Founded in Tampere children present in Tampere with their escorts Children between ages of 7 – 12 First two year term 2008 – 2009 In Tampere the first Chairman Silva Järvinen, the Board and first three Committees (enviroment, leisure, school) were elected

Opening event in Tampere

Background Based on the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child and the Finnish Youth Act (nuorisolaki 72/2006) Provides children with a means to get their voices heard Provides the authorities and decision- makers with a forum for discussing and clarifying issues directly with children

Aims of the Finnish Children’s Parliament Supports children’s involvement on the national and local level Promotes the social awareness of children and young people, and reinforces their place in society

Under protection The President of Finland Tarja Halonen

Model of the Finnish Children’s Parliament Physical plenary session once a year Remaining time is used working online 2 virtual plenary sessions every year Official connection between the FCP and the adult Parliament has been established

The children bring to the table small and big locks, small question marks and big ones. Not all small questions are small things. Children can bring light on the table. The rights of children are the responsibilities of adults Adults have keys and most importantly, power to turn the keys

FCP online Virtual Parliament building – 5 rooms Independent of time and location, where representatives can discuss E-tools (chat, discussion forums) Initiative channel E-gallups / surveys USB flash drive The Board and Committees chat weekly

Every member appear as themself

FCP online – background Concern over the age grou Getting knowledge through trial and error Different abilities within the age group - children can teach each other Every representative has the right to choose how actively he or she wants to participate Groups Free discussion and chat The Board’s and Committee’s discussion forums and weekly chats

Initiative channel - online e-tool

First virtual plenary session Was held during april 2008 Preparations during february – march 2008 Two week discussion period 9 article agenda – articles from the Board, Committees, initiatives, important general articles Discussion forums Chat Voting with an online-form

First virtual plenary session - results Over 100 discussion topics Over 1000 comments Decisions on the 9 initiatives First official initiatives and contentions presented to the Finnish Parliament on 4 June 2008

Local level participation Local Children’s Parliaments founded since 2004 Currently 10 local CP:s Every finnish child can bring issues in to discussion of the FCP through Initiative channel Connection to schools

The near future of FCP Next physical plenary session in Jyväskylä 6-7 november 2008 – Local Children’s parliament in majority of Finnish municipalities / connection to schools International contacts 6 new Committees Foreign affairs Culture Communications Children’s rights Future Social- and health Existing committees The Board Enviroment School Leisure

Virtual 2D hall for plenary sessions

Choice of own visual character

Virtual 2D hall for plenary sessions

The seminar of the Board

Silva Järvinen – the Chairman of the FCP You were chosen to be the Chairman of FCP in Tampere. How does it feel? Tell us about your work as the Chairman? What has working online been like? What kind of issues have you discussed? The FCP has decided that adults can be used as experts. What does this mean? How can children have an impact? What is a good world for children like?

Stockholm

Historical moment First official meeting between the Finnish children’s and adult’s Parliament

Thank you ! Questions?