KOTA KINABALU, May 7 – In a pivotal move to place children’s rights at the heart of urban development, Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Malaysia, formally joining the global Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI).
The joint effort between UNICEF and the Sabah state government builds on a long-standing collaboration since 2021.
The event was officiated by Abidin Madingkir, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister of Sabah and Haji Sabin Samitah, Mayor of Kota Kinabalu City.
“Article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child reminds us that children have the right to rest, to engage in play and recreational activities, to enjoy leisure and take part in cultural life,” said Robert Gass, UNICEF Representative to Malaysia, in his address.
“By joining this initiative, Kota Kinabalu becomes the first city in Sabah to bring the convention and its vision to life, setting the stage for other cities across the state to follow.”
Launched globally in 1996 by UNICEF and UN-Habitat, the CFCI supports local governments in implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the city level.
In Malaysia, CFCI is guided by three core principles:
- Raising awareness of children’s rights among both children and adults.
- Promoting meaningful child participation in urban planning and policymaking through Child Councils and other mechanisms.
- Creating safe and inclusive environments that meet the needs of all children, including those with disabilities.
As part of this commitment, Kota Kinabalu will establish its own Child Council, ensuring young voices are included in shaping local policies, programmes, and services.
“This MoU is not merely an agreement on paper. It is a moral contract, a call to action. Let it signal to every child in Kota Kinabalu that their voices matter, that their dreams are valid and that their rights are protected,” said Haji Sabin.
“Sabah’s diversity of cultures, voices, and experiences can be a powerful force for innovation, and we look forward to seeing the creativity and insight that children in Kota Kinabalu will offer as they help develop their city,” said Gass.
Sabah now joins a growing movement of Malaysian cities taking child rights seriously. In 2023, Petaling Jaya became the first city in Malaysia and Southeast Asia to receive official CFCI recognition.
Since then, Sarawak has also onboarded seven councils as part of the state-wide cohort and Penang Island has recently come on board as well.
“Our vision is to encourage and support other local authorities across Sabah to follow in this path, so that from Sandakan to Tawau, from Keningau to Kudat, every town and every district places children at the centre of its planning and priorities,” shared Abidin Madingkir.
Following today’s signing, Kota Kinabalu City Hall will begin by assessing the current situation for children in the city. This will help identify key needs and priorities.
Based on this, the city and UNICEF will work together to develop a local action plan. UNICEF will provide technical support, training, and opportunities to learn from other cities in Malaysia and the region.
