Putting children’s rights on the agenda of the future German Bundestag

Over 300 candidates for the German national election have decided to stand up for children and their rights in the next legislative period and move into the new Bundestag as KinderrechteChampion or Child Rights Champions.

The #KinderrechteChampion campaign was started by 10 children's rights organisations in Germany to put children's rights on the agenda for the federal election in September 2021 and to strengthen them in the long term. The campaign goes beyond the election day (26September 2021). Bundestag candidates and members of the new Bundestag can join the campaign for the implementation of children's rights in the newly elected Bundestag.

What have the Child Rights Champions signed up to?

All ‘Kinderrechte’ Champions have committed to promote the participation of children and investment in children in the coming legislative.

“Children and their rights must be at the center of political decisions. Against this background and based on the EU strategy on the rights of the child, the following central concerns for children's rights must be implemented in the legislative period from 2021 to 2025:

• Promote participation of children: Children must be involved in an age-appropriate manner in all matters that affect them - from legislative processes to justice to administrative procedures. Policy for children must also be made by children.

• Strengthen investment in education: The pandemic has made it clear how great the need to catch up is in the area of ​​investment in education, both inside and outside Germany. The area of ​​digital education in particular must be strengthened and brought into focus in order to give all children, regardless of their origin and financial possibilities, the same access and the same degree of self-evident in dealing with essential technology. Digital education creates opportunities and offers protection against exploitation and abuse.

• Combat child poverty and inequality: Almost a quarter of children in Germany are affected by poverty. Around one billion children worldwide live in poverty, and the number is rising. Early and rapid interventions can interrupt the cycles of poverty, inequality and conflict both in Germany and elsewhere for future generations. The central instruments for this are investments and a focus on educational programs, social participation and the strengthening of child protection systems.”

In 2022 the children’s rights organisations will host an information event for and with the children's rights champions represented in the German Bundestag. Furthermore, a targeted and coordinated approach to the children's rights champions on selected topics should take place according to committees.

How children are getting informed

A “Children's Rights Compass” was created by the German Children’s Rights Network, which is a part of Eurochild’s umbrella of national partner networks. Launched a month ahead of the elections, it is intended to provide a basis for voting decisions. The Children's Rights Compass is a question-and-answer tool that shows which of the parties currently represented in the German Bundestag is closest to one's own political position. It contains 10-12 topics (selected from a pool of 40 topics) related to children's rights with federal political responsibility, which enable differentiation between the different parties.

Using simple language, it aims to reach a younger target group and thus promote political education. The compass was tested by a group of children to ensure its accessibility.

Find more information about the ‘Kinderrechte’ champions.

Find out more on the Child Rights Compass.