From 25 to 28 March 2026, children from various regions of Switzerland met for the Children's Conference in Trogen. The pupils from the 4th to 6th primary school classes discussed their rights, brought in different realities of life and perspectives and developed demands for society and politics. The focus was on topics that concern them in their everyday lives: from school and the pressure to perform to mental health, the environment and living together.

Of islands and safe harbours

One of the first approaches to the topic was to design their own 'children's island'. The children designed a fictitious place that is protected from external influences and serves as a safe harbour for them. A place where they decide what is valid, what is important and what is good for them. Accordingly, they designed this island according to their own ideas and needs - as a space for safety, belonging and free development.

Based on this exercise, the children derived their first basic rights, such as the right to protection, food and a safe environment. In the subsequent children's rights workshop, they deepened these considerations and took a differentiated look at other children's rights, including the right to equality, education, co-determination and a non-violent upbringing. On this basis, they developed concrete demands for schools, society and politics.

Less stress, more support

The leaders first used non-formal methods to sensitise the children to their rights. In the discussions that followed, the children formulated their key concerns and translated them into concrete demands.

the children demand more co-determination in their everyday lives. They want to be taken seriously and have their say in school, leisure and politics. Decisions should not be made over their heads, but with their perspectives taken into account. They also see a need for action in everyday school life: the children want less pressure to perform and more support in their learning. School should be a place where learning is fun and there is enough time for relaxation. Specifically, they mention less homework, more understanding teachers and more space for breaks.

Children also speak openly about their mental health. They experience stress, excessive demands or bullying and therefore call for more low-threshold contact points, people they can trust at school and a more open approach to mental well-being. Finally, the children also emphasise the importance of environmental and future issues. They expect their future to be taken seriously and want concrete measures for environmental and climate protection. After all, they have the right to a future and a sustainable world.

Taking children's rights to Bern

With their clear demands, the children have once again shown that they are the true experts on their own living environments. At the closing event at the Pestalozzi Children's Village, they presented their concerns to around 100 adults, making their rights, needs and wishes visible.

Another important step will follow in spring: together with the Children's Conference of Western Switzerland, the participants will bring their demands to the Federal Parliament and discuss them directly with parliamentarians. This will give their concerns from the children's conference a political voice at national level.