Making Aberdeen a Child Friendly City

25 May 2017

Aberdeen’s ambition to become a Child Friendly City has taken a leap forward today with the launch of a three year partnership with Unicef.

Gayle Gorman, Director of Education and Children’s Services, said: "This is really exciting news and we are really looking forward to working with Unicef.

Aberdeen City Council has already demonstrated a high level of commitment to promoting and embedding Children’s Rights and we already work closely with Unicef UK to develop the ‘Rights Respecting School Award’ in our schools. We have also have worked with the Children’s Parliament on the ‘Imagining Aberdeen’ project.

"The involvement with Unicef ‘Child’s Rights Partners’ programme is an exciting next step to ensure that we have embedded rights based approaches in all of our services to young people, and that we have systematic, planned approaches to meaningful engagement with all children and young people across out city.

Naomi Danquah, Programme Director of the Child Right’s Partners programme said: "We are delighted to welcome the Aberdeen City Council to the Child Rights Partners programme. At a time when councils are having to make tough choices about the delivery of local services, it’s essential that all children, particularly the most vulnerable, are supported, protected and able to flourish.

"Aberdeen has made a bold commitment to work towards recognition as a Child and Family Friendly Community and to begin embedding children’s human rights across its services over the next three years. We look forward to collaborating with the Council to help realise this ambition."

Child Rights Partners brings　Unicef　together with local councils to help make cities and communities places where all children, including the most vulnerable, feel safe, heard and nurtured.　

Using the Convention on the Rights of the Child as a guide,　Unicef　works with political leaders, frontline staff, children and families to transform and strengthen local services. 　

The goal of the programme is to change the way councils work with and for children, creating opportunities for children and families to have a say in the delivery of services and ensuring children are surrounded by responsive, connected and empowering support.

Child Rights Partners is part of Unicef’s global Child Friendly Cities initiative, which helps cities and communities in more than 20 countries to put children’s rights and well-being at their heart.

Photograph is courtesy of © UnicefUK/Fields