The Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI), led by UNICEF, supports municipalities in implementing children's rights at the local level, using the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as its foundation. This initiative brings together governments and key stakeholders—including civil society organizations, the private sector, academia, media, and crucially, children themselves—to create cities and communities that prioritize children's well-being. Launched in 1996 by UNICEF and UN-Habitat following a resolution adopted at the Second UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), CFCI aims to make cities livable for all. Children's well-being is the ultimate indicator of a healthy habitat, democratic society, and good governance. The CFCI Secretariat, established and hosted by UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre in Florence, Italy, facilitates knowledge exchange and research on localizing children's rights.

CFCI's mission is to promote and protect children's rights by creating safe, supportive, and empowering environments for their holistic development—through collaboration with institutions, local communities, and families.

Its key objectives are also as follows:

1. Raising public awareness of children's rights

2. Empowering communities to meet children's basic needs

3. Ensuring safe, nurturing environments at home, school, and in the community

4. Expanding access to healthcare, education, and child protection services

5. Fostering child participation in decision-making processes affecting them

6. Building a sustainable, localized network of child-friendly cities, neighborhoods, and institutions

CFCI's focus areas are the following:

1. Quality Education: Equitable access to inclusive, safe, and high-quality education at all levels

2. Health & Nutrition: Enhancing physical/mental health through healthcare, vaccination, nutrition, and primary care

3. Social Protection: Providing psychosocial and legal support for vulnerable children, including survivors of abuse

4. Child Participation: Creating platforms for children’s voices in decisions impacting their lives and communities

5. Safe Environments: Developing clean, secure urban spaces for play, growth, and learning

6. Family Support: Strengthening families via parenting education, counseling, and economic empowerment

7. Policy & Advocacy: Partnering with governments/NGOs to adopt and enforce child-rights policies

Isfahan’s CFCI Journey

In 2020, Isfahan became Iran’s only city nominated for CFCI membership, recognized for its efforts to provide a healthy, safe, and high-quality urban environment for children. Since then, the city has implemented extensive measures to align with CFCI's global standards, paving the way for its official inclusion in this prestigious network.