UNICEF's Child-Friendly Cities Initiative
UNICEF's Child-Friendly Cities (CFC) initiative was first conceived in response to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992 and then more vehemently in the meetings leading up to and around the development of the Habitat II meetings in Istanbul in 1996. It came at a time when it was being recognised that the situation of urban children around the world was of critical concern and that discussions on sustainable development, the management of human settlements and the rights of children could not be done in isolation. The emerging child-friendly cities philosophy was underpinned by the view that to actively implement at a national and local government level the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) you needed a healthy environment, good governance and sustainable development.

The child-friendly cities initiative according to the framework for action document has emerged in recognition of several worldwide trends including the rapid transformation and urbanization of global societies; the growing responsibilities of municipal and community for their populations in the context of decentralisation; and consequently, the increasing importance of cities and towns within the national political and economic systems. The guiding principle behind the initiative is also that safe and supportive environments nurture children of all ages with opportunities for recreation, learning, social interaction, psychological development and cultural expression and promote the highest quality of life for its young citizens.

Further information on UNICEF Child Friendly Cities Initiative can be found on the international website:
www.childfriendlycities.org


Child Friendly Cities Initiative Asia-Pacific
The momentum to create the Child-friendly Cities Initiative Asia-Pacific was initiated from a symposium that was held at Griffith University in October of 2004. There were a number of key speakers and experts on children's environments at the symposium who after speaking engaged in panel discussion with the participants. At this panel it was decided that one of the key speakers Dr Karen Malone would take up the lead to establish a regional network. This development occurred over the proceeding two years with the network was being officially established with its first newsletter inviting membership in early 2007.

The Child-friendly Cities Initiative Asia-Pacific is a practical transformative project. It has at its core the importance of valuing and engaging actively with children through a variety of research and community development processes in order for them to be able document their lives and to evaluate the quality of environments and the services provided by their community. As researchers, parents, educators, community members, council officials or professional officers in the region our role is to listen to children and take what they say seriously and work together to build a child friendly world.

The network of organizations and individuals in the region who have signed on to be a member of the Child-friendly Cities Initiative Asia-pacific are from many countries including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Bangkok, India, China and PNG with this list continuing growing. These members come form a range of diverse backgrounds including government and non-government organisations, universities, city councils, companies and businesses, foundations and philanthropic funds, UNICEF, advocacy groups, professional associations, community and neighbourhood groups. The network is currently housed at the University of Wollongong's - Child, Youth Interdisciplinary Research Centre but works in partnership with UNICEF Australia and the international UNICEF CFC secretariat office in Florence.