Children’s rights promotion being debated in Biblioteca Municipal Almeida Garrett

The first meeting of the network of schools for children’s rights, organised by UNICEF Portugal and supported by the City Hall, happened in Biblioteca Municipal Almeida Garrett. Under the theme “A Right to the Future| Dialogues and Transformations in Education”, specialists (professors, teachers, psychologists, students, and plenty more educators) reflect on what the children say about the transformation of education and the path that schools have taken to become educational communities who are more inclusive and fairer.

During the opening, the councillor for Education guaranteed that, when it comes to Porto, “the Municipality is committed to respecting and ensuring Children’s Rights”. “We have been creating conditions so that children grow up to be active citizens, able to contribute positively to their communities and for society in general”, Fernando Paulo stated.

“The Municipality of Porto is known as an educational and kid-friendly city, and those commitments highlight the relevance we attribute to children’s and young people’s well-being in the city, and to the pursuit of their fundamental rights. The city advocates and applies the principles of inclusive education. Principles through which we ensure the active and equal participation of every student, regardless of their specific educational needs, and of their ethnic, cultural, social, and biological characteristics”, he added.

Under the concept “educational city”, the Municipality of Porto has a series of initiatives underway, namely supporting the operation of the three Committees of Children’s and Young People’s Protection in the city, the Local Plan for Promotion and Protection of Children’s and Young People’s Rights in Porto 2022-2024, and the Plan for Local Action and the Mechanism of Coordination, for the UNICEF’S Child Friendly Cities Program, among others.

Fernando Paulo left, however, a warning: “today, more than ever, we need to have conversations with each other, to listen to each other, to open our spirits, to be available for dialogue, and to want to establish bridges with everyone”.

“We need to go further in the commitments we took on, to reinforce and affirm bonds with the communities, as well as to strengthen and improve partnerships, and collaboration and sharing networks. To invest in citizenship, in human rights, and in education for peace, as a way of promoting justice and equality, to create more tolerant and harmonious societies, to ensure a civic and sustainable development, creating a more peaceful and prosperous future”, he concluded.