Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: Participatory process with children as an opportunity to generate dynamics of change in the municipality's policies

The City of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria assumes for the first time its responsibility, as the government closest to the citizens, to put children and teenagers at the center of political action and to listen to children and adolescents when making decisions that will guide future municipal policy, placing value on their rights, their vulnerability and their diversity. It is for this reason that the 1st Municipal Plan for Children and Adolescents of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is approved in plenary session, with the following objectives to be achieved:

1. TO PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CHILDREN'S AND ADOLESCENTS' RIGHTS.

2. GUARANTEE THE PARTICIPATION AND INFLUENCE OF THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT POPULATION.

3. TO ENSURE COHESION AND COOPERATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC ACTIONS AND POLICIES AIMED AT CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.

4. SUPPORT AND PROMOTE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE DIVERSITY AND VULNERABILITY OF THIS SECTOR OF THE POPULATION AND THEIR FAMILIES.

5. PROMOTE THE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN CONDITIONS OF EQUALITY, SECURITY AND WELL-BEING.

Steps of the process (november 2019 until now):

1. Creation of the City Council's Internal Coordination Committee: This body is responsible for responding to children's issues and for taking action on municipal policies.

2. Participatory diagnosis of the situation of children in the municipality: Different schools and social entities that work on participation are consulted in order to elaborate it.

3. Creation of the Children and Adolescent Council VOPIA: The minors of the process are invited to participate in the children's council, which is constituted in December 2019. Some 400 minors have participated. An average of 40 minors representing various schools in the city, associations and other groups.

4. Approval in plenary session of the city council of the First Municipal Plan for Children and Adolescents.

5. Recognition as a Child Friendly City by Unicef Spanish Committee.

6. Creation of the External Coordination Committee: Formed by agents and entities that work or intervene with children in our municipality. Training of technical and political personnel in the area of Children's Rights and Child Participation for the fulfillment of the Children's Plan. Course "Promotion of Rights, Good Treatment and Participation in School" for teachers of educational centers.

7. Urban Agenda: Incorporation of the social objectives of the Spanish Urban Agenda specifically linked to children in this municipality.

8. Participatory budgeting: Children presented more than 20 proposals that have been voted by the population of the municipality and of which some are already being implemented.

9. Urban "laboratory" project: A diagnosis of the urban characteristics and design guidelines aimed at improving the neighborhood of Vega de San José, from the perspective of the students of the CEO Canary Islands, learning the importance of the collective construction of our environment. Political leaders have committed themselves and the social agents of the neighborhood to carry them out.

10. Recognition of the Independent Council of Child Protection

More information:

• www.laspalmasgc.es 

• www.plataformacaicanarias.org/category/cai-las-palmas-de-gc/