Naju City Appoints 'Ombudsperson' for Creating a Child-Friendly City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Kang In-gyu) announced on the 28th that it appointed five ombudspersons for the creation of a child-friendly city in the mayor's office at city hall.

The Swedish term "ombudsperson," meaning "representative," is based on the ninth principle of UNICEF's 10 principles for creating child-friendly cities, which is "an independent advocate for children."

The ombudsperson, based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, serves as an independent advocate and mediator who monitors child policies aimed at protecting and promoting children's rights and proposes improvements to administrative agencies regarding issues that infringe on children's rights.

On this day, the city appointed ▲ Kim Mijeong, Education Supervisor at Naju Office of Education ▲ Jo Yongtae, Head of the Women and Youth Division at Naju Police Station ▲ Jo Jun, Professor at Dongshin University ▲ Yoo Kiyong, Director of the Jeonnam Central Child Protection Agency ▲ Kim Jaechun, Head of the Jeonnam Child Protection Center at the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation as ombudspersons.

They will serve a two-year term with independent status, acting as advocates who uphold children's rights by improving related policies, systems, laws, and services, investigating and remedying cases of child rights violations, and representing the interests and rights of children.

Mayor Kang In-gyu said, “We will actively support the ombudsperson system to take root in the region to protect the rights and interests of children, who belong to vulnerable groups, and represent their opinions. We will do our best to realize a child-friendly city where not a single child is left out and all can grow up healthily.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.