A Child Friendly City is a local system of good governance
committed to fulfilling children's rights
Morocco
Child-friendly rural communities in Morocco
In November 2009, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Morocco UNICEF Country Office has launched the “Child and Youth Friendly Communes” (CYCF) pilot project. The precedent of the initiative is the local planning effort, aiming to strengthen capacities of local governments to plan actions in health, education, protection and participation. UNICEF supported the planning exercise in 100 communities in 2007-8. In 2009 the UN joint proposal “Youth in Action” was initiated by UNICEF and UNFPA in cooperation with the Ministries of Youth and Sports and Home Affairs. CYCFs are now being piloted within this framework in 5 communities with the objective of mainstreaming children in local policies and of developing a model that can be replicated on a large scale. Preparations for the launch of the pilot initiative were undertaken in 2009 and included a study visit to France to familiarize with the Child Friendly Cities (CFC) example; the development of a feasibility study on the local communities contribution to the promotion and realization of human rights, and above all children’s rights; the adaptation of the CFC Framework and the 9 “building blocks”, which is now in its completion phase and will lead to a practical guide for communities interested to the initiative; and the formal commitment of the communities. To become ‘child friendly’, communities commit to: a) mobilize a range of stakeholders to implement the plan of action for children; b) promote children’s citizenship and participation; c) improve access to education, health, culture and recreation; d) promote children’s rights; e) and report on their progress on a yearly base. The process envisions: a) an initial diagnosis; b) comparison with CFC standards and identification of gaps; c) development of a plan of action; d) implementation of the plan; e) final diagnosis; f) evaluation; g) appointment of community as ‘child friendly’. The Morocco UNICEF Country Office has also identified a set of CFC indicators (link: http://www.childfriendlycities.org/building-a-cfc/indicators-criteria-for-cfc/).
Contact
Abdelhakim Yessouf (Rural Development Specialist, UNICEF Morocco)
E-mail: ayessouf@unicef.org
In Morocco, the President of Fez Urban Community and UNICEF have reached a programme agreement, organized in the following stages: a situation analysis of children in Fez, with the widest possible number of indicators to define a city that would become "child friendly"; the creation of a training centre for children and adolescents called "Space for the Rights of the Child"; the establishment of a network of associations and NGOs dedicated to children. An agreement has already been signed by the city of Fez, UNICEF and NGOs to strengthen collaboration among all partners who will also receive permanent training on the rights of the child. Finally, the definition of a programme against child labour, with the creation of six reception centres where children who work will receive first aid and informal education, and will enjoy games and recreation.
(UNICEF - 1, Rue Beni Bouayach - Angle Avenue Imam Malik - Souissi, Rabat - Morocco - e-mail: rabat@unicef.org)
