ChildFriendly Cities Occupied Palestinian Territory

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Child-Friendly Cities Occupied
Palestinian Territory
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Palestinian Cities and Children Impact of
conflict since Sept 28, 2000

• 350 children killed (DCI)
• 7000 children injured (DCI)
• 2/3 of households now live below poverty line
• (PCBS)
• Unemployment up from 10 -50 by end 2002
  (UNSCO)
• Up to 600,000 children unable to access schools
  (UNICEF)

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Palestinian Cities and ChildrenImpact of
conflict since Sept 28, 2000

• 370 m damage to public infrastructure (UN
  Donors)
• At least 655 Palestinian homes damaged or
  destroyed (BTselem)

• 197 schools damaged (MOE)
• 36.4 of households unable to access health
  services (PCBS)

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Ongoing Municipal Challenges ...

• 3.3 million population
• Average of 6.7 children
• per family
• 53 of population under 18

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Child-Friendly Cities A
Framework for Action in Armed Conflict

• In cooperation with UNICEF, the CFC initiative
  was activated in the OPT as a pilot program in
  2002 - West Bank (Jenin/Jericho) Gaza Strip
  (Gaza City/Rafah)
• The CFC initiative developed out of a need to
• - 1/ develop more comprehensive planning
  and protection strategies
  for children
• - 2/ mobilize city-wide action in
  response to the escalating conflict and
  violence
• Tight mobility restrictions, including ongoing
  curfews and closures, necessitated an increasing
  need to decentralize and work at the local level.

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Child-Friendly Cities A
Framework for Action in Armed Conflict

• The CFC initiative provides a framework to
• achieve this goal
• Mayors in all 4 cities quickly confirmed their
  commitment and began to act to PROTECT and
  PROMOTE CHILDRENS RIGHTS in their cities
• Dual Approach adopted in each city - To
  identify / respond to current emergency needs AND
  encourage more comprehensive planning and
  protection strategies for children

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Key Objectives

• 1. Identify and respond to immediate
  interventions to improve the safety and
  well-being of children in cities
• 2. Increase opportunities for recreation and safe
  play - non-violent
• 3. Optimize the participation of children in
  identifying their own needs and influencing
  change in their communities
• 4. Increase coordination among all actors working
  towards a better future for children
• 5. Mobilize city-wide action and ensure that
  decision makers and the community at large
  prioritize the needs and rights of children in
  all aspects of planning

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Framework for Action
1. City Plan of Action for Children 2. Safe Play
and Recreation 3. Children Municipality Councils
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City Plan of Action for Children

• Identify immediate and longer-term priorities for
  children and mobilize city-wide action
• 1. Participatory needs assessment / workshops
  (inc. child.)
• 2. Outcomes - better targeting of municipal
  resources / city-wide action / increased
  coordination
• 3. Steering Committee to monitor
  achievements/progress
• e.g. Jenin over 30 local institutions
  participated endorsed City Plan of Action, in
  response to Operation Defensive Shield (April
  2002)

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Safe Play and Recreation

• To provide space and opportunities for children
  to play and participate in non-violent activities
• 1. Converting unused/wasted land into
  neighborhood play areas for children (target most
  exposed areas Rafah/Jenin)
• 2. Rafah - team of facilitators trained to
  conduct activities
• 3. Municipality Fun Days and Open Days in each
  city
• Jericho Kids Club
• Partnerships - utilizing experience of
  child-based NGOs for activities and training of
  municipal staff

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Childrens Municipality Councils

• 4 active CMCs
• 200 members aged 12-16
• Mandate To create a better city for children
• Training leadership, child rights, needs
  assessments, project design implementation

Optimize the participation of children in
identifying their own needs and influencing
change in their communities

• 1. Regular meeting with Municipality Council
  and local leaders
• 2. Small-scale community projects
• 3. Awareness campaigns on childrens rights and
  issues affecting children

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Local Elections Community
Projects

• Over 12,000 students went to the polls - Jericho
  and Gaza 2002
• Cooperation with Ministry of Education, Ministry
  of Local Govt, teachers, UNRWA
• First experience in OPT

• Jericho - CMC since 1999 - safe streets,
  environmental health, clean-up the city
  campaigns, publications

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Key Outcomes
Towards Achieving Local Level Action and
Change

• 1. Increased local level investment and action
  towards achieving and protecting childrens
  rights
• 2. A common vision for achieving a Child-Friendly
  City developed and made operational using the
  City Plan of Action
• 3. Increased opportunities for children to
  participate in non-violent recreation and play
• 4. Children as active citizens - community work
  and influencing change in their cities

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Benefits to Municipalities

• Integrates child-focused priorities into
  municipal planning (otherwise lacking)
• An opportunity for the municipality to improve
  services offered to children
• Better targeting of resources
• Effective approach for attracting donors and the
  wider community to invest in children

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2003 - Next Steps
1. Strengthen the capacity of municipalities to
better apply child-friendly principles
techniques to regular service provision (best
practice checklist and training) 2. Continue to
expand and improve the quality of services
provided to children, prioritizing immediate
needs identified in the City Plan of Action
3. Continue to increase childrens
opportunities for community participation,
recreation and safe play
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2003 - Next Steps Continued
4. Building on key achievements / best
practice, develop a framework for expansion at
the national level - A National Movement for
the Recognition and Achievement of Child-Friendly
Cities. This requires mobilizing leadership at
the national level and the promotion of secure
and sustainable cities throughout the Occupied
Palestinian Territory.
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Key Recommendations
Towards Best Practice Promotion of Increased
Dialogue and Information Exchange
1. Establish a Regional Network of Mayors to
promote and expand the Child-Friendly Cities
initiative 2. Develop Regional Indicators for
what constitutes a Child-Friendly City and Key
Milestones for cities to reach in their progress
towards Child-Friendly City Recognition
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Child-Friendly Cities Occupied
Palestinian Territory