Rüti ZH Becomes a 'Child-Friendly Municipality'
09.03.2026 | from UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein
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Image rights: UNICEF Schweiz und Liechtenstein
09.03.2026, The municipality of Rüti was recognised as a 'Child-Friendly Municipality' for the first time by UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein yesterday. It is the 76th municipality in Switzerland and Liechtenstein to receive this label.
The official presentation took place on Friday afternoon at the town hall as part of a reception. Mona Meienberg, Head of Child-Friendly Municipal and Urban Development at UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein, presented the award to municipal president Yvonne Bürgin. 'The certification marks Rüti's clear commitment to systematically involving children and young people in municipal development,' said Mona Meienberg. 'At the same time, it is a mandate to implement the planned measures bindingly.'
An independent commission's decision regarding the 'Child-Friendly Municipality' followed a multi-year process. Since 2022, as part of the PartiZHipation project, Rüti has focused on child-friendliness. After an initial assessment, the municipality conducted workshops with children and young people and developed an action plan for 2025 to 2028, approved by the municipal council.
The action plan includes around 20 measures. Key areas aim at strengthening early childhood, improving information dissemination and accessibility for families—especially vulnerable groups—and further developing meeting places and recreational facilities. Consideration is being given to creating a family centre as a low-threshold meeting point for families. Children and young people are also to be intentionally considered in the design of sports and outdoor spaces.
The 'Child-Friendly Municipality' initiative supports cities and municipalities in implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the local level. The label is awarded for four years at a time and is designed as a developmental process.
In the canton of Zurich, a cooperation has existed since 2024 among UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein, okaj Zurich— the Cantonal Child and Youth Promotion—and the Coordination Office for Participation of the Canton of Zurich to implement the 'Child-Friendly Municipality' initiative. Additionally, Health Promotion Switzerland has supported the initiative since early 2025 as part of the cantonal action programme 'Nutrition, Exercise, and Mental Health for Children, Youth, and Young Adults'. There are still available slots for interested municipalities for the years 2026 and 2027.
Further information:
www.kinderfreundlichegemeinde.ch
Contact for the media:
UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein
Jürg Keim
Media Office
044 317 22 41
j.keim@unicef.ch
Editor's note: Image rights belong to the respective publisher. Image rights: UNICEF Schweiz und Liechtenstein
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Source: UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Press release
Original article published on: Rüti ZH wird «Kinderfreundliche Gemeinde»