Patrons & Partners
Official patrons of the Network Cities for Children and the European Award of Excellence "City for Children" are
- The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (COE)
- The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)
- The Committee of the Regions (COR)
- Vladimír Špidla, member of the European Commission and UNICEF, supported the founding forum as a patron.
The private sector and foundations are invited to support the Network as partners. The aim was to install the Network Cities for Children at the national and European levels and to link the efforts in our cities to the work of important European and international institutions.
All patrons and partners have the opportunity to bring their expertise to the Network and thus shape the objectives and tasks of Cities for Children.
News from our patrons
Schuster Elected President of CEMR
Lord Mayor Dr. Wolfgang Schuster was elected president of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) during the CEMR Policy Committee held December, 6th 2010 in Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxemburg.
Apart from the lobbying in European institutions, one of the main tasks of the Council is to foster municipal partnerships and networks in various thematic fields.
“Europe will only be successful if the political systems at all levels work together in the spirit of governing in partnership. CEMR could be the motor for a new European governance model by proving that new forms of cooperation based on contracts are an effective and successful means of solving our problems on all political levels.” Mayor Schuster stated after his election.
President Schuster succeeds Mayor and Governor of Vienna, Michael Häupl. He is to serve a three-year mandate. The CEMR involves municipal and regional associations from 39 European countries. It represents more than 100.000 communities, cities, administrative districts and regions.
17th Plenary Session of the Congress
At the 17th Plenary Session of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions on 13th October 2009 in Strasbourg, Mayor Dr. Wolfgang Schuster proposed the idea of a "European Charta for Children in Cities" to the Congress members. Under this Charta, towns and cities would jointly subscribe to basic principles to promote the quality of life for the children and families living in them. Link to Interview
Campaign "I have Rights" - 20th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
On the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in November 2009, the Council of Europe, with the support of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, is launching the campaign "I have rights". The campaign seeks to enable children and adults to discover the rights of the child and remind everyone that children too have the right to apply to the European Court of Human Rights. The 'I have rights' brochure is targeted at children themselves while both posters and brochures can be distributed in schools, medical centres and other places where children are present.
All cities are invited to participate in the campaign by printing and distributing the information material and posters provided by the Council of Europe. The necessary documents may be downloaded at: www.coe.int/children. For print versions which incorporate city logos, please contact children[at]coe.int
"Child in The City" Resolution adopted by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
- Photo ©Council of Europe
At the 15th Plenary Session from May 27 to 29, 2008 in Strasbourg, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe adopted the Resolution "Child in the City". At that occasion, Dr. Wolfgang Schuster, as member of the Congress, was invited to present the Action Programme "Child-friendly Stuttgart" and the European Network Cities for Children. You may find the Resolution here (English / French) as well the Recommendation (English / French). Link here.
