The presentation of the label took place during the BiblioWeekend at the city library. UNICEF delegate Werner Augsburger presented the award to city councillor and head of culture and society department, Rahela Syed. 'The label that Zofingen receives is like an Olympic selection: it obliges to deliver the best possible performance. This is only possible if we involve the children and young people. Zofingen has exemplarily done this over the last four years and intends to continue this process for another four years. Compliments!'
Already in 2021, Zofingen received the label for the first time and is, therefore, one of the cities that anchor the UNICEF process in the long term. The basis for the renewed award is a new action plan for the years 2026 to 2029 with 20 concrete measures in seven fields of action.
Focus on participation, quality of life and equal opportunities
The action plan addresses where children and young people experience their daily lives: in family, school, leisure, and public space. Planned measures include expanding participation opportunities, further developing youth-friendly meeting places, and giving greater consideration to children's concerns in urban planning.
Moreover, Zofingen wants to make children's rights more visible and create new forms of political participation — for instance, through closer cooperation between school parliaments and politics.
The measures are directly based on feedback from children and young people and aim to sustainably improve their living conditions.
Implementing children's rights locally
The UNICEF 'Child Friendly Municipality' initiative supports cities and municipalities in concretely implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child. At its centre is a continuous development process – with clear objectives, binding measures, and the active participation of children and young people.
Contact for editors
UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein
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Jürg Keim
j.keim@unicef.ch
044 317 22 41