The local councils of Candelaria, Granadilla, and Santa Úrsula formalised their commitment yesterday to the Network of Friendly Cities of the Canary Islands, an initiative championed by UNICEF. This network comprises numerous municipalities working towards the protection of children and young people.
The event, held in the Parliament of the Canary Islands, was attended by the president of the Chamber, Astrid Pérez, and the chair of the UNICEF Canary Committee, Rosa Gloria Suárez. Pérez expressed gratitude for UNICEF’s efforts since the inception of this initiative in 2001, highlighting that “children are the most valuable asset of the community.” She commended the three municipalities for their sensitivity and dedication to implementing policies that ensure a safe environment for minors. She urged other local councils to participate in this “wonderful initiative”, affirming that “advocating for childhood is among the most admirable policies one can pursue.” Rosa Suárez, president of UNICEF Canarias, noted that nearly 70% of the island’s youth are involved in this initiative. Being part of the network signifies a commitment to uphold children’s rights, moving beyond generic institutional efforts to engage in tangible actions with both medium- and long-term programs that require financial resources.
As she mentioned, this signing marks the first achievement, yet there is significant work ahead for the forthcoming goals, reminding everyone that municipalities have a four-year window to implement their programs. “When children benefit in their communities, all citizens ultimately reap the rewards; when childhood thrives, society succeeds as a whole.”
Minors Eiron and Nadira from Santa Úrsula, along with Gabriel from Candelaria, who are involved in their respective municipal councils, shared their excitement over this recognition, expressing that they “have learned a great deal” and find it a “very engaging experience” to advocate for their rights, contribute to initiative design, propose activities for improvement, and voice their opinions to the mayors and councillors. Following this, councillors Olivia Pérez (Candelaria), José Adán García (Granadilla), and Salome Fernández (Santa Úrsula) formalised the agreement. The Councillor for Social Services in Candelaria expressed her enthusiasm, underscoring that her mission is “to leave a better world” and emphasised the importance of “listening to the proposals” from children in the community.
Meanwhile, the Community Welfare Councillor in Granadilla expressed his “pride”, noting that this “validates the commitment” to childhood welfare and represents a “shared vision for improving” the lives of children who “are the future.” In contrast, the Councillor for Sports, Leisure, Free Time, and Citizen Participation in Santa Úrsula highlighted the aspiration to “create a friendly city” where “people are at the heart of public spaces” and the fundamental “right to play” is upheld.
