Reinickendorf celebrates children's rights: A celebration for the future!

Reinickendorf celebrates children's rights: A celebration for the future!

On September 20, 2025, the open town hall day took place in Reinickendorf, which was celebrated on the occasion of World Children's Day. The motto of the event was “Children’s Rights – Building Blocks for Democracy!”, which aims to emphasize the importance of children’s rights in society. In a five-hour campaign organized by the German Children's Fund and UNICEF Germany, the challenges surrounding children's rights were made visible. In her speech, district mayor Emine Demirbüken-Wegner (CDU) emphasized the central role of children's rights for the future and social coexistence.

What particularly caught the eye was the district office's specially designed children's rights banner, which was hoisted during the event. Mayor Demirbüken-Wegner also invited younger children to a story time in her office at 4 p.m. In addition to this opportunity, there were numerous participation activities that appealed to the younger part of the population. These included a children's rally, face painting, puzzles, a toy mobile, free photos, a youth traffic school and a cargo bike course, all of which were aimed at offering the children active participation and positive experiences.

Actions under the motto “Children’s Rights”

On the day before World Children's Day, September 19, 2025, further actions took place in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Here, students from the Löcknitz primary school presented a “House of Children’s Rights”. This creative structure consisted of painted children's rights building blocks, which consisted of more than 700 demands and wishes submitted by young people nationwide. The roof of the house was made from LEGO building blocks and also designed by primary school students. The children directed their demands to Dr. Petra Bahr, State Secretary at the Federal Minister for Education, Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.

This event opened a platform for children and young people to express their concerns and wishes for a child-friendly future. Also present were Dagmar Wöhrl from UNICEF Germany, Anja Siegesmund from the German Children's Fund and other representatives who underlined the importance of children's rights in democratic processes. Enie van de Meiklokjes moderated the event and all participants were available for interviews.

Children's rights in the focus of society

World Children's Day is a central opportunity to draw attention to the rights of children. This year, over 1,000 children and young people are demanding the full implementation of the rights enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF and the German Children's Fund point out the need for more commitment to combat child poverty and expand children's participation rights. The focus is on the active participation of children and young people in political decision-making processes, which is essential for a vibrant democracy.

The global challenges of our time, such as social cohesion and increasing digitalization, have a negative impact on children's future prospects. The demand for children's rights to be anchored in the Basic Law is therefore particularly urgent. Events such as the open town hall day in Reinickendorf and the activities in front of the Brandenburg Gate not only serve to raise awareness, but also to encourage children to actively participate and help shape their own future.