Total Environment Assessment Model for Early Child Development

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Child Friendly Cities * With rapid urbanization taking place across the globe, cities are becoming home to an increasing proportion of the world’s children. Despite this reality, most cities fail to meet the needs and fulfill the rights of their young citizens (Riggio, 2002). In both the developed and developing world, urban children face conditions that breach their basic rights and hinder their chance for optimal development (Riggio, 2002). In light of this reality, the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (cfci) was established in 1996 based on the resolution passed during the second un conference on Human Settlement (Habitat ii) to make cities livable places for all (Child Friendly Cities, unicef). The initiative challenges cities to uphold the rights of the child as stated in the un Convention on the Rights of the Child (uncrc). In accordance with the uncrc, the cfci acknowledges that all children in cities have the right to access services that meet their basic needs and to experience opportunities that promote their development (Child Friendly Cities, unicef). As advocated by the cfci, the rights of children can be realized in cities through the adoption and implementation of governance approaches and participatory urban management that include children directly in the process (Child Friendly Cities, unicef). Since 1996, 708 cities 10 worldwide have taken part in the cfci (Child Friendly Cities, unicef). The largest concentrations of these cities are found in Brazil, France and Italy. As well, important cfcis exist in many other African, South American, European and South Asian Cities (Figure 5). In each participating city unique and important initiatives are taking place. To reflect the diversity of innovation taking place in participating cities, three case studies will be profiled: the cfci taking place in the Philippines; children’s participation in the governance and municipal budget of Barra Mansa (Brazil); and the cfci taking place in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. * Written by E. Larcombe, BA, HELP Mapping Unit child friendly cities initiative, philippines In 1999, in cooperation with unicef, the Philippine National government launched their cfci. The main goal of the initiative is to achieve the Philippine National Development Plan for Children, also known as Child 21 11 (unicef irc, 2004). The cfci is implemented through local governments and communities making it part of existing institutional frameworks and mechanisms. Furthermore, the cfci attempts to address a broad range of interventions within a limited number of cities in order to offer maximum support. The five participating cities—Pasay City, Manila, Quezon City, Cebu city and Davao City—are striving to fulfill seven key objectives and follow nine key strategic actions seen as crucial to making these cities “child friendly” (unicef irc, 2004). Since the inception of the cfci in the Philippines, significant research has taken place to assess the successes of the initiative and give voice to people living in the participating cities. A report published in 2006, titled Making Philippine Cities Child Friendly: Voices of Children in Poor Communities, highlights the positive impacts of the initiative while also recognizing that significant work remains before realizing the rights of all Pilipino children (Racelis & Aguirre, 2006) are realized. barra mansa, brazil Barra Mansa is an industrial city located in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Barra Mansa is recognized by the cfci for its creation of a Children’s Participatory Budget Council (cpbc). This unique project, which began in 1998, involves the election of 18 girls and 18 boys (aged 9-15) each year to ensure that the municipal council addresses their needs 10 Please note the number of cities belonging to the cfci as stated on the cfci website (http://www.childfriendlycities. org/networking/index.html) is 859, however our in-house calculation of the cities listed resulted in 708 cities. 11 Child 21 is a strategic framework that aims to guide stakeholders involved in planning programs and interventions that uphold and protect the rights of Philippine children in the 21st century (Project Review: cfci, Philippines, pg.3). 44
Total Environment Assessment Model for Early Child Development Map Created by Eric Hertzman using spatial data from ESRI, and CFC data from the Child Friendly Cities Initiative Innocenti Web Site. 2006-12-20 figure 5: child friendly cities and priorities (Guerra, 2002). This initiative was part of a broad vision developed by council to: promote and institutionalize the participation of children and youth in the management of their city; to encourage their civic engagement; and to help them recognize the importance of their role as citizens (Guerra, 2002). Each year since its commencement, more than 6,000 children have taken part in discussions and assemblies to elect their child councilors and share their opinions regarding civic priorities. In addition to participating in the planning and developments that take place in Barra Mansa, the children’s council has us $125,000 for use on priorities and initiatives decided by the council. Examples of some projects funded from this budget are: repairs to schools and school equipment, improvements to play-grounds in low income areas, repairs to sewers and drains and tree planting within the city (Guerra, 2002). occupied palestinian territory cfcis are taking place in four locations within the Occupied Palestinian Territory— two in the Gaza Strip (Rafah and Gaza City) and two in the West Bank (Jenin and Jericho). This initiative started as a pilot project in 1996 to help communities living in densely populated areas under incredibly challenging conditions (Riggio, 2002). Its objective, as stated in a cfc report, was: “to support decentralization processes, promote community participation and translate the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child into the daily lives of children, families and communities (Riggio, 2002).” Out of this pilot project fifteen ‘Children Activity Centres’ were created for children to participate in educational and recreational activities that were lead by youth leaders (Riggio, 2002). Currently the focus of the cfci in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is to protect the rights of children more directly exposed to the armed conflict. In each of the four locations mentioned above a ‘dual-approach’ to planning has been implemented—first to identify and respond to present emergency needs and second to encourage more comprehensive protection strategies for children (unicef Occupied Palestinian Territory, 2003). As a result of this cfci, ‘Safe Play Areas’ have been developed to limit children’s exposure to violence and increase children’s participation in positive and health-promot- 45
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Total Environment Assessment Model for Early Child Development

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