What City Do We Want for Tomorrow? – the Voice of the Children from Mexico City in the New Urban Agenda

Do children and youth have an important role in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda? How should cities integrate their voices in the urban planning process? This side event will give the opportunity to children from Mexico City to share their vision, concerns and solutions on how to build sustainable, inclusive and democratic cities. One of the main debates in the process towards Habitat III and the implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA) has been the role that the different stakeholders should play. Local governments are key actors in this context; not only because more than half of the world’s population lives in cities today, but also because it is at the local level that most of the strategies will be implemented. The NUA acknowledges their “key role in strengthening the interface among all actors, offering opportunities for dialogue with particular attention to the rights and needs of and potential contributions from all segments of society, including youth, children...”
The Government of Mexico City decided to launch, along with the French Agency for Development (AFD) and the Global Fund for Cities Development (FMDV), the initiative “¿Qué Ciudad de México queremos para mañana?” that aims at raising awareness, enhancing the participation and listening to the voice of children on how to create sustainable and livable cities. We recognize that the Habitat III Conference is just the beginning of a long process. The real challenge begins after Quito, when local governments will have to define specific strategies and policies to implement the recommendations of the NUA for the next 20 years. Stimulating children at early stages - considering they will be the decision-makers of tomorrow-is crucial. This side event is an invitation to share ideas on how to make it possible.