This study demonstrates that the vision of child-oriented local governance has transcended the realm of a normative ideal and has emerged as a concrete necessity, firmly grounded in international law, sustainable development agendas, and national strategic frameworks. The European Charter of Local Self-Government, the Brundtland Report, the Habitat Conferences, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF’s Child-Friendly Cities Initiative, and Turkey’s 2023–2028 Child Rights Strategy and Action Plan collectively articulate a robust normative framework that integrates the social, environmental, and governance dimensions of child-centered sustainability.

What unites these instruments is their shared emphasis on the principle of the best interests of the child, positioning children’s rights to survival, development, protection, and participation at the heart of the sustainable development vision. The social dimension advances societal sustainability through poverty reduction, equitable access to education, and comprehensive health and social services. The environmental dimension safeguards children’s well-being by ensuring access to safe living environments, a clean and resilient natural setting, and disaster-prepared urban systems. The governance dimension, in turn, promotes children’s meaningful participation in democratic processes through institutionalized mechanisms such as children’s councils, participatory budgeting, and consultative platforms.

A child-oriented local governance approach therefore holds transformative potential for future cities—not only in spatial terms, but also by embedding the principles of justice, equality, and inclusivity within urban development. Cities that recognize children as rights-holders, amplify their voices, and secure their participation in decision-making processes strengthen the sustainability of democratic societies, reimagining children not as passive beneficiaries of services but as active citizens and future agents of change.

Beyond its analytical scope, this study offers a legal foundation, a normative vision, and a forward-looking roadmap for future research on child-oriented local governance. By placing the principle of the best interests of the child at its core, this vision operates as a compass inscribed into the very heart of urban governance, pointing toward justice, equality, and solidarity. Ultimately, cities that center children are not merely more just, inclusive, and resilient they are also the builders of humanity’s most hopeful tomorrows.