Latest news with #CFCI
Borneo Post
a day ago
- General
- Borneo Post
Mayor Wee urges collective action for sustainability at MBKS Environment Day
A group photo taken during the Eco Glam Fashion Face-Off competition held in conjunction with the MBKS 2025 Environment Day. KUCHING (June 14): Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng has called for collective and proactive efforts to preserve the environment in pursuit of a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come. He said achieving this common goal requires close collaboration between the government, private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the wider community. 'World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5 every year, is not just a symbolic date, but a call for all of us to act. It reminds us that the dream of a sustainable future can only be achieved if all parties work together at all levels. 'This is not a time to just talk, we need to act to realise that dream,' he said when launching the MBKS 2025 Environment Day themed 'Trash to Hope' held at the MBKS Dewan Masyarakat here today. Wee urged the public to move beyond indifference and take real action to protect the environment, stressing the need for a mindset shift. 'From dumping (waste) to recycling, from not caring to acting,' he enthused. The mayor said MBKS has lined up a series of activities for the celebration, including the Eco Glam Fashion Face-Off, a competition for preschool and primary school children. He added that the competition was initiated by the MBKS Children's Council in support of the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) undertaken by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef). 'A total of 24 participants aged between four and 12 took part in this competition, which not only fosters creativity but also instills awareness of recycling from a young age.' In addition, Wee said the community also had the chance to visit the Kuching Natural Farmer Market, with 31 stalls set up in the vicinity of the MBKS building, offering fresh agricultural produce, handmade products, plants and environmental-friendly goods. He said the market, which was inaugurated last year, is held twice a month to promote agricultural products that do not use chemical fertilisers and pesticides. He added that the council also collaborates with the Kuching Food Aid in organising a food donation programme to help the needy communities in and around the city. Wee also expressed appreciation to the creative group Naked Wonder, which has been working with MBKS since 2023 to promote environmental sustainability. Among their joint initiatives is the creation of 'The Turtle in the Ocean', the largest straw art installation in Malaysia, which was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records. 'This artwork not only proves that recycled waste can be turned into something beautiful, but also plays an important role in raising public awareness about the importance of caring for the environment,' Wee added. environmental sustainability wee hong seng World Environment Day
Daily Express
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Towards child-friendly city spaces
Published on: Friday, May 09, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 09, 2025 By: Diana Liu Text Size: From left to right, Lifred, Sabin, Abidin, Robert and Juanita during the MoU signing ceremony at SICC. Kota Kinabalu: The City Hall (DBKK) aims to create safer streets, green public spaces and transport systems that accommodate the needs of children, all the while including these youngsters in the decision-making processes. To this end, the agency is collaborating with United Nations Children's Funds (UNICEF) to try and make this a reality. Mayor Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah said that with Unicef's technical expertise, they would begin conducting a comprehensive child rights situation analysis. 'This will form the basis for developing a Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) Action Plan that is inclusive, data-driven, and contextually relevant to the children of Kota Kinabalu. 'We will also formulate a monitoring and evaluation framework that captures progress not only through statistics but also through lived experiences and community feedback, particularly from children themselves. 'The CFCI in Kota Kinabalu will be built on inclusive and participatory platforms, enabling children and young people to voice their ideas, share their challenges, and shape solutions,' he said. He said this in his speech during the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the implementation of the CFCI between DBKK and Unicef at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) on Tuesday. Also present were the Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister who is also in charge of DBKK, Datuk Abidin Madingkir, DBKK Director-General Lifred Wong, UNICEF Representative to Malaysia and Special Representative to Brunei Darussalam Robert Gass, UNICEF Malaysia Social Policy Chief Dr. Juanita Vasquez Escallon and others. Robert said the CFCI is built upon three fundamental pillars that guide their actions, first, raising awareness of child rights, second, ensuring meaningful child participation, and third, creating safe and inclusive environments for all children. 'Raising awareness of child rights is key to building safe, supportive communities where every child can thrive. Children must know their rights to speak up for themselves and others. But they cannot do it alone, adults must also ensure these rights are reflected in our policies, projects, and everyday decisions. 'A child-friendly city puts meaningful child participation at its core. Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) affirms that children deserve a say in decisions that affect their lives and Child Councils are one way to make this happen. In Petaling Jaya, consultations with the Child Council have led to real changes, like toy libraries, a child-friendly bus stop, a child-friendly kopitiam, and even mapping roads that would enable them to walk safely to school,' he said. Other than that, Robert said, Sabah's diversity of cultures, voices, and experiences can be a powerful force for innovation, and they look forward to seeing the creativity and insight that children in Kota Kinabalu will offer as they help develop their city. According to Robert, creating child-friendly cities requires strong partnerships between public authorities, the private sector, and communities. 'For example, developers can collaborate on co-designing inclusive parks, and street vendors can contribute by promoting healthy habits near schools. 'Furthermore, integrating a child-centric lens into city planning, such as prioritising children's safety and building climate-resilient infrastructure, is crucial for developing a truly liveable city for all,' he said. Meanwhile, Abidin said, children in remote areas, indigenous communities, and lower-income households often experience multiple forms of deprivation. 'This initiative gives us an avenue to address those disparities through a child-sensitive lens — one that listens to their voices, respects their rights, and adapts policies to their needs. 'The development of the Child Rights Situation Analysis, the integration of child-sensitive frameworks into local governance, and the formation of strong mechanisms for monitoring and accountability – all these must be rigorously pursued and supported,' he said. For the record, Sabah now joins a growing movement of Malaysian cities taking child rights seriously. In 2023, Petaling Jaya became the first city in Malaysia and Southeast Asia to receive official CFCI recognition. Since then, Sarawak has onboarded seven councils as part of the state-wide cohort and Penang Island has recently come on board as well. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
DBKK partners with Unicef on child protection
Published on: Wednesday, May 07, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 07, 2025 By: Diana Liu Text Size: From left: Lifred, Sabin, Abidin, Robert and Juanita after the MoU signing ceremony. Kota Kinabalu: The United Children's Fund (Unicef) is ready to work with the State Government to find practical solutions to protect all children in the State, including those affected by migration and statelessness. Unicef Representative to Malaysia and Special Representative to Brunei Darussalam, Robert Gass, said children impacted by migration happened not just in Sabah but also other countries, such as Cambodia and Thailand. According to him, it is a complicated issue to deal with as it goes beyond the borders of a city, state and country. 'Our position is that children are children and as such, they are entitled to basic protections under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). 'Our commitment is to work with governments to identify solutions that will allow these children to be children and to be able to benefit from the rights that they are entitled to. And we do that while respecting national regulations, laws and priorities. 'Our job is not to sort of step on other territories, but to work together in a collaborative way to try to find solutions to issues effecting children, so that they are protected and that they have the ability to thrive and to reach their full potential,' he said. He said this in response to a question regarding the street-kids problem during a press conference after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Implementation of the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) between City Hall (DBKK) and Unicef, Tuesday. Also present were Mayor Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister who is also in charge of DBKK, Datuk Abidin Madingkir, DBKK Director-General Lifred Wong, Unicef Malaysia Social Policy Chief Dr Juanita Vasquez Escallon and others. The MoU symbolises DBKK's aspiration to prioritise the rights, protection and holistic development of every child within the city. It marks the beginning of a new chapter of transformative, child-centric urban governance. The CFCI supports local governments in implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the city level. In Malaysia, CFCI is guided by three core principles of raising awareness of children's rights among both children and adults, promoting meaningful child participation in urban planning and policymaking through Child Councils and other mechanisms, and creating safe and inclusive environments that meet the needs of all children, including those with disabilities. As part of this commitment, Kota Kinabalu will establish its own Child Council, ensuring young voices are included in shaping local policies, programmes and services. Robert also said by joining this initiative, Kota Kinabalu becomes the first city in Sabah to bring CRC rights and its vision to life, setting the stage for other cities across the State to follow. And they will be working on developing some plans of action in the coming weeks. Abidin said the MoU is just the beginning and it is better to begin rather than not starting at all. He said their vision is to encourage and support other local authorities across Sabah to follow in this path, so that from Sandakan to Tawau, from Keningau to Kudat, every town and every district places children at the centre of its planning and priorities. Commenting on the children who always ask for donations around the city, Abidin said DBKK needs to cooperate with the Community Development and People's Wellbeing Ministry to address the issue. 'DBKK cannot work alone. I see this as an inter-agency cooperation. For example, in terms of safety, we need to work with the police and so on,' he said. He hoped that with Unicef's guidance, children in the city would be educated and guided. 'For me, these children, whatever they learn now will determine their future. And with good education, they could become a future leader,' he said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
KK sets milestone as Sabah's first child-friendly city
