Child-friendly municipality

  1. Governance
  2. System of government

A child-friendly municipality is an initiative that supports the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in all governance and activities of the municipality.

Child-friendly municipality

A child-friendly municipality is an initiative that supports the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in all governance and activities of the municipality. The initiative is based on UNICEF's international Child Friendly Cities Initiative, which has been implemented in thousands of municipalities around the world since 1996.
The implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child within the municipality, along with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, is part of the overarching strategy for Hafnarfjörður, which is in place until 2035. The strategy emphasises that the standards of the Convention on the Rights of the Child are used in services for children and young people.

Nursery schools

The implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child involves the municipality's commitment to use the Convention as a guiding principle in its work, and for the five core principles to run like a red thread through the administration and activities of the municipality. Child-friendly local authorities promote the active participation of children in matters that concern them, and they consult with children and young people in a targeted manner to improve their services. Child-friendly local authorities are based on five core elements, all of which are linked to children's rights.

  • Knowledge of children's rights.
  • In the best interests of the child.
  • Equality – taking into account the rights of children.
  • Children's participation.
  • A more child-friendly approach.

 

The five core elements

Knowledge of children's rights.

What is in the best interests of the child

Equality – ensuring the rights of all children are considered

Children's participation.

Child-friendly approach

Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

  1. Confirmation

    The implementation process of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child takes place in eight steps, which the municipality undertakes with the aim of respecting and fulfilling children's rights. Below you can see which steps Hafnarfjörður has completed on its journey to becoming a child-friendly municipality.

    On 27 March 2019, UNICEF in Iceland and the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður signed a partnership agreement. Through the agreement, the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður is working to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the municipality aims to be recognised as a UNICEF Friendly to Children municipality in Iceland.

  2. Situation assessment

    Situation assessment submitted to UNICEF in early March 2024.

    Situation assessment for UNICEF

  3. Education

    Further education continues

  4. Action plan

    An action plan was approved by the town council on 26 February 2025.

    Adoption of the action plan for Hafnarfjörður

  5. Implementation

    Operations began in autumn 2023 and will conclude in summer 2025.

  6. Report

    A final report will be submitted to UNICEF in early July 2025.

  7. Assessment and accreditation

  8. New goals and reassessment

News - action plan and status assessment

If you would like to find out more about action plans, projects and status assessments, here is a summary of news that may be of use.

UNICEF's e-learning platform

Everyone must know the rights of children. We encourage the residents of Hafnarfjörður to take a course on the UNICEF learning platform, where everyone must learn the rights of children in accordance with Article 42 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Child-friendly municipalities

Here you can find out more about the policy on child-friendly local authorities.

Children's Ombudsman

You can find out more about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Children's Ombudsman's website.

Overall Strategy 2035

Here you can find out about the City of Hafnarfjörður's comprehensive strategy for 2035 and the implementation of the United Nations' Global Goals, as well as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Youth Council

Here you can find out more about the work of the Youth Council in Hafnarfjörður.

Child-friendly municipality

 

Date Application deadline