Why Children and Adolescents in Nowon-gu Grow as Democratic Citizens?

Let's Change Inconvenient and Unreasonable Cases! Anyone from Children to Adults Can Participate in the 'Child Rights Monitoring Group'... Raising Voices by Directly Participating in Ordinances, Policies, and Budget Areas! 'Children's Council', 'Child and Youth Participation Committee', 'Child and Youth Participatory Budget'... Nowon-type Child Policy Achieves Advanced Certification as a UNICEF Child-Friendly City in 2022

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is promoting a set of four child participation initiatives to guarantee the ‘right to participate’ for children and adolescents.

This is to move beyond viewing children and adolescents as subjects to be protected and to respect them as active citizens, actively reflecting their voices in policies.

First is the 'Child Rights Monitoring Group,' which is being implemented for the first time this year. It plays a role in reporting cases of child rights violations experienced by children under 18, cases needing advocacy support, and inconvenient or disadvantageous systems or situations.

The monitoring group must complete one online education session related to child-friendly cities and participate at least once a year.

Anyone from children to adults can participate regardless of their residential area or timing. For applications or other inquiries, contact the Nowon-gu Office Child and Youth Division.

Next are the Child Council, Child and Youth Participation Committee, and Child and Youth Participatory Budget System to expand the ‘policy participation rights’ of children and adolescents.

The ‘Child Council’ consists of 56 members aged 9 to under 18 who reside or attend school in Nowon-gu. Based on the actual operation method of the council, standing committees are formed according to age and areas of interest to carry out activities. By experiencing the decision-making process through democratic council activities, members strengthen their capabilities as democratic citizens and actually create ordinances necessary for themselves.

The ‘Child and Youth Participation Committee’ is composed of about 19 members divided into four thematic subcommittees. Through bi-monthly regular meetings and capacity-building education, they discuss and publicize related issues and propose child policies and projects. Children and adolescents under 18 are the main participants, supported by youth under 24 who act as supporters.

In November this year, a ‘Child and Youth General Assembly’ will be held, consisting of 100 representatives from the Child Council, Child and Youth Participation Committee, Youth Facility Operation Committee, and student councils from various schools, to address more diverse and in-depth opinions.

The ‘Child and Youth Participatory Budget’ is a project where groups of two or more youths plan and propose youth projects and receive up to 1 million KRW per project through a selection review process.

By directly planning, spending, and settling budgets related to child and youth policies, participants learn subjectivity and autonomy as democratic citizens.

Lastly, the establishment of the ‘Nowon-type Child-Friendly City Model.’

Since receiving child-friendly city certification from UNICEF in February 2018, the district has expanded 70 core tasks to 102 over the past three years, striving to guarantee children’s rights to survival, development, protection, and participation.

Aiming for UNICEF’s higher-level child-friendly city certification in 2022, the second child-friendly city survey research project was conducted in March. This is to objectify and re-examine the policies implemented so far through indicators and to review points for policy improvement.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “I believe a city where children can live well is a city where everyone can live well,” and added, “We will enhance our status as a child-friendly city where children’s rights are fully realized in a better environment.”