August 23, 2007: Moscow moves to become child-friendly
The city’s authorities sign a ‘Memorandum of Co-operation’ with UNICEF GENEVA, August 23, 2007 – The Moscow City Government and UNICEF today signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to collaborate to make the Russian capital ‘child-friendly’, a city responsive to the needs of children and young people. The Memorandum was jointly signed by Moscow’s First Deputy Mayor, Ludmila Shvetsova, and UNICEF’s Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States, Ms Maria Calivis. Ms. Calivis said the Moscow Government had now joined the global network of cities and municipalities committed to developing child friendly cities. In doing so, Moscow authorities will ensure that the voices, needs, and priorities of children living in Moscow become an integral part of public policies, programs and decisions. “Particular attention must be made to the vulnerable, and the excluded, for example the street children, the disabled and children growing up without parental care in institutions.” The signing comes on the eve of the city’s 860th anniversary and is part of Moscow’s Year of the Child in which a strategic plan is being developed to improve the lives of the 1.6 million children in the city over the next decade. This year, the Moscow City Government invested an additional $1.6 billion dollars in children’s issues and concerns, including medical services, support for larger families, the disabled and child rights information. The Cooperation Agreement is to be followed by Moscow’s hosting an international ‘Cities for Children’ conference on 2-4 September. Co organized by UNICEF several hundred delegates from across Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States will attend. UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
Memorandum Press coverage |
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