing—is systematically promoted, and mental health problems are prevented. Staff have the mental health expertise needed to support children and young people. Children and young people receive the support they need with a low threshold and without delay. Cooperation between the city’s various actors and the wellbeing services county is effective and coordinated. Children and young people are smoothly directed to the help and support they need.
Participation
The city ensures that all children and young people can participate and be heard. Particular attention is paid to children and young people in vulnerable situations. The realization of participation is also regularly evaluated.
Safety
In services for children and young people, such as early childhood education, schools, educational institutions, and leisure activities, violence is identified and systematically addressed. If a child or young person has experienced violence, they are quickly directed to help and support.
Spotlight on children and young people
Addressing littering and vandalism.
