Wanju-gun and UNICEF Operate 'Child Rights Ombudsperson'

Published 30 Aug.2021 14:54(KST)

[Wanju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho] Wanju County will operate the first-ever UNICEF Child Rights Ombudsperson in the nation.

On the 30th, Wanju County held a business agreement ceremony with the UNICEF Korea Committee to develop the first nationwide Child Rights Ombudsperson operation plan.

Having completed the establishment of an office in Gosan-myeon, Wanju County will jointly develop a manual with the UNICEF Korea Committee by December this year, and according to the manual, Wanju County will conduct a pilot operation of the office until December 2022.

The Child Ombudsperson Office will operate as a dedicated advocacy organization for children and youth, conducting activities to promote child rights, respond to violations, monitor child rights, perform child impact assessments, and provide legal support in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In particular, it will carry out comprehensive tasks including policy proposals and system improvements based on children’s opinions, as well as counseling related to rights violations.

Based on the results of the pilot operation, the UNICEF Korea Committee will distribute the Child Rights Ombudsperson manual to local governments creating child-friendly cities.

The operation results of Wanju County will thus be used as a manual for local governments nationwide in the future.

Park Seong-il, Wanju County Governor, said, “Since the Child Ombudsperson Office will be the first to operate nationwide in Wanju, we will do our best to ensure the successful development of the manual and pilot operation,” adding, “We will spare no support so that this can become the first example of the happiest local community for children.”