The Rights of the Child and Agenda 21 - two sides of the same coin!

Tillbaks | Back

Children experience the world as a whole.
Adults have often lost perspective.

The Rights of the Child and Agenda 21 are two very important United Nations documents. They inter-connect, sharing the same outlook and objective: a sustainable future for everyone on the planet.

People’s involvement and participation in planning and decision making is emphasized in both documents. The work to realize the Child’s Rights and Agenda 21 must proceed at all levels of society simultaneously. Especially important is the people’s involvement at the local level, starting from people’s wants and needs and integrating them.

Ask children what is important to them.
Listen to their thoughts and visions.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child highlights the child’s own rights to a full life and personal development and: the right to be heard. The right to a good environment: green trees to climb in, clean air to breathe and safe water to drink. The right to the child’s own identity, and to associate with friends. Satisfying the needs of children, today and tomorrow, is the ultimate measure for a good social and physical environment.

Agenda 21 is a plan for action into the next century; how the world’s countries shall manage sustainable development. How they can become sustained societies; where a sound environment and biological diversity go hand in hand with economical development and social security.

Let children join in planning and managing their own environment. Meet children with respect.

Sweden came far with local Agenda 21 since the UNCED Conference in 1992. Agenda 21 in Sweden is today a joint effort of municipalities, business, voluntary associations, communities and individuals.

Adults shall learn to see how the social and physical environments influence the children’s behavior. Children who are invited to join naturally assume responsibility, while children left outside often become a risk to themselves and others. Good understanding between children and adults create positive feedback since we are all part of one another’s environment.

A good environment has a positive effect on children;
Children who feel good care for the environment.

Can we deal with the challenge we have in front of us?
Is it possible to combine the Rights of the Child and Agenda 21? Can those two reinforce one another and jointly develop?

Our answer is unconditionally: YES.

Novel and creative cooperation is emerging everywhere. Dialogue unites people working with Child’s Rights and Agenda 21.

Good examples help to establish new working contacts in municipalities, businesses, organizations and institutions as well as among individual citizens.

Do you have experiences or ideas to share? Are you interested in this approach? Whoever you are: municipality, private enterprise, organization, authority or individual citizen, be welcome to contact us!

CREA21 is an acronym for the Child’s Rights and Agenda 21 -Entry Point to the next century. In Swedish: BRA21 - meaning: good 21st Century.

The Swedish Association of Local Authorities
Swedish Save the Children
The Children’s Ombudsman
Globetree