The Rafal Town Council has begun the process to apply for the “Child-Friendly City” designation, granted by UNICEF to municipalities committed to child and adolescent rights. During its regular session on March 27, the municipal council approved the proposal to apply for this recognition, which involves collaboration with UNICEF, the Ministry of Youth and Childhood, the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), and the UAM-UNICEF Institute for Children’s Needs and Rights (IUNDIA).
Mayor Manuel Pineda expressed that Rafal is well-suited for this recognition due to its initiatives promoting youth participation and long-term strategies to include children and adolescents in local policies. Gabriel Valero, Councilor for Education and Citizen Participation, highlighted the creation of the Children and Adolescents Council (CLIA) in 2022 as the starting point for recognizing the rights of young people to be heard and involved in local decision-making.
CLIA has led initiatives like the Bicibús and youth participation in budget processes, with 97% youth participation in local budget decisions. These efforts have fostered a culture of participation among young people in Rafal.
Additionally, Rafal’s second Equality Plan was approved, guiding gender equality efforts in the town until 2028. This plan addresses gender inequality and aims to implement measures to achieve equality, with public administrations acting as role models. Both the application for the UNICEF recognition and the Equality Plan were approved unanimously.
