Around 50 children from German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland took their demands to the place where decisions are made: the Federal Parliament. As part of the 2026 National Children's Conference, they met three members of the National Council and took the opportunity to put forward their demands.
'Why can't we have a say? It's about our future too.' This question was asked by a participant at the children's conference to National Councillors Samira Marti, Katharina Prelicz-Huber and Jean Tschopp at the Federal Palace, summarising what the day was all about.
The national children's conference travelled to the capital with four dozen children from German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland. The children from 4th to 6th grade had a number of demands in their luggage: more accessibility in their communities, better protection against violence, more say in the classroom, faster access to school for refugees. In total, there were 28 specific demands that they had previously developed at the Pestalozzi Children's Village.
Children take the floor
After the tour of the Federal Palace, the children had the opportunity to put their demands and wishes to the representatives of Parliament. The children asked questions, demanded answers and showed the adults what is important to them for their future.
'Why is it always the adults who decide on children's issues? It affects the children, so we should be able to decide on our concerns,' asked one of the children. Another added: 'We don't have a school council, even though we want to have a say on certain issues.' Prelicz-Huber's answer was clear: 'Well then - demand it!'
When asked how children can most effectively stand up for their rights, Marti replied: 'Just like you're doing now. At conferences, in youth parliaments, in dialogue with adults.'
'School council? We don't have one.'
The children's concerns are particularly wide-ranging this year. In addition to topics relating to school and having a say - more creative freedom, less pressure, lifts in school buildings - the children are calling for more measures to combat violence: anonymous letterboxes in communities and schools, an international aid website, more specialists. Another focus: refugees. The children demand that accommodation for people seeking protection be better equipped, that refugee children be given quick access to schools and that children's rights also apply to them.
Prelicz-Huber made it clear that many of these demands could be realised, but that the cantons and municipalities have the final say. Her advice to the children: don't give up. Change takes time, but it is coming.
Small steps, big impact
The history of the children's conference shows that this is not an empty consolation: a federal anti-bullying campaign can be traced back to an earlier children's conference. And sometimes things happen faster: at one school, the changing rooms were remodelled after a children's conference because the girls had demanded it.
The national children's conference showed once again that children definitely know what they want. Their demands are concrete, the questions uncomfortable, the urgency great. It is now up to the adults to decide whether this will result in real change.