This Saturday, May 24, the streets of Nice will host the March for Childhood and Youth. An event initiated by and for the young, to claim their right to safety, respect, and a dignified life. The association Les Petits Invincibles coordinates this local mobilization.
At 2 PM, from Place Masséna, the march will set off to the sound of a batucada and songs. Leading the procession: children and young people, holding signs. They will speak at the beginning and the end of the gathering, in front of the Palais de Justice. Their message is clear: “to build a more inclusive and caring society.”
This event is part of the March for Childhood and Youth (MEJ), a national movement launched in Paris in 2024. In 2025, Nice and Metz joined the initiative. The organizers remind us that the cause of children still does not benefit from a demonstration of a scale comparable to those for women’s rights or the climate.
The participants are asking adults and institutions to assume their role: listen to children, make room for them, respect their rights. “Children and young people do not truly have a space for visibility and public expression,” the organizers denounce.
A concerning state of affairs in the Alpes-Maritimes
In the department, the situation of children remains marked by significant shortcomings. About 2,500 children are monitored by Child Welfare Services, but resources are lacking. The number of reports is increasing, shelters are overwhelmed, and some children are still being housed in hotels without suitable supervision.
The local judicial system is saturated. The number of juvenile judges is insufficient, which lengthens processing times. Decisions are not always enforced.
Regarding mental health, the indicators are also worrying. One in four teenagers shows signs of anxiety or depressive disorders. Psychiatric emergencies for minors surged by 40% between 2019 and 2022. Families struggle to get an appointment, with delays sometimes reaching up to a year.
Some children also sleep on the streets due to a lack of emergency shelters. The 115 service is often overwhelmed, and high rents complicate housing access for families.
Finally, school bullying remains an underestimated problem. Between 300 and 500 cases are reported each year in the Alpes-Maritimes, but the real figure is likely much higher.
In light of these findings, children are calling for concrete measures: prevention in schools, listening to victims, support for families, training for professionals, and better coordination among stakeholders.
The march on May 24 aims to open a space for expression for those most affected. So that children’s rights are finally visible, both on the streets and in institutions.
