Involving kids in policies and decisions
Published on: Monday, February 28, 2022
Hajiji presenting a book on Mount Kinabalu to Dr Rashed after their meeting while Safar (right) looks on.
THE State Government welcomed a proposal by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) for a Child-Friendly City (CFC) initiative aimed at realising children’s rights as articulated in the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child.The matter was discussed during the meeting between Unicef Representative for Malaysia, Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor at Menara Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu, on Feb 21.
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Dr Rashed briefed the Chief Minister that in practice a CFC is a city, town or community in which the voices, needs, priorities and rights of children are an integral part of public policies, programmes and decisions.
Among others it is where children are protected from exploitation, violence and abuse; have a good start in life and grow up healthy and cared for; have access to quality social services; live in a safe secure and clean environment with access to green spaces; meet friends and have places to play and enjoy themselves and to have a fair chance in life regardless of their ethnic origin, religion, income, gender or ability.
Also discussed was the UMS-Unicef Communication for Development (C4D) Research Unit, which was a follow-up to the meeting between C4D Director Dr Latif Lai and Hajiji in December last year.
According to Dr Rashed, many Unicef programmes need the C4D or Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC).
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The Unicef entourage led by Dr Rashed also briefed Hajiji on the findings of their studies on the Impact of Climate Change on Children, which was presented at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) earlier the same day. Also present was State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong.
Unicef and the Sabah Environment Protection Department (EPD) also embarked on a joint project on air quality monitoring for schools in Sabah.
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Sabah EPD Director Vitalis J. Moduying said the Air Quality Monitoring in Schools (AQUAMS) programme will monitor air quality in schools with aims to establish a citizen science air quality monitoring initiative for the schools statewide.
He said AQUAMS will be implemented over a 12-month period which will involve capacity building, engagement with schools and communities, and the production of a guidance handbook.
“Together with Unicef, we hope to implement a statewide climate and air quality monitoring system to safeguard air quality from further deterioration. We hope to increase collaboration in technical support, data sharing, and the development of a regional action plan on children’s environmental health.
“This programme is aimed to raise awareness level of air pollution issues as well as various environmental issues in Sabah, including waste management and water pollution,” he said in a statement.
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