Why Children Have Disappeared From Swiss City Streets

(MENAFN- Swissinfo) Children have gradually disappeared from urban spaces over recent decades. It's a trend that can be seen in many countries, and one that poses a number of problems. Several cities around the world, including Basel in Switzerland, have set up projects to rethink public space from a child's point of view.

This content was published on June 5, 2024 - 11:00 6 minutes Isabelle Cornaz and Pierrik Jordan, RTS

Deutsch de Warum Kinder aus den Strassen unserer Städte verschwunden sind Read more: Warum Kinder aus den Strassen unserer Städte verschwunden sin
Français fr Pourquoi les enfants ont disparu des rues de nos villes Read more: Pourquoi les enfants ont disparu des rues de nos ville
Italiano it I bambini sono irrimediabilmente scomparsi dalle strade cittadine? Original Read more: I bambini sono irrimediabilmente scomparsi dalle strade cittadine?

Beyond the playground, it's increasingly rare to come across children playing in the street or walking to school independently.

We also sometimes talk about the“back-seat generation”, referring to children who see the city through car windows. Not to mention“no kids” places or events – cafés, hotels or weddings – where they are officially no longer welcome.

“At the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century a long-term process of children's withdrawal from public spaces occurred,” said sociologist Clément Rivière, author of the book Leurs enfants dans la ville (Their children in the city), on Swiss public radio, RTSExternal link .

There are many reasons for this disinvestment. The car is often cited: cities have gradually been shaped to allow as many vehicles as possible to circulate during rush hour. And with this in mind, pedestrians, particularly people with reduced mobility and children, are not given priority.

Digitalisation is also mentioned. Social networks make it possible to communicate and meet up with friends without having to travel, while the rise of video games, for example, has made home entertainment more diverse. The various services available online are also increasing the tendency to stay at home.

Increased risk aversion

Society is also more sensitive to the risks facing children.“This is something that has become much more pronounced in Europe, particularly following the Dutroux affairExternal link in Belgium in the 1990s,” Rivière says, referring to Marc Dutroux, who in 2004 was eventually given a life sentence for the multiple murder and rape of children. He had previously been released on parole after only three years in prison for abducting and raping young girls.“This created a very high social profile for the paedophile and a very real fear [...] that children might have a bad encounter in public places.”

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