Sarawak local govts participate in Unicef regional meeting in Jinan, China

KUCHING (Sept 25): A delegation from Sarawak led by Kuching City South mayor Dato Wee Hong Sen recently participated in the Unicef 2nd Regional Meeting in East Asia and Pacific, held in Jinan, China.

The delegation also included Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting, Padawan Municipal Council chairman Tan Kai and Kota Samarahan Municipal Council chairman Dato Peter Minos.

Wee in a statement said the councils’ attendance at this prestigious meeting on invitation reflects their commitment to enhancing child-friendly initiatives across Sarawak.

He explained the Sarawak delegation, which had previously signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Unicef to implement the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) within their respective jurisdictions, viewed the meeting as a critical platform for learning.

The focus of the event was to address the challenges faced by international cities in implementing CFCI and to exchange best practices that contribute to building child-friendly environments.

During the meeting, Wee reaffirmed Kuching South City Council (MBKS)’s dedication to the CFCI.

“As the first council in Sarawak to sign the MoU with Unicef on CFCI and the first to establish a Child Council, Kuching South has made significant strides in promoting children’s rights and well-being.

“This meeting offers a valuable opportunity for us to learn from other successful cities and to strengthen our initiatives for the benefit of our younger generations,” he said.

Wee expressed confidence that the knowledge gained from interacting with other cities will greatly enhance Kuching South’s implementation of the CFCI.

He emphasised that the insights from the experiences of these international cities will help MBKS overcome challenges and expand on its commitment to creating a more child-friendly city.

He added the participation of the Sarawak delegation marks an important step in the region’s ongoing efforts to foster child-friendly environments and to create sustainable urban spaces where the voices, needs and rights of children are prioritised.