Abstract
Analysis of the main urban contexts shows that urbanization does not necessarily induce sustainable urban environments for children. Children and their families, especially the most disadvantaged, are confronted with spatial inequity in multiple ways: the high cost of living and access to urban services; the unequal geo-spatial distribution to urban services; the poor characteristics of the built environment; and the inequitable spatial distribution of land and urban space. An unsustainable built environment constraints children’s access to urban services in a physical way, due to unequal distribution, ineffective planning and lack of quality in design and construction. It leads to urban-specific environmental health problems that health support systems cannot address alone and shifts the focus from communicable to non-communicable diseases. The built environment also reveals itself as a protection issue when children and their caretakers cannot evaluate risks, be prepared or be safe. Finally, the built environment also influences to what extend children’s participation is possible, in terms of public space where children can congregate and other infrastructure that allows physical, social and digital connectivity. On the positive side, the built environment offers realms of opportunity where cities commit to the respect of children’s rights and planning for equity. Despite the strong correlation between the vulnerability of the most disadvantaged children and the built environment, child right and development specialists have not been familiar with the language of those who can address these issues. Therefore, UNICEF wants to lead on developing the needed advocacy and technical support, by calling cities to commit to Child Rights and Urban Planning Principles and by offering guidance to urban planning stakeholders on how to prioritize children and thereby ensure cities thrive as homes for healthy, safe, green and prosperous communities. Amongst these stakeholders, build environment specialists working in cities, governments, community-based organisations and the private sector are key. Therefore, UNICEF and ISOCARP want to collaborate on joint advocacy and capacity development amongst its urban planning members and partners. Based on the recently published Handbook on child-responsive urban planning, UNICEF proposes to organise a half day training session to previously enrolled participants. The training has the following format, under further development: o Introduction Child Rights and Urban Planning Principles o Presentation case studies (Indonesia/Asia and global) o Workshop with break out session, facilitated with a checklist o Presentation capacity development package of three types of tools for child-responsive urban planning: spatial planning tools (area-based), children’s participation stakeholder engagement (process-oriented) and geo-spatial data management for child-centred decision making (evidence based). The aimed outcome of the training session is to provide the participant urban planners with the knowledge and the technical tools on the why, what and how to put children central in their daily practice. Participants should feel inspired and comforted after the workshop to lead on this topic in their professional environment, by training further their staff, by proposing innovative approaches to their clients and partners, by elaborating guidance and policies in a city or national level. A synthesis of the handbook on child-responsive urban planning can be provided for publication as a paper in the congress Publication. In dialogue with ISOCARP, this training can also be the start of a certification mechanism for child-responsive urban planners.
