All the most recent information on the Child Friendly Cities Inititative is available on the project web site.
The Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) was launched in 1996 to act on the resolution passed during the second UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) to make cities liveable places for all; in UNICEF terms, for "children first." The Conference declared that the well-being of children is the ultimate indicator of a healthy habitat, a democratic society and of good governance.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child challenges cities to conceive of themselves, of the services, amenities and quality of life they provide, in a new way. While there may be illegal settlements, from a child rights' perspective there are no illegal children. All children in cities have the right to access basic services and enjoy opportunities for development. This is true whether they live with their families or alone, in informal settlements or on the streets. CFCI advocates the adoption of governance approaches and participatory urban management that promote the realization of the rights of the youngest citizens.
In high-, middle- and low-income nations alike, including several European countries, a growing number of municipalities have made the political decision to become "child friendly". The process aimed to building a CFC is synonymous with the implementation of the Convention in a local governance setting and incorporates a number of characteristics that put children front and centre.