Children’s Rights Ordinance – A City Reflecting Children’s Voices

On June 28th, Miraiku held a study session on the Children’s Rights Ordinance – A City Reflecting Children’s Voices.

Children’s rights are clearly outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations in 1989. Japan ratified this convention in 1994, making an international commitment to recognize children not only as “entities requiring protection” but also as “subjects with rights.”

This convention is built upon four fundamental rights that all children should enjoy: the right to life, the right to development, the right to protection, and the right to participation.

To embed this philosophy within the local community, Hino City enacted the “Hino City Children’s Ordinance” in July 2008. The ordinance clarifies the responsibilities of the city, families, and the community to ensure children can live safely, grow healthily, be protected from bullying and abuse, and express their opinions to participate in society.

Furthermore, the city has established consultation systems, implemented verification through the Children’s Ordinance Committee, and enacted a new Children’s Ombudsman Ordinance in 2024. This creates mechanisms to receive children’s voices and provide remedies when rights are violated.

In this way, by combining the principles of the international “Convention on the Rights of the Child” with the practice of the community-rooted “Hino City Children’s Ordinance,” we are advancing community development that safeguards the best interests of children and allows the generation that will shape the future to grow up with peace of mind.

This time, while reminiscing about our own childhoods,

we discussed how to listen to children’s voices.

We also held presentations in groups, making it a very meaningful study session.

Through this gathering, I also met individuals running children’s cafeterias and was able to participate in one myself.

We are committed to nurturing all children so that they recognize they are loved beings regardless of their circumstances, and to fostering the courage to embrace that love.

Furthermore, we will continue our dedicated efforts to cultivate children’s sound mental development and strive toward realizing a Hino City that complies with its ordinances.