Houston becomes first U.S. UNICEF Child Friendly City

On Aug. 9, the City of Houston on Aug. 9 earned the distinction of being the first U.S. city to be designated a UNICEF Child Friendly City, just three days before International Youth Day. According to a press release from city hall, Houston is now part of a group that includes more than 40 countries and 3,500 municipalities. 

“Receiving this national distinction is a humbling moment for the City of Houston,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in the press release. “We appreciate the robust and comprehensive child rights framework provided by UNICEF USA and their unwavering support throughout the process. We are hopeful this will inspire many other U.S. cities to create awareness of children’s rights, strengthen support systems for youth and include them in the decision-making of their city.”

According to the press release, Houston’s partnership with UNICEF USA dates back to 2019 when Turner became the first mayor in the U.S. to sign UNICEF’s global Child Friendly Cities Manifesto. The partnership began just before the COVID-19 pandemic, which presented challenges that Houston was able to successfully navigate through the use of virtual events.

“Nearly three years ago, the City of Houston, in partnership with UNICEF USA, embarked on its journey toward building safer, more equitable and inclusive communities for children through the UNICEF Child Friendly Cities Initiative,” UNICEF USA President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael J. Nyenhuis said in the release. “We are thrilled to celebrate this historic milestone as Houston is recognized as the first UNICEF Child Friendly City in the nation, devoted to prioritizing children's participation, mental health, resource accessibility, emergency preparedness and creating long-lasting impact.”

In its 27th year of existence, UNICEF’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) focuses its efforts to establish cities and communities that are safer, more just, equitable, inclusive, and receptive toward children on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, according to the press release.