Decision details

Moved by Councillor Scott, seconded by Councillor Miller –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          there are more children in our city than ever before. The number of children aged 0-4 in the City of Sydney has grown by 70 per cent in the last 15 years;

(ii)         the strong work that the City of Sydney has done in making Sydney a child friendly Sydney. This includes the development of more child friendly parks, childcare centres and skate parks;

(iii)        global cities such as Sydney must be places that welcome children, and that we can always do more. This includes empowering children so that they can make substantial contributions to the design and planning of our Cities; and

(iv)       that the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI), developed by UNICEF, provides a set of principles and procedures by which local governments can develop more child friendly cities;

(B)        Council consider endorsing the CFCI's Framework for building a child friendly city and respecting the rights of children:

(i)          Non-discrimination: The rights of all children are respected, without discrimination of any kind irrespective of the child’s or his or her parent’s or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status;

(ii)         Best interests of the child: The best interests of children are a primary consideration in decisions that may affect them with State Parties assuring the care and protection necessary for their wellbeing;

(iii)        The inherent right to life, survival and development: Children have the right to life, with States Parties committed to ensuring the maximum extent possible, their right to survival and healthy development; and

(iv)       Respect for the views of the child: Children have the right to voice their opinions and have these be taken into account in decisions that affect them; and

(C)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)          investigate:

(a)        signing on as a Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) city;

(b)        integrating this framework into the City of Sydney's 2050 plan; and

(c)         the feasibility of a Child Advisory Panel; and

(ii)         provide a report back to Council via the CEO Update.

Carried unanimously.

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