How the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Basic Ordinance on Children Was Adopted
On the basis of the proposal submitted by the members of the Tokyo Metropolitan
Assembly, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Basic Ordinance on Children wasunanimously adopted at the plenary session of the Assembly on March 26, 2021, andcame into effect on April 1, 2021.
・In the spirit of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it clarifies the fundamental
principles of respecting children as subjects of rights and putting the best interests ofchildren first.

・It provides for the basic perspectives of a wide range of child policies, such as childsafety and security, playgrounds, third places, learning, expression of their views,participation and advocacy, in an integrated manner.

・It provides for the development of comprehensive structures for the promotion ofpolicies on children.

Full Text of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Basic Ordinance on ChildrenChildren are irreplaceable beings with great potential.
Being treasures of society, children are also members of society and need to berespected as subjects of rights in all settings.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) provides for thefollowing general principles: prohibition of all forms of discrimination against children;
securing the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; andrespect for the views of the child.
We must create and develop an environment in which all children can have hope forthe future and grow up healthy and free from all care.
It is the mission of Tokyo, a richly diverse international city where various people live
together, to promote policies from children’s points of view in accordance with the spiritof the UNCRC and from the perspective of “valuing children”.
In addition, COVID-19 has brought about significant changes in people’s lives, and theimpact on children has been particularly striking. The pursuit of the happiness of children
under all circumstances is of utmost importance, and the responsibility of the Tokyo
Metropolitan Government must be clarified.

Recognizing the above, the present Ordinance shall be enacted with the aim ofcontributing to the healthy development of children by setting out the fundamental
principles for the realization of a society filled with children's smiles as well as thematters underlying the policies that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government should work on.

(Purpose)
Article 1

The present Ordinance aims at contributing to the healthy developmentof children by setting out the fundamental principles for the realization of a society filledwith children’s smiles as well as the matters underlying the policies that the Tokyo
Metropolitan Government (hereinafter referred to as the “TMG”) should work on.
(Definition)
Article 2

For the purpose of the present Ordinance, the term “children” means

persons under 18 years of age. When implementing policies for children, the scope of
the policies shall be determined as necessary from the perspective of realizing thefundamental principles set forth in the following Article.
(Fundamental Principles)
Article 3

Recognizing that children are irreplaceable beings with great potential

and in accordance with the spirit of the UNCRC, an environment in which children arenurtured by the society as a whole must be created and developed so that all children
can have hope for the present as well as for the future and grow up healthy and free fromall care, through respecting them as subjects of rights and putting their best interests
first.
(Children's Rights)
Article 4

On the basis of the UNCRC, the TMG shall promote policies to respect

and uphold children’s rights, including their rights to live, to thrive, to be protected and toparticipate.
(Realization of Child-Friendly Tokyo)
Article 5

The TMG shall take the initiative in promoting policies developed fromchildren’s points of view in order to nurture children with the involvement of the society as
a whole and to realize child-friendly Tokyo.
(Ensuring the Safety and Security of Children)
Article 6

The TMG shall promote the policies necessary for ensuring the safety

and security of children in order to protect them from crime, accidents and other harm.

(Creating Playgrounds and Third Places for Children)
Article 7

In order for children to grow up healthy and free from all care, the TMG

shall cooperate with the special wards, cities, towns and villages (hereinafter referred toas “municipalities”) to create and develop such an environment, including throughcreating playgrounds and third places where children can feel comfortable.
(Support for Learning and Growth of Children)
Article 8

In order to respect children's willingness and right to learn and to enable

them to develop their potential to the maximum extent, the TMG shall endeavor to createand develop an environment necessary for focusing on the personality of each child andfostering their independence and agency, along with the measures to provide delicate
and considerate support for children.
(Multifaceted and Considerate Support for Child-rearing Families and Children)
Article 9In order to support child-rearing families facing various anxieties andconcerns, the TMG shall endeavor to take measures for children who require special
support and care and who require alternative care and to provide other forms of
multifaceted support, such as the development of an environment for diverse styles ofchild-rearing and work, the provision of specialized consultation services, the provision ofinformation and other appropriate measures adapted to specific circumstances.
(Expression of Children's Views and Reflection of Them in Policies)
Article 10

The TMG shall respect children as being subjects of rights and endeavor

to create and develop an environment in which children can express their views as
members of society and such views are appropriately reflected in policies.
(Promotion of Children’s Participation)
Article 11

The TMG shall endeavor to create and develop a necessary

environment so that children are respected as members of society and be able toparticipate in schools, local communities and other settings in accordance with their age
and respective developmental stages.
(Information and Awareness-Raising on Children's Rights)
Article 12

The TMG shall promote information and other awareness-raising

activities concerning respect for the rights and interests of children.
(Response to Consultations from Children)
Article 13

In order to facilitate the resolution of children’s anxieties and concerns,

the TMG shall endeavor to improve structures for responding to consultations fromchildren and to strengthen collaboration with families, schools, local communities andrelevant organizations.
(Upholding Children’s Rights)
Article 14

In order to support the healthy development of children, the TMG shalltake necessary measures in line with the evolving social situation, including theenhancement of structures to uphold children’s rights and interests, in collaboration with
the national government, local municipalities and other relevant organizations, with aview to facilitating the provision of appropriate and prompt remedies for children on thebasis of expert knowledge in cases where they have been subjected to violations of theirrights or other acts against their interests.
(Formulation of Plans Concerning Children)
Article 15

The TMG shall follow the fundamental principles set forth in Article 3

when formulating plans concerning children.
(Development of Structures to Promote Child Policies in a Comprehensive Manner)
Article 16

The TMG shall create and develop necessary structures to promotechild policies in a comprehensive manner.
(Financial Measures)
Article 17

The TMG shall endeavor to take necessary financial measures in orderto promote child policies in a comprehensive manner.
Supplementary Provisions(Effective Date)
1. The present Ordinance shall come into effect as of April 1, 2021.
(Review)
2. When three years have passed since the enforcement of the present Ordinance, theenforcement status of the present Ordinance, the circumstances surrounding children
and other relevant matters shall be reviewed, and necessary measures shall be taken to
keep up with the times.
3. In conducting the review set forth in the preceding paragraph, opportunities shall beprovided to children to hear their views in order to reflect them in the review.