Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Policymakers, urban planners, and community leaders have been urged by the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) to give children’s health risks from pollution, climate change, and unsafe living conditions top priority in their strategies.
The Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson, Peter Borges, stressed the importance of a child-centric approach to environmental design and urban planning at a workshop on Friday in Panaji.
When creating environments for children, it is essential to recognize their vulnerabilities. Children who live on the streets or in unstable situations face significant risks that are frequently disregarded in urban planning. Redefining and designing child-friendly spaces requires a reconsideration, he said, taking physical inclusivity for kids with disabilities and other vulnerabilities into account.
The effects of climate change, air pollution, and limited access to public spaces that meet the needs of early childhood development (ECD) services are disproportionately felt by pregnant women and children (ages 0–5), according to two studies conducted by the authorities between January 2022 and December 2023.
The organizers stated, “These vulnerabilities have long-term implications on children’s growth and success potential, and they are not just immediate concerns.” Stakeholders in the research included citizens, civil society organizations, and different levels of government officials.