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KUCHING, Sept 5: Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah and Kuching South City Hall mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng are attending the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) conference.
They were invited by UNICEF Malaysia to attend the conference organised by UNICEF East Asia – Europe Child Friendly Cities Interregional Exchange, which will be held in Madrid and Helsinki.
The purpose of the trip is to provide the delegation with an overview of European best practices in creating scalable, sustainable, and innovative child friendly cities.
This includes understanding the policies, programmes and initiatives that have been successful in promoting child wellbeing, as well as exploring the challenges that cities face in creating child friendly environments.
In a statement today, Wee said upon arrival in Madrid, the delegates were warmly welcomed by the representatives of the United Nations, who provided an overview of the CFCI initiative.
“This program is more than just a theoretical concept; it is a global movement which aims to make cities a better places for children to grow, play, and thrive,” said Wee.
One of the highlights of the visit was the opportunity to meet with the Mayor of Rivas Vaciamadrid and learn about the current status of CFCI in Spain.
Rivas Vaciamadrid has been at the forefront of implementing CFCI principles within the country, with various projects that had been implemented in the city to create a child-friendly environment.
Child-friendly mobility was one of the central themes discussed during the meeting. Rivas Vaciamadrid had taken significant steps to promote safe and accessible transportation options for children. This included pedestrian-friendly streets, dedicated bike lanes, and improved public transportation systems.
Another crucial aspect highlighted by the Mayor of Rivas Vaciamadrid, Aída Castillejo was the creation of low emission school zones.
These zones were designed to reduce air pollution around schools, ensuring that children could breathe clean air while commuting to and from their educational institutions. The initiative involved measures such as restricting vehicular traffic near schools during peak hours and promoting alternative modes of transportation.
Castellejo also discussed the importance of a local plan for CFCI. This plan served as a roadmap in the implementation of child-friendly initiatives within the municipality. It outlined specific goals, timelines, and the allocation of resources to ensure that the CFCI principles were integrated into the city’s development and urban planning processes effectively.
Wee emphasised that the policies and approaches of CFCI varies across different countries, reflecting the unique cultural, social, and economic contexts of each location. — DayakDaily
