Chuncheon City to Pursue Child-Friendly City Recertification... Strengthening Public-Private Governance

New Committee Members and Child Rights Advocates Appointed
'Talk Talk Public Forum' on the 5th to Gather Children's Opinions

Chuncheon City in Gangwon Province (Mayor Yuk Dong-han) has moved to strengthen public–private cooperation by newly organizing the Child-Friendly City Promotion Committee and appointing Child Rights Advocates in preparation for the renewal of its UNICEF Child-Friendly City certification in 2027.

Chuncheon City held the appointment ceremony for the Child-Friendly City Promotion Committee and the Child Rights Advocate in the city hall's main conference room on the 4th. Provided by Chuncheon City

On September 4, Chuncheon City held an appointment ceremony for the Child-Friendly City Promotion Committee and Child Rights Advocates in the main conference room at city hall, followed by a regular committee meeting and an interim report session for the research service on Child-Friendly City Certification for Chuncheon City.

The Child-Friendly City Promotion Committee is a public-private partnership body that deliberates on and advises the direction, planning, and implementation of related policies. It consists of nine members, including the Director of Welfare, representatives from child-related organizations and educational institutions, and city council members.

The Child Rights Advocates is an independent body tasked with examining policies and systems from the perspective of children, identifying cases of rights violations, and providing recommendations for improvement. Its five members include experts in child welfare and mental health, lawyers, and professors. The term for both committees runs until August 31, 2028.

At the meeting, participants also shared interim findings from the research project to create a Child-Friendly City, which began in April. The city plans to develop its policy agenda for the next four years based on a standard survey, public opinion collection, analysis of children's needs, and assessment of the urban environment.

After first receiving UNICEF Child-Friendly City certification in December 2023, Chuncheon City has worked to run child participation organizations, provide education on child rights, and establish systems to reflect child-related policies. By integrating the latest research findings with opinions from experts and children themselves, the city aims to renew its certification in 2027.

On September 5, Chuncheon City will hold a 'Talk Talk Public Forum' in the city hall's multi-purpose conference room, inviting representatives of children and youth as well as children from minority groups. The participating children will directly propose policy needs and improvement directions for the region, based on survey results. The city plans to use these suggestions as foundational data for its four-year action plan.

A city official stated, "We will not limit children to being just subjects of protection, but will respect them as citizens who help foster changes in the local community," adding, "We are committed to building a governance system that faithfully incorporates the voices of children into policies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.