The United Nations Intergovernmental Cooperation for the Construction of Child-Friendly Cities: Providing Strong Support for the Global Construction of Child-Friendly Cities

In 1996, UNICEF and UN-HABITAT launched the “Child-Friendly Cities Initiative”, proposing that children's well-being is a core indicator for measuring the level of government governance, social civilization, and the health of human settlements. Since its launch, the initiative has received positive responses from countries all over the world. Currently, more than 3,000 cities and communities in developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Finland, as well as in developing countries such as Brazil, Vietnam and Belarus, have been certified as child-friendly by UNICEF. The United Nations Intergovernmental Cooperation for the Construction of Child-Friendly Cities is an international NGO dedicated to promoting the construction of Child-Friendly Cities worldwide, aiming to create a better and friendlier urban environment for children, and to promote children's healthy growth and comprehensive development. The United Nations Intergovernmental Cooperation for the Construction of Child-Friendly Cities will provide strong support in the following aspects from the perspective of the construction of child-friendly cities around the world:

First, from the perspective of policy support: The United Nations Intergovernmental Cooperation for the Construction of Child-Friendly Cities will provide strong policy support for the construction of Child-Friendly Cities around the world to create favorable conditions for children's healthy growth and comprehensive development. First, top-level planning. The United Nations Intergovernmental Cooperation for the Construction of Child-Friendly Cities can formulate a series of construction standards and guiding principles to clarify the basic elements of the construction of Child-Friendly Cities, including safe living environments, adequate activity facilities, quality education resources, etc., so as to provide clear goals and directions for governments around the world in the planning and construction of Child-Friendly Cities. Secondly, the introduction of policies. The United Nations Intergovernmental Cooperation for the Construction of Child-Friendly Cities promotes governments to introduce policies conducive to the construction of Child-Friendly Cities, such as encouraging governments to increase investment in children's education, welfare and medical care, so as to ensure that children can enjoy high-quality and fair public social services.

Secondly, in terms of technical support: first, clarifying spatial planning standards. Planning requirements and standards for various kinds of child-friendly spaces should be formulated, and child-friendly design standards for children's service facilities, activity venues, road traffic and so on should be clarified at all levels, including the urban, community and neighbourhood levels. For example, at the city level, a child-friendly public service facility system and a safe and interesting open space system should be established; at the community level, the daily needs of infants, toddlers and preschoolers should be optimally equipped with service facilities and playgrounds within the 5-10-minute walking circle; and at the neighborhood level, the 15-minute walking circle should be connected to the scientific layout of primary and middle schools and children's activity centers. activity centers, etc. Second, data collection and analysis. Assist cities in collecting and analyzing data related to children, mainly concerning the number, age, distribution and demand characteristics of children, etc., to provide data support for the construction of child-friendly cities. At the same time, through the systematic analysis of data, we can fully grasp the characteristics of children's needs and behavioral patterns, and improve the pertinence of the planning and construction of child-friendly cities. Third, actively organize experience exchange activities. International technical seminars, exchanges, field trips and other activities should be organized to promote the sharing of technology and experience in child-friendly city construction among cities around the world; cities should be able to learn from the successful cases of other countries and regions, and draw on advanced technology and management experience to strengthen the level of child-friendly city construction.

Thirdly, from the perspective of talent support: first, actively carry out professional training. Various training courses, seminars and academic exchanges have been organized, and globally renowned experts, scholars, educators, urban planners and other professionals in the field of child development have been invited to hold lectures and share their experiences; the contents of these training courses cover the protection of children's rights and interests, children's mental health, and children's educational resources, etc., with the aim of enhancing the relevant personnel's understanding of the construction of global child-friendly cities and their professional skills. The trained personnel will be able to better implement child-friendly concepts into all aspects of the construction of child-friendly cities and create a more suitable living and growing environment for children. Secondly, to build a platform for talent exchange. The United Nations Intergovernmental Cooperation for the Construction of Child-Friendly Cities can promote the flow of talents and cooperation in the field of construction of Child-Friendly Cities among countries around the world. For example, it can organize transnational talent exchange programs, so that educators, urban planners and other relevant personnel can have the opportunity to go to the completed child-friendly cities in various countries to conduct field visits, learn advanced practices and experiences, and provide brand-new ideas and technical support for the construction of local child-friendly cities. This form of talent exchange system can not only further broaden the horizons of talents, but also enhance international cooperation and exchanges, and accelerate the process of global child-friendly city construction.

Fourthly, from the aspect of financial support: firstly, actively seeking international assistance and cooperation funds. The United Nations Intergovernmental Cooperation for the Construction of Child-Friendly Cities raises funds for the construction of global child-friendly cities through close cooperation with governments, non-governmental organizations and other international organizations; these funds can be used to improve children's living, educational and medical environments, and to create a better living environment for children. Secondly, we should promote the establishment of a special fund for the construction of global child-friendly cities. Governments, society and enterprises are encouraged to donate funds specifically for the construction of child-friendly cities; the special fund can provide a stable source of funding for the construction of urban infrastructure, children's welfare projects and children's activity venues. At the same time, The United Nations Intergovernmental Cooperation for the Construction of Child-Friendly Cities can also assist cities in adopting diversified fund-raising strategies, such as issuing bonds, private investment and other ways to enrich the fund-raising channels; moreover, the organization needs to supervise and evaluate the use of the funds, so as to ensure that the funds are used in the construction of Child-Friendly Cities for the benefit of children around the world.

In conclusion, in the context of attaching great importance to the protection of children's rights and the promotion of sustainable development, The United Nations Intergovernmental Cooperation for the Construction of Child-Friendly Cities should provide strong support for the construction of Child-Friendly Cities around the world from the aspects of policy, technology, talents and funds, so as to promote the steady development of the construction of Child-Friendly Cities around the world!