March 21, 2007: Child-friendly cities
More than half of the world's children will soon live in cities. Today more than 70 percent of Russian people live in cities. Growing evidence and experience show that large numbers of urban children are at risk in many ways, especially those who live in poverty or are affected by discrimination. For example the sheer size and diversity of migration to cities leads to large numbers of people living in neighbourhoods where community cohesion is weak and even divisive. Urban life also often erodes family structures, impoverishing the quality of adult care for children and jeopardizing traditional safety nets. These factors can result in children and adolescents living in gangs on the streets; taking to drug addiction; or being exposed to exploitation and abuse such as child labour or even child trafficking. In cities of high-income countries, children may be threatened by traffic, pollution and a shortage of green and open spaces in which to play. In both rich and poor countries, urban children and adolescents can feel increasingly imprisoned and isolated.
It is, as a result, a city that is fit for all. In a Child Friendly City, children and youth are viewed as part of the solutions, rather than part of the problems. Several cities in the Russian Federation, including Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Izhevsk and Chelyabinsk are planning to join the Child Friendly Cities initiative. The Moscow city government has announced 2007 to be the ‘Year of the Child’ and is increasing funding to support families and children in the city. For more information, please contact: John Brittain, UNICEF, Russian Federation, + 7 495 937 48 12, jbrittain@unicef.org For more information, please see also:
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