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H u m a n R i g h t s E d u c at i o n i n A s i a - Pa c i f i cAppendix B
2011 Solo City Declaration of Children’s Participation for a Child Friendly
Asia Pacific*
We, participants of the Child Friendly Cities meeting held in Solo City, Indonesia on 1 July
2011 and members of the Child Friendly Asia Pacific Network call upon our governments,
private sector, and civil society to assist us in implementing the Chiba Declaration for aChild Friendly Asia Pacific 2009 and to incorporate a focus on the importance of children’s
participation in defining the role of child friendly cities and communities.
This declaration provides five key principles through which governments, cities,communities should support child friendliness.
Principle 1. A child friendly city and community engages children
1.1 Defines children’s participation as the recognition of and respect for children’sengagement equally in formally constructed processes as well as the everyday practicesof their contribution to their own life and the life of families and communities.
1.2 Acknowledges that children have their own cultural groups outside of those of adultsand child centered social action happens between children with children as well as
between children and adults.
1.3 Moves beyond tokenism and decoration to developing partnerships with children thatare ethical and respectful - including moving beyond listening to children’s voices toincluding children’s opinions and ideas in authentic and instrumental ways.
1.4 Positions children as reliable and competent with all participation activities being
evaluated for their value to improving children’s lives now and in the future.
1.5 Accounts for the capacities and abilities of children according to their age andspecial needs and this is central to constructing appropriate and supportive participatory
processes.

*This document has been slightly edited.

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Principle 2. A child friendly city and community embraces early childhood
2.1 Appreciates that early childhood is an important part of life and the best interests
and rights for participation of children should be central to all actions of the community.
2.2 Recognises all children, including those in the early years, have significant views andexperiences in order that children’s active involvement in community issues and decisionmaking are valued.
2.3 Guarantees all children’s right to play and facilitate multiple opportunities for playthrough the provision of places/spaces that motivate, stimulate, invite discovery, creativity,
fun and natural play. This is most critical during the early years (the most formative years)
given that this facilitates resilience and capacity to cope later in life.
2.4 Establishes, maintains and monitors childcare and educational facilities that provide
for all children irrespective of financial, family situation, class, caste, gender, ethnicity,religion, and ability. The approach should be transdisciplinary and seek views ofpractitioners as well as academics.
2.5 Ensures that all adults engaging with children are aware of, and secure the rights ofchildren, including adults acquiring the knowledge and skills that best meet the needs of
all children.
Principle 3: A child friendly city and community recognises children’s uniqueexperience of traumatic events
3.1 Engages children to define their own best interests at all stages of the traumaticevents.
3.2 Implements child-centred policies that recognise the need to support children throughmultiple phases of natural and human-made disasters from preparation to immediate
support, short-term, medium-term and long-term support.
3.3 Guarantees children’s right to survival and development, by recognising, promoting andsupporting children of all abilities physical, psychological, social, spiritual, environmental,
recreational and cultural capacities.

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3.4 Secures the right to education and health through immediate provision of facilities
and services, and children’s access to these irrespective of class, caste, gender, colour
or ethnicity.
3.5 Respects the fundamental importance of children’s knowledge, views, and experiencesin preparing, responding and delivering infrastructure and services.
3.6 Implements legal mechanisms that protect children from exploitative environments,
including activities such as violence, sexual assault, trafficking, prostitution, forced
adoptions or child marriage.
3.7 Acknowledges regional diversity and meets each region’s unique needs by building
capacity for supporting children before, during, and after natural and human-madedisasters events.
3.8 Creates opportunities for social learning, including disseminating research, knowledge
and skills at all levels of government, by supporting inter-organisational partnerships andcommunity groups.
Principle 4: A child friendly city and community supports children’sparticipation in planning
4.1 Ensures collaboration and integrity in all stages of the planning processes and isinclusive of all children’s ideas and opinions, including children who are disadvantaged,and seeks to act [responsibly].
4.2 Highlights the benefits of adopting child-friendly strategies to current work practices
and strategies must be concentrated around the empowerment of children and the benefitof outcomes for children’s lives.
4.3 Recognizes and is willing to modify philosophies and work practices in order toaccommodate children’s desires through authentic participation.
4.4 Utilises the local media to connect and engage with children, local communities andstakeholders to enable planning work to be celebrated, recognised and represented inways to gain community support.

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4.5 Acknowledges planning processes are on-going and evolve through the developmental
stages of children’s participation therefore allowing them to be recognised in their own right.
Principle 5: A child friendly city and community recognises the key role ofgovernance
5.1 Acknowledges that children of all ages, abilities and circumstances have the rightto be recognised as equal citizens and their participation in decision-making across thevariety of levels of government is fundamental to a city committed to its children.
5.2 Realises that good governance through the management of resources and budgets
is key to a city that will improve the opportunities for children to be active citizens now
and in the future.
5.3 Provides opportunities for key stakeholders including children and child advocates
to come together and construct a city-wide resolution and agreement of the terms ofreference through which the child friendly cities initiative will be framed.
5.4 Develops reliable data through the respectful engagement of children across thecommunity and constructs a local plan of action emphasizing ongoing opportunities forchildren’s authentic participation.
5.5 Supports the development of a monitoring and coordinating committee that evaluates
the progress of the community to respond and act on what children say is important tothem.
We, the participants of the Child Friendly Cities Regional Network meeting at Solo City, incollaboration with the 400 regional members of the Child Friendly Asia Pacific Regional
Network, support and declare that regional, state and national governments who aresignatories to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child should take up thekey principles as established here in order to ensure [that] as a region [we] are working
towards a vision of being a Child Friendly Asia Pacific that engages children.
Signed on this day, 2 July 2011.

Chair, Child Friendly Asia Pacific Network
On behalf of the members of the network