Non-violent childhoods action plan

The Non Violent Childhoods Action Plan is a broad, cross sectoral and multisectoral framework aimed at preventing violence against children and young people aged 0–17 in Finland during the period 2026–2033.

The content of the plan is based on international human rights conventions such as the Lanzarote Convention (Treaty Series 87–88/2011) and the Istanbul Convention (Treaty Series 53/2015), the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as national legislation and up to date research and statistical data. The contents have been aligned with the actors responsible for implementing the National Child Strategy and with other relevant strategies, programmes and recommendations.

The plan includes 27 measures, which are divided into five thematic areas:

1. Knowledge base and its development
2. Multisectoral cooperation, legislation and participation
3. Domestic violence in the family
4. Sexual education, safety skills and sexual violence
5. Environments outside the home and digital violence

The plan addresses, among other things, the contexts of education and schooling, youth work, and child and family services, as well as the prevention of street and youth violence and digital violence.

Goals

The objective of the action plan is, through 27 national measures and broad cross sectoral cooperation, to prevent various forms of violence against children and young people aged 0–17 in Finland during 2026–2033, to minimise harm, and to provide help and support to children and young people who have already experienced violence.

A further objective is to promote the national implementation of the Lanzarote Convention on the protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, as well as national monitoring and evaluation in line with the principles of Barnahus based work.

Implementation

The first period of the plan (2020–2025) was published in November 2019, and the new plan period in December 2025.

A wide range of experts and researchers specialising in violence against children and children’s rights from different administrative sectors—such as ministries, expert organisations and NGOs – have been involved in the preparation and implementation of the plan. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (STM) and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)are responsible for the coordination of the extensive work at the national level.

For the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation, a steering group have established in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, under which thematic sub groups may be formed. A mid term evaluation of progress will be conducted in 2029, alongside the preparation of an implementation plan for the period 2030–2033.

Funding

Implementation of the action plan is primarily promoted as part of the steering group’s activities and the strategic work of participating organisations.

In addition, various forms of separate funding – such as project funding and funding calls from ministries and other organisations—provide important support for implementation efforts.

Updated: 28.4.2026