Children have rights
Every child has rights. These are the basis for boys and girls to grow up safe, healthy and self-determined. From 23.05.2026, the city of Jena will be showing the hands-on exhibition "Children have rights" in the Goethe Gallery. Until 13.06.2026, children from pre-school age to twelve years, as well as interested adults, are invited to look, listen, join in and try things out. The exhibition in a currently unused store on the upper floor of the Goethe-Galerie can be visited on weekdays between 09:00 and 20:00.
Eight hands-on stations
Eight hands-on stations in the exhibition space invite visitors to discover children's rights in a playful and interactive way. The individual modules deal with the following topics: Protection from violence, right to information and participation, right to education, right to privacy, right to equality, right to leisure and play, right to health, right to special care in case of disability. Pictures, play materials and stories illustrate the respective rights in a child-friendly way. An audio system accompanies the stations, and films made by children and young people themselves are shown on monitors.
Special focus on prevention
"We are very pleased that we as a city have been able to bring this special hands-on exhibition to Jena,"
says Johannes Schleußner, Head of Education.
"Prevention plays an important role when it comes to children's rights: children need to be empowered at an early age to recognize their own needs, set boundaries and know that their bodies belong to them."
An important aim of the exhibition is therefore to teach children about their rights and encourage them to stand up for themselves. At the same time, the exhibition aims to make adults aware of their responsibility - both citizens and families as well as professionals.
Program for the official opening
The exhibition will be on display from 23.05.2026. An official opening event will take place on 26.05.2026 at 14:30. In addition to Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche and Head of Education Johannes Schleußner, the Thuringian Minister of Family Affairs Katharina Schenk, Heide Broda from the AWO Regional Association Central-West Thuringia and the Thuringian State Working Group for the Protection of Children and Young People will be on site. A group of children from various Awo kindergartens will perform a children's rights and child protection rap. In addition, a youth group from Klex (Komme e.V.) will perform a KPop dance.
Background information
The exhibition is on loan from the Federal Ministry of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ). The interactive exhibition conveys children's rights in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in an age-appropriate and vivid way.
City administration departments and partners present themselves
As part of the exhibitions, numerous departments of the city administration as well as local advisory services / network partners will present themselves and be available as contacts with their respective services for citizens and families.
Participants are:
- Youth & Education Department (Child Day Care Team, Procedures Pilot, ThEKIZ Regenbogen and Anne Frank)
- Youth welfare service (teams: early help, foster child services, adoption, family counseling, youth employment agency, general social services)
- Specialist health service (child and youth medical service, child and youth dental service team)
- Department IV: Cross-sectional coordination of the prevention chain and representative for people with disabilities
- ASB (child protection service "Strohhalm", family center, pregnancy conflict counseling center)
- Saale Betreuungswerk der Lebenshilfe e.V.
Hands-on exhibition "Children have rights"
- 23.5.2026 until 13.06.2026
- Goethe-Galerie Jena, upper floor
- Weekdays from 09:00 to 20:00 (including Saturday)
- Free admission