UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein works to ensure that children and young people are protected, promoted and involved at all levels in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The basis for our work is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
We address the issue of children’s rights
As States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are obligated to implement children’s rights and to ensure that they are taken seriously and respected by society as a whole. The implementation of children’s rights makes an important contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Nevertheless, there is still a lot to be done in terms of implementation here in Switzerland and Liechtenstein to ensure that all children and young people can grow up safely and develop in the best way possible.
UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein provides information and raises awareness on children’s rights issues and analyzes government action. Through studies and projects, we identify existing gaps in the implementation of the Convention and present these at federal level by formulating recommendations and demands. We rely on broad cooperation with various stakeholders in order to firmly establish children’s rights in a long-lasting way.
- Study: “Addressing Children’s Rights in Business – An Assessment from Switzerland and Liechtenstein” (2022)
- Study: “Children’s Rights from the Perspective of Children and Young People” (2021)
- Alternative Report (DE) on the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Switzerland (2021)
- Study: “Mental Health of Young People” (2021)
- Handbook: “Planning and Designing Child-Friendly Living Spaces” (2020)
- Study: “From a Voice to an Impact” (2015)
- Brochures on listening to children’s needs (DE) for children, parents and professionals in divorce proceedings (2023)
- Study (DE): “From Child Protection to a Children’s Rights State” (2010)
Further publications can be found under the different topics and in the shop.
“(…) the child should be fully prepared to live an individual life in society, and brought up (…) in the spirit of peace, dignity, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity[.]”
We set national priorities
In addition to raising awareness of children’s rights across the board, networking, and political monitoring and lobbying, we also set our own priorities to improve the situation for children and young people in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In doing so, we focus on particularly disadvantaged children and young people.
A high level of responsibility for the implementation of children’s rights lies with the municipalities and cantons. UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein provides support at a local level with its Child-Friendly Cities Initiative, which offers a standardized, accompanied process and an international label. In order to further promote child-friendly community and urban development, we advocate for Child-Friendly Living Spaces.
A high quality of care and support in obstetrics and outpatient follow-up promotes breastfeeding and strengthens the mother-child bond. UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein supports Swiss hospitals that meet the quality criteria of UNICEF and the WHO’s Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) by awarding them the Baby-Friendly Hospital quality label.
UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein supports companies in designing their processes and business activities in accordance with children’s rights. After all, every company has an impact on children and young people; be it through working conditions for parents, marketing practices, product safety or the company’s impact on the environment. We are also committed to an improved legal framework for corporate responsibility that takes children’s rights fully into account.
The implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child faces numerous challenges, even in wealthy countries like Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Poverty, bullying, stress and lack of free space are some of the issues that affect the physical health and development opportunities of children and young people. UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein is committed to the wellbeing of children and young people.
Liechtenstein ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1995, followed by Switzerland in 1997. As States Parties, they are required to submit a report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva every five years providing information on the challenges faced and progress made with the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein actively participates in UN reporting and supports the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in creating comparability and highlighting progress and setbacks with regard to children’s rights.
UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein takes positions on socio-political issues in a national context when they affect or indirectly influence the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Get to know our positions and political work.
Children and young people have rights. The Convention on the Rights of the Child enshrines important rights of promotion, protection and participation. These rights are indivisible and must be respected thoroughly and throughout society. Only if children and young people are aware of their rights can they become active themselves and exercise them. UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein supports and promotes education on children’s rights by means of teaching aids and information material for children, young people and adults.
UNICEF Children’s Rights Newsletter
Our Children’s Rights Newsletter keeps you up to date about our work in Switzerland and Liechtenstein and about other exciting events and projects.
