Dongdaemun-gu Accelerates Creation of Child-Friendly and Women-Friendly City

Gu Obtained 'UNICEF Child-Friendly City' Certification on 29th Last Month, Selected as 'Women-Friendly City' by Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on 30th

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Dongdaemun-gu (Mayor You Deok-yeol) is accelerating efforts to create a child-friendly city and a women-friendly city this year.

The district received certification as a "Child-Friendly City" from the UNICEF Korea Committee on the 29th of last month.

A child-friendly city refers to a community where all children under the age of 18 can live well by guaranteeing the four fundamental rights of children as stipulated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and faithfully implementing child-friendly policies.

The Child-Friendly City certification is granted by the UNICEF Korea Committee after reviewing 46 detailed items based on 10 principles necessary for implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the qualification is maintained for four years.

Since enacting the ordinance on creating a child-friendly city in November 2017, Dongdaemun-gu has laid the foundation for a UNICEF Child-Friendly City by ▲forming a Child-Friendly City Promotion Committee ▲conducting a child status survey research project ▲holding roundtable discussions ▲establishing a four-year basic plan ▲publishing a child-friendly budget book ▲forming and operating child participation organizations ▲providing child rights education.

Especially this year, despite the difficult situation caused by COVID-19, the district has made various efforts to promote child participation and enhance child rights, including ▲operating the 3rd Youth Participation Committee and the 2nd Children and Youth Council ▲enacting and revising ordinances to establish a child-friendly legal system ▲holding the Dongdaemun-gu Children and Youth Policy Proposal Contest ▲conducting child rights education ▲holding a performance report meeting for child-friendly strategic projects and regular meetings of the promotion committee ▲producing a children’s map of our village created directly by children ▲signing business agreements with related local organizations and the International Child Rights Center.

On the 30th, Dongdaemun-gu was also selected as a "Women-Friendly City" designated by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

A women-friendly city refers to a community where men and women equally participate in local policies and development processes, and the benefits are evenly distributed to all residents, ensuring policies that realize women’s growth and safety.

Dongdaemun-gu has devoted internal efforts to gather administrative capabilities across all departments to increase women’s social participation opportunities and improve residents’ quality of life, while externally forming resident participation groups and consultative bodies to promote public-private cooperation.

Especially this year, despite the COVID-19 situation, the resident participation group actively participated in the process of creating a women-friendly city by conducting non-face-to-face meetings and other activities.

Yoo Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun District (center), and Dongdaemun District Office employees conducted a campaign to create a women-friendly city.

Based on the network built together with residents, the district plans to achieve more active private cooperation and advance as a women-friendly city where residents are the main actors.

Early next year, Dongdaemun-gu will sign an agreement with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and officially promote the women-friendly city over the next five years with goals including ▲establishing a foundation for gender equality policy promotion ▲expanding women’s economic and social participation ▲enhancing community safety ▲creating a family-friendly environment ▲strengthening women’s capacity for community activities.

You Deok-yeol, Mayor of Dongdaemun-gu, said, “I am pleased that we have borne fruit in creating policies through cooperation with residents for a city where children, women, and all residents can live well,” and added, “Taking the UNICEF Child-Friendly City certification and Women-Friendly City selection as an opportunity, we will continue to implement various policies to make a city where children and women are happy and can live well.”

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