What Is the Secret Behind Dobong-gu Receiving the UNICEF Child-Friendly City Advanced Certification?

Evaluation of Changes and Implementation Performance Over 4 Years Following New Certification of 'Advanced Level Certification' UNICEF Child-Friendly City 10 Components, Enhancing Certification to Create a More Developed Child-Friendly Environment

Mayor Lee Dong-jin of Dobong-gu with the Dobong-gu Child Public Ambassadors (April 2019, Lawn Plaza in front of Dobong-gu Office)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Dobong-gu (Mayor Dongjin Lee) announced that it has received the ‘UNICEF Child-Friendly City Advanced Certification’ from the UNICEF Korea Committee.

This achievement is the second among local governments nationwide and the first in Seoul along with Songpa-gu and Gangdong-gu to receive the ‘UNICEF Child-Friendly City Advanced Certification.’

The certification period is from June 25, 2021, to June 24, 2025, after which continuous advanced certification reviews will be conducted every four years.

A ‘UNICEF Child-Friendly City’ is a local government that practices the fundamental spirit contained in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and provides a child-friendly environment where all children under 18 can fully enjoy their rights.

Notably, this year marks the 25th anniversary of UNICEF Child-Friendly Cities, which began with the resolution of the 2nd UN Conference on Human Settlements in 1996, making it a meaningful year.

The ‘Advanced Certification’ is decided by evaluating changes and implementation performance over four years after the initial certification in 10 components of UNICEF Child-Friendly Cities, including ▲promotion and education of children’s rights ▲child-friendly legal systems ▲children’s participation systems ▲children’s rights surveys and child impact assessments. It aims to elevate the certification to a higher level than the initial certification to lead the creation of a more advanced child-friendly environment in certified cities.

Meanwhile, since receiving the UNICEF Child-Friendly City certification on November 11, 2016, Dobong-gu has promoted various projects to create a city where children can live well, such as expanding children’s rights education and training instructors, operating a youth participatory budgeting system, and establishing public indoor playgrounds.

First, the Children and Youth Council is directly elected and formed, allowing children to create policies related to themselves, and the proposed policies are budgeted through the youth participatory budgeting system, ensuring children’s practical participation in policymaking.

Additionally, Dobong-gu developed the ‘Children’s Rights Workbook’ in 2018, which is used by 57 local governments nationwide. To reflect improved children’s human rights sensitivity and voices from educational sites, since last year, a public-private-academic governance has been formed with the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation, elementary to high school teachers, and children’s rights instructors to jointly develop teaching materials.

Efforts are also being accelerated to develop ‘Children’s Rights Education Online Content’ to fill the gap in children’s rights education caused by COVID-19. The revamped workbook and online content are scheduled to be used in children’s rights education next year.

Furthermore, by gradually expanding the target of children’s rights education to policymakers, child facility workers, elementary to middle school teachers, middle and high school students, and parents, Dobong-gu plans to spread a culture that respects children’s rights throughout the local community.

Mayor Dongjin Lee of Dobong-gu stated, “Since our district was certified as a UNICEF Child-Friendly City, we have continuously strived to protect children’s rights, and these efforts have accumulated to achieve the UNICEF Child-Friendly City Advanced Certification. We will continue to do our best to protect children’s rights.”

In October last year, Dobong-gu set a new child-friendly city vision through a public contest titled ‘Children’s Dreams Are the Future of Dobong-gu.’ Under this new vision, the district has established a four-year basic plan for child-friendly cities based on child-friendliness surveys, roundtable discussions, and child impact assessments, and is leading 16 key projects starting this year.