"Children's Views and Opinions Should Be Expressed and Reflected"

Green Umbrella Children's Foundation Gwangju Regional Headquarters Urges Enactment of Basic Child Act at Press Conference

Voices have emerged urging the enactment of the Child Basic Act to help children recognize and promote their rights as rights holders.

The Greenz, the Child Rights Advocacy Group of the Green Umbrella Child Fund, is conducting a relay support campaign on the 22nd at Youth Square Plaza in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, to urge the enactment of the Basic Child Act.
[Photo by Green Umbrella Child Fund]

'Greens,' a child rights advocacy group affiliated with the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation Gwangju Regional Headquarters and active as a participation group in Seo-gu district governance, held a press conference at Youth Square in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City on the 22nd, calling for the enactment of the Child Basic Act, the foundation announced on the 24th.

At the press conference, the group directly presented a statement urging the enactment of the Child Basic Act, covering seven areas: ▲play and rest ▲health and welfare ▲education and school ▲climate and environment ▲transportation and safety ▲violence and crime ▲child participation and politics.

The Child Basic Act, proposed in the National Assembly on April 28 and May 1, specifically stipulates children’s rights such as the right to survival, protection, development, and participation as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and defines the roles and responsibilities of the state, society, families, and local governments to guarantee these rights.

It also includes provisions for securing budgets, establishing comprehensive child policies, and creating organizations for coordination among related ministries to fulfill these obligations.

To urge the enactment of the Child Basic Act, the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation is conducting nationwide advocacy activities starting from Gwangju Metropolitan City. At the press conference, local community representatives and duty bearers attended, including Min Hyung-bae, member of the Democratic Party of Korea; Kim Yi-gang, mayor of Seo-gu, Gwangju; Shin Su-jeong, chairperson of the Gwangju City Education and Culture Committee; Kim Jae-sik, chairperson of Dong-gu Council, Gwangju; Jeon Mi-yong, chairperson of the Buk-gu Administrative and Autonomy Committee; and Jo Young-im, chairperson of the Gwangsan-gu Operations Committee.

In particular, the six duty bearers who attended as representatives are involved in activities related to each section of the Child Basic Act statement and participated in a symbolic 'Consent Coin Accumulation' performance, expressing their agreement to the enactment of the Child Basic Act for all children.

Jung Hyun-bin (Songwon Middle School Grade 1), a member of Greens, said, "I think the Child Basic Act is the future. Just as children are called the future of the world, a society where the Child Basic Act is enacted will be one where children can think about and prepare for the future without worries." He added, "I hope the Child Basic Act will be enacted as soon as possible."

Kim Eun-young, head of the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation Gwangju Regional Headquarters, said, "Children make up one-fifth of the population of the Republic of Korea and are citizens; therefore, their right to express their views on decisions affecting them must be guaranteed, and their opinions must be reflected in all decision-making processes that impact them." She added, "The Child Basic Act is the first step, and the Children’s Foundation will continue to strive to improve the growth environment for children."

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