Italian
The thirteenth edition of the event organized by the Municipality of Venice highlights the “right to be fragile,” encouraging the community to recognize and embrace children’s emotions.
VENICE — Denied rights, unknown rights, rights to learn, rights to claim. With these words, “Dritti sui diritti – A Common Commitment” returns to Venice. Promoted by the Social Cohesion Department of the Municipality of Venice, the event is now in its thirteenth edition. It has become a key cultural moment designed to place children and young people at the center of public attention and to reinforce the role of the educational community in their protection and development.
Each year, the initiative selects a specific theme to explore through meetings, events, and workshops. The focus for 2025 is the “right to be fragile”: the right to experience and express emotions such as fear and sadness, to be heard and protected, without vulnerability being mistaken for weakness.
In a society that values efficiency, autonomy, and achievement, acknowledging fragility as a natural part of growth is both an ethical and essential act. Accepting emotions, naming them, and sharing them helps create safe spaces and genuine relationships where children can fully develop.
The 2025 edition draws inspiration from Articles 6 and 12 of the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 6 guarantees the right to life, survival, and development — including emotional and relational growth — while Article 12 recognizes the right of children to freely express their views on all matters affecting them, with adults committed to listening seriously. This also includes the freedom to show fragility, insecurities, and fears.
The official opening took place this afternoon in Campo Santa Margherita, with the presence of Simone Venturini, the Councillor for Social Cohesion, who emphasized the importance of the project: “This event is now a fixed appointment in Venice’s calendar. I thank the children present at the ribbon-cutting, ready to play with us. At a time when the youngest are often overlooked, it is important to remember their rights: to a home, to education, to play. Sadly, not everyone enjoys these rights. With this initiative, we want to ensure that everyone has the same opportunities in life.”
The event is the result of a collective effort based on the principle of horizontal subsidiarity, involving 68 organizations including public entities, associations, third-sector groups, and citizens. Together, they have built an active network that has produced 47 events across the city, from the mainland to the lagoon.
Upcoming events include:
- Friday, October 10: “1000 Days of Us,” a day of workshops for children and training sessions for adults;
- Sunday, October 12: in Favaro Veneto at the Auditorium Sbrogiò, the drama therapy performance “The Four Seasons of Friendship.”
Besides educational and recreational activities, “Dritti sui diritti” also offers conferences and seminars aimed at raising awareness about foster care and family solidarity, with three dedicated events.
