The Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) was launched in 1996 to respond to the challenge of realizing the rights of children in an increasingly urbanized and decentralized world. This Handbook is a succinct summary of the practices, common challenges and lessons learned. It contains a step-by-step guide to establishing a CFCI, which leaves adequate room for adapting and contextualizing the initiative to local structures, priorities and needs. The Handbook also presents a revisited Framework for Action to guide implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and a set of broad global minimum criteria aimed at streamlining the CFCI globally and providing the basis for the recognition of a Child Friendly City by UNICEF.