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Make Cities Child-Friendly

Let us see through children's eyes

Laila Khondkar
“If you want your child to be cured of this respiratory problem then you have to live outside Dhaka."
THIS was what a renowned paediatrician said to the parent of a four year old child. The comment illustrates the level of frustration and helplessness about the air pollution of Dhaka. This is a growing concern for most cities. According to The State of the World's Children 2012, over half of the world's people (including more than a billion children) now live in cities and towns. Many children enjoy the advantages that urban life offers (educational, medical, recreational facilities) while many are denied access to these essentials.
In Bangladesh, access to services is usually better in urban areas if we compare with villages, but huge disparity exists within various groups; affluence and extreme poverty coexist in urban settings. Most children living in slums lack access to decent housing, clean water, sanitation, health care and quality education. Many schools and communities in different areas of cities do not have playgrounds for children, which affects their development. Children are exposed to very high levels of air and noise pollution, and are unable to enjoy nature. The design of clinics and hospitals, as well as the services, are not child-friendly. Display of violent television shows that depict images of wars and conflicts is a common sight in the reception areas of pediatricians. Safety of children is not considered in infrastructure development.
Girls face sexual harassment on
their way to schools or in communities. Children with disabilities face additional challenges in accessing services. Children living on the streets (boys and girls), and working children are vulnerable to violence, abuse and exploitation. Public spaces (airports, bus and train stations, shopping complexes, community centres, etc.) do not have breast feeding and changing facilities for children. It is challenging for them to use public transport, especially in overcrowded urban areas. Most restaurants do not have proper sitting arrangements for young children and lack food options
suitable for them. Museums and art galleries usually do not cater to the needs of children. There are very limited opportunities for recreational and cultural activities, thus leading to over-reliance on technology for communication and entertainment. A sense of community is disappearing very fast; children feel alienated.
The urban situation affects children's well-being; they are not able to grow in a holistic way and realise their full potential. In many cases, children are deprived of their childhood. This is a serious violation of children's rights, as they cannot develop properly.
Urban planning, infrastructure development, service delivery and broader efforts to reduce poverty and inequality must meet the particular needs and priorities of children. Basic services for children living in slums must be ensured. There should be an assessment on child safety before approving any new infrastructure and service. We have to listen to children while designing anything that they will use, and make streets and communities safe for them.
We must strengthen national and community based child protection system, following the Children Act 2013.
Some people claim that we do not have sufficient resources to have child friendly cities. I am reminded of a few insightful lines by the renowned economist Mahbub UI Haq from his Reflections on Human Development:
"A society does not have to be rich to afford democracy. A family does not have to be wealthy to respect the rights of each member. A nation does not have to be affluent to treat women and men equally. Valuable social and cultural traditions can be-and are-maintained at all levels of human income."
It is important to increase investment in children, but everything does not require budgetary allocation. Moreover, we invest in something when that is a priority. In many cases, being child friendly does not require huge amount of financial resources. It is the thinking that matters the most. Recently I went to a restaurant in Canada with relatives, including two children. We found a couple of colouring pages along with two crayons on our table; the kids thus were allowed to be engaged in colouring the pages while waiting for food. Did this cost much? Not at all. Many examples can be given to illustrate that it is possible to be child-friendly just by considering things through a child-friendly lens. The above-mentioned doctor's waiting area is a prime example. One can easily screen programmes that are appropriate for children. The television is already there, and so there is no need for any added expense. Similarly, giving priority to children in public transport should not cost much. We can also have trolleys and play materials for
children in shopping centres, airports etc, and consider the needs of children in sitting arrangements and in the menu of restaurants.
There must be breast feeding rooms in all public buildings. Initiatives should be taken to reduce environmental pollution and stop encroachment of children's playgrounds. Bringing back greenery in urban areas and keeping space for children's play in apartment buildings and public places should be made a policy priority. Sports, cultural and entertainment opportunities for children should be created and community based children's organisations need to be revived. It is not too difficult to design programmes to make the exhibits of museums and art galleries interesting and understandable to children, and engage them in creative activities. I was encouraged to note that in some well-respected museums in Europe, North America, and Australia, children can read the description of some of the exhibits easily, as those are at their eye level. The language of the description is also child-friendly.
Do we consider children to be residents of cities and clients of services? Do we think of children's 'best interest' in urban planning? Do we see things from their point of view? I hope city corporations can take initiatives in making cities childfriendly with support from all others concerned. Let us stop calling children the 'future' and do something so that they can realise their rights now!
The writer Is Director of Child Protection, Save the Children.