This report describes the legal basis of the forthcoming National Child Strategy.

The preparatory work for the National Child Strategy was started in summer 2018 and completed in 2019. The results of the preparatory work were published in the Government publications 2019:4 and 2019:7. The first one describes the Child's Time scenario where the aim is to achieve a child-, young person- and family-friendly Finland. The latter contains the summaries of the opinions given by researchers.

This report examines the legal basis of the Child Strategy and outlines how the objectives of the scenario are linked to fundamental and human rights obligations both at national and international levels.

The report consists of an introduction and five chapters that lay down the legal basis for the Child Strategy. The themes of the chapters are (1) the legal and social context of the Child Strategy, (2) fundamental and human rights obligations as a basis for the Strategy, (3) recommendations issued to Finland by monitoring bodies for human rights treaties, (4) links between the Strategy and the National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme, and (5) examples of child strategies.

The gathered information will be used when working on the Child Strategy. Next the work will focus on drawing up the actual Child Strategy and preparing a related implementation plan for the present government term. The work will continue with the parliamentary committee and secretariat set up for the preparation of the Strategy and in collaboration with stakeholders and civil society.