Abidin (centre), Sabin (second left) and Robert (second right) at the MoU signing ceremony of the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) between DBKK and UNICEF Malaysia. KOTA KINABALU (May 6): Kota Kinabalu has become the first city in Sabah to implement the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI), following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Malaysia on Tuesday.. The MoU was officiated by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Abidin Madingkir and Kota Kinabalu Mayor Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah. The initiative aims to transform the city centre into a place where every child can grow, learn and play safely and inclusively. 'This initiative reflects the essence of what we, as a responsible state government, aim to achieve, development that is not measured solely by economic metrics or infrastructural growth, but by the dignity with which our children live, the opportunities available to them and the protection they are afforded in their most vulnerable years. 'The government of Sabah has long recognised that children are not only our future, but also our moral compass. 'In recent years, we have sought to strengthen policies that ensure inclusive access to education, health, protection and participation. However, this partnership today brings something particularly valuable, a focused, structured and internationally supported framework to localise the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child at the urban governance level,' said Abidin. While Kota Kinabalu is the first city in Sabah to embark on the initiative formally, Abidin expressed that the State Government's ambitions extend beyond the capital. 'This MoU marks the beginning of what I hope will be a state-wide movement. Our vision is to encourage and support other local authorities across Sabah to follow in this path, so that from Sandakan to Tawau, from Keningau to Kudat, every town and every district places children at the centre of its planning and priorities. 'Sabah, with its rich cultural diversity and unique geographic composition, faces distinct developmental challenges. Children in our remote areas, indigenous communities and lower-income households often experience multiple forms of deprivation. 'This initiative gives us an avenue to address those disparities through a child-sensitive lens, one that listens to their voices, respects their rights and adapts policies to their needs,' he added. Launched globally in 1996 by UNICEF and UN-Habitat, CFCI supports local governments in implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the city level. In Malaysia, the initiative is anchored on three core principles, namely, raising awareness of children's rights among both children and adults; promoting meaningful child participation in urban planning and policymaking through Child Councils and other mechanisms; and creating safe, inclusive environments that meet the needs of all children, including those with disabilities. UNICEF Representative to Malaysia, Robert Gass, highlighted the significance of the partnership with Sabah. 'The long-standing collaboration between UNICEF and the Sabah government has driven many efforts to advance children's well-being. Now, CFCI emerges as an integral part of the Sabah Action Plan 2024–2025, developed alongside state ministries and agencies led by the Sabah State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN). 'What makes a city truly child-friendly is not just what it provides, but how it places children's rights at the heart of its decisions. 'In Malaysia, CFCI continues to gain momentum. In October 2023, the city of Petaling Jaya became the first city to be recognized by UNICEF as a Child-Friendly City. In Sarawak, all seven city councils and municipalities have committed to the initiative, forming the country's first state-wide cohort, and Penang Island has also recently come on board,' he said. As part of its commitment, Kota Kinabalu will establish its own Child Council to ensure that young voices are included in shaping local policies, programmes and services. Following the MoU signing, DBKK will begin assessing the current situation for children in the city to identify key needs and priorities. Based on the findings, the city and UNICEF will work together to develop a local action plan. UNICEF will provide technical support, training, and opportunities to learn from other cities in Malaysia and the region.
New Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Kota Kinabalu City Hall partners with UNICEF to improve child protection
KOTA KINABALU: The Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to strengthen efforts in making the city safer and enhancing access to quality education for all children. Sabah Assistant Chief Minister Datuk Abidin Madingkir described the signing of the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) as a significant step forward. "This involves our children. DBKK will work towards providing parks, a safe environment, quality healthcare, and access to good education," he said at a press conference following the signing of the three-year collaboration at the Sabah International Convention Centre. Also present at the event were DBKK Mayor Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah and UNICEF representative to Malaysia Robert Gass. Abidin, a former DBKK mayor, said that education plays a pivotal role in shaping children's behaviour as they grow into adulthood. Meanwhile, UNICEF's Gass described the MoU as a testament to the government's commitment to children's welfare. "It's a courageous step — one that focuses on investing in the future of Sabah. Not only in children, but in the state's long-term wellbeing," he said. The collaboration would be guided by practical frameworks aligned with the priorities and realities of both the state and city governments, he said. The initiative will focus on raising awareness of children's rights, ensuring child participation in decision-making, and fostering a safe and supportive environment. Kota Kinabalu is the third city in Malaysia to partner with UNICEF under the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative, following Petaling Jaya and Penang.
