The European Network of Child Friendly Cities is dedicated to promoting the rights and interests of children and young people in their local communities. It is established under Belgian law as a non-profit association with the No 5618/2001. EN CFC was founded in 1996 by Unicef/Habitat. What began as a network dedicated to stimulating local implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has steadily developed into a global movement. EN CFC is currently active in the following European countries: Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Ireland. In all of these countries a growing number of municipalities are now making a political commitment to integrate child-friendly policy into their decision-making. Our aim is to improve the lives, opportunities and environment of children. We aim to do this by bringing together human capital, knowledge and experience held by children's NGO's, networks, civil society and local authorities in Europe. EN CFC aims to raise social and political awareness around the importance of child development for general socio-economic welfare. Building child friendly cities is an essential part of the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in a local governance setting. We are keen to incorporate child friendly policies in wider European decision making around issues such as: participation, demographic change, sustainability, urban development, education, labour, integration, health, environment, mobility and transportation. We respect and support the local autonomy, diversity and cultural uniqueness of European municipalities and regions.

The European network observes 5 general guidelines and encourages national and local networks to translate these into specific local policies.

• Effective child-friendly policy must be holistic. It should tackle urban policy in its entirety, rather than focusing solely on a single aspect of urban policy.
• Effective child-friendly policy must be integrated. This means that all areas of urban life should be child-friendly including; education, mobility, urban planning, care services, health, environment, leisure and sports amongst others.
• Effective child-friendly policy must be intergenerational. This does not mean that children require their own city but it does mean that children are recognized as citizens in their own right. Children should not be socially isolated in their own communities.
• Effective child-friendly policy must recognise the importance of children and young people's participation. Regardless of their age, children and young people should be fully recognised as valid citizens who can contribute to improving the quality of their towns and cities. Their contribution should be promoted, listened to and taken into account.
• Effective child-friendly policy is dynamic and evolves to meet new challenges. It must be a constant ambition that a city continually strives to achieve.

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