In recent years, China has actively promoted the development of child-friendly cities by incorporating children’s perspectives into urban planning and social policies. This vision provides guidance for Macau in improving the environment in which children grow up. Accelerating this mission will not only safeguard children’s rights, but also ease the burden on families and promote high-quality demographic development. I welcome the preparations being made by the Government and the Women and Children Affairs Committee to establish an interdepartmental working group, and put forward three proposals:
Improve the overall policy framework
The development of a child-friendly city requires systematic policy guidance. I suggest that the Government consider drawing up a “Child Development Programme” or a “Child-Friendly City Implementation Plan” tailored to Macau. It should establish long-term objectives and clearly allocate responsibilities, while ensuring coordination with the overall planning of the Macao SAR. Such scientific planning would provide a clear direction and make the work more forward-looking and systematic.
Make communities more child-friendly
Building on the success of the existing leisure areas and exploration centre, I suggest selecting the Southern District, Praia do Manduco and San Kio as pilot areas for adapting public spaces to children’s needs. Vacant spaces should be used to create indoor and outdoor activity centres, while recreational and educational resources should be distributed more evenly across different districts. From a child-centred perspective, it is also essential to improve traffic arrangements and pedestrian routes, creating a safe network that allows children to explore their communities freely.
Introduce child impact assessments
Putting this concept into practice requires cooperation. I suggest that the interdepartmental working group incorporate the principle of “children first” into the planning of public works and social services. When formulating policies or planning infrastructure in the future, the Government should consider introducing a “child impact assessment” and establishing a regular monitoring mechanism, ensuring that urban decisions reflect genuine care for the next generation.
