New Guide Promotes Safe, Inclusive, and Child-Friendly Public Spaces

The guide's calls to action include creating public spaces that are accessible to all children, regardless of their ability or socioeconomic status. This can be achieved by designing public spaces that are **inclusive**, **safe**, and **sustainable**. The guide also emphasizes the importance of **equity** and **child health** in urban planning. By following the guide's principles, cities can create public spaces that promote healthy urban living for all. For example, cities can create **parks** and **green spaces** that are accessible to all children, or design **streets** that are safe for children to play and move around. The guide is a valuable resource for city leaders, urban planners, and policymakers who want to create healthier and more resilient cities for children. Visit the [[urban-planning|urban planning]] page for more information on how to create child-friendly cities.

• The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and UN-Habitat have released a new global guide to help cities create safe, inclusive, and child-friendly public spaces
• The guide provides practical, evidence-informed guidance to help cities create streets, parks, and public places that are safer, more inclusive, and more resilient
• Globally, only 44% of urban residents live near an open public space, and that figure drops to 30% among urban residents in low- and middle-income countries
• The guide's emphasis is on **safety**, **play**, and **access**, which are critical factors in promoting children's health and development
• The guide's impact will depend on the extent to which cities implement its recommendations

The guide is a useful resource for cities looking to create more child-friendly public spaces. However, its impact will depend on the extent to which cities are able to implement its recommendations. The guide's emphasis on **equity** and **sustainability** is important, but it may be challenging for some cities to balance these goals with other competing priorities. Additionally, the guide's focus on urban areas may overlook the needs of children in rural areas. For more information on the challenges of implementing the guide's recommendations, visit the [[urban-challenges|urban challenges]] page. The guide is also available on the [[rural-development|rural development]] page, which provides information on how to create child-friendly public spaces in rural areas.

The release of the guide is a significant step forward in promoting the health and well-being of children in urban areas. By providing practical guidance and evidence-informed recommendations, the guide has the potential to make a positive impact on the lives of millions of children around the world. According to **Dr. Nathalie Roebbel**, Technical Lead Urban Health, WHO Department for Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention, the guide shows how child-centred urban areas can fulfill the right to play and accelerate progress toward safe, accessible public spaces for everyone by 2030. The guide's focus on **safety**, **play**, and **access** is particularly important, as these are critical factors in promoting children's health and development. Visit the [[child-development|child development]] page for more information on how public spaces can support children's growth and development.

The guide may not be enough to address the significant challenges facing children in urban areas. Despite its good intentions, the guide may not be able to overcome the deeply ingrained structural and systemic barriers that prevent children from accessing safe and inclusive public spaces. For example, the guide may not be able to address the issue of **pollution**, which is a major concern for children's health in urban areas. Additionally, the guide's emphasis on **child health** may not be sufficient to address the complex and interconnected factors that affect children's health and well-being. Visit the [[environmental-health|environmental health]] page for more information on the impact of pollution on children's health.

Originally reported by World Health Organization (WHO